You are currently browsing the Orbital Maneuvers Blog weblog archives for March, 2011.
26. March 2011 by RC Davison.
I am still trying to comprehend the magnitude of the disaster that has afflicted Japan on the 11th of March. My thoughts are with all of those that are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives and put them all back together again. It is at these times that all the trappings of modern society are worthless. One’s main concern is for family, friends, food and shelter.
In an effort to help support the relief effort in Japan, I will donate all proceeds from sales of Orbital Maneuvers from now (March 26, 2011) until the summer solstice on June 21st . The more books sold, the more I’ll be able to contribute.
I’m going to rant here. Be forewarned!
When I watched the images coming out of Japan after the disaster, I could not shake the feeling that we should be more prepared. We, us, everyone on this planet. World wide for 2011 we will spend over two trillion dollars on defense. Defense of our sovereign lands from those who wish to attack us.
We are missing the big picture here. What we can do to each other pales in comparison to what Mother Nature can throw at us. Look at what just happened in Japan. What about hurricane Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans and the Gulf coast. The earthquake and tsunami that hit Indonesia in 2004 and the earthquake in China in 2008. The list goes on. But, these are small events compared to some of the major events that have occurred in the past, from super-volcanoes erupting to asteroid impacts.
Maybe we should start thinking more along the line of joining forces. After all, it is 2011, the 21st century. Should we not be civilized by this point? We’ve had over 10,000 years of development and yet we are constantly focused on beating each other into submission. Be it for religious, political, ideological or territorial reasons.
I know I’m being too idealistic here, but we should stop pointing missiles and guns at each other and divert those funds to developing the technology that will allow us to survive these inevitable natural disasters. We’ve got a handle on how to build earthquake resistant buildings, but they are not earthquake-proof. More importantly, our infrastructure is very vulnerable to many types of natural disasters.
We know this stuff happens. It has happened in the past and will again in the future. Two trillion dollars will go a long way to developing technology to study the planet we live on and understand what triggers these events. If we can’t stop them, at least we should be able to predict them reliably, and design our homes, businesses, cities and nations to withstand their onslaught.
Orbital Maneuvers is about multiple asteroid impacts on the United States. This is not beyond the realm of probability. It was scary researching this for the book, because it does not take a very big object to create global devastation. And, if not global, local devastation, which still can have global consequences. A small asteroid hitting the ocean is going to create tsunamis that could make the one that just hit Japan look like ripples on a pond.
So, we have a choice. We can keep preying on each other, burning money and resources to build offensive and defensive systems, and ignore the fact that there is a force out there more powerful than anything we have in our arsenals, or we can realize that this is the only place we have to live, and if we are going to survive, we have to join forces in building a common defense for everyone.
All the weapons, gadgets, toys and technology won’t mean a thing if Mother Nature reaches out and slaps you down. Just ask the people in Japan…
Till next time,
RC Davison
Posted in Orbital Maneuvers, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
7. March 2011 by RC Davison.
Well, actually, take a ride on the outside of Discovery on the solid rocket boosters (SRBs). NASA has 3 cameras on the SRBs: Forward (near the top of the SRB looking down); Intertank (near the top but facing the main fuel tank); Aft (near the bottom of the SRB looking up).
The NASA video shows the launch from all three cameras on each booster. Each camera offers a unique perspective of the launch with the Intertank cameras providing the additional element of sound. It’s a wild ride anyway you look at it!
Below is a list of key events on the video with their time-stamp if you don’t want to watch it real time. Some amazing footage to be sure!
STS-133 Launch SRB camera views:
SRB Left Forward Camera
2:25 - SRB separation
2:40 - Can see Discovery blazing on toward orbit
5:30 - SRB starts to settle down under its drogue chute
6:15 - Ocean surface detail can be seen
6:40 - SRB engine nozzle extension is jettisoned and impacts the water about 7 seconds later.
6:52 - The SRB hits the water
SRB Left Aft Camera
7:50 - The launch sequence repeats itself but with the camera view from the left SRB aft camera located near the bottom of the booster.
10:10 - Booster separation (The video is clearer on this camera.)
10:40 - Catch a glimpse of Discovery
14:40 - Spash down
SRB Left Intertank Camera (with sound)
14:45 - SRB left Intertank camera (Location looking at the ribbed side of the Main Fuel Tank). The video starts just before separation which occurs at:
15:17 - Note the separation engines in the nose cone pushing the right SRB away from the shuttle.
15:25 - Neat shot of right SRB as its engines sputter out
(Interesting to hear the pops, clicks, hisses, moans and groans of the SRB as it descends.)
17:45 - You can see the exhaust trail from Discovery’s launch
18:00 - Catch a view of Discovery moving into orbit.
19:14 - Main chutes deploy at 19:23 as the reefing lines are cut opening to the first stage and at:
19:30 - Chutes fully deployed
19:45 - Impact on the surface
20:20 - Can see the SRB nose cone parachuting toward the ocean
SRB Right Forward Camera
20:32 - SRB Right Forward camera
22:58 - SRB separation
23:12 - Nice view of Discovery
25:00 - SRB engine nozzle extension is jettisoned
25:16 - Ocean impact
SRB Right Aft Camera
25:45 - SRB Right Aft camera
28:00 - SRB separation
28:38 - SRB Right Intertank from the point of main chutes deployed
28:46 - The chute reefing lines are cut and they open up more, slowing the booster
28:53 - The chutes are fully deployed.
29:09 - Splash down
Hope you enjoyed the ride!!
Till next time
RC Davison
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