Space Things

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Speaking of space things, I really want one of these tags, but just can't justify the price.

It is a tag made from metal from the Mobile Launch Platform (Saturn/Shuttle). The part is the vertical hold that attached to the Shuttle and has been blasted by the rocket exhaust.

My college got one of the heat shield plates from a shuttle.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Spuds

My college got one of the heat shield plates from a shuttle.

After I looked into it a little more, I discovered that MLP-2 was used for Apollo 9 and 14, the launch of Skylab, every shuttle first launch, except Columbia and was used for the last flight of the doomed Challenger, amongst about 50 other launches.

This particular part of MLP-2 was added after Apollo (it was the support for the Shuttle so was the last earthly thing Challenger touched) but was built from pieces of the launch tower so the metal was there for the Apollo missions.

Given all that history, I ended up ordering one (with a 15% discount).

I'm such a nerd.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

After I looked into it a little more, I discovered that MLP-2 was used for Apollo 9 and 14, the launch of Skylab, every shuttle first launch, except Columbia and was used for the last flight of the doomed Challenger, amongst about 50 other launches.

This particular part of MLP-2 was added after Apollo (it was the support for the Shuttle so was the last earthly thing Challenger touched) but was built from pieces of the launch tower so the metal was there for the Apollo missions.

Given all that history, I ended up ordering one (with a 15% discount).

I'm such a nerd.

Good for you. The bolded item is interesting. They actually scavenged pieces of the Apollo tower to fab the shuttle mechanism?


If it was from one of the release clamps - I'd probably bite, too.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Good for you. The bolded item is interesting. They actually scavenged pieces of the Apollo tower to fab the shuttle mechanism?


If it was from one of the release clamps - I'd probably bite, too.

From what I read, yes they did scavenge parts of the towers to build the supports.

These devices contain the fuel clamps for the shuttle, the release clamps are explosive bolts in the solid rocket boosters. In fact, from what I saw on the pictures on MotorArt's site I believe it came from the doors that close after the Shuttle is released (they have the same shape).

In this incredible slow motion release video you can see the doors around 9:54 but the location of these towers is very visible throughout. You can see a top-down view at 17:28, the point of release. (the video won't play embedded)

This is worth watching just for all the detail you don't see at normal speed.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

From what I read, yes they did scavenge parts of the towers to build the supports.

These devices contain the fuel clamps for the shuttle, the release clamps are explosive bolts in the solid rocket boosters. In fact, from what I saw on the pictures on MotorArt's site I believe it came from the doors that close after the Shuttle is released (they have the same shape).

In this incredible slow motion release video you can see the doors around 9:54 but the location of these towers is very visible throughout. You can see a top-down view at 17:28, the point of release. (the video won't play embedded)

This is worth watching just for all the detail you don't see at normal speed.

Fascinating!! Many thanks!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Fascinating!! Many thanks!

The super-slow motion video was amazing. All the things going on that have to be perfectly timed playing out kept me watching.

I found the narrative interesting as well. To know there was a crew of 20+ persons whose primary job was to produce and review this video of each launch was pretty cool.

Where was that job when I went to the job fair in college!

[Capt Spaulding]

You and me both. Went down to Boca Chica yesterday afternoon to check out the Super Heavy. The had dismounted the Starship prototype but it was still pretty cool. Without anything to scale the size it’s deceiving. Add a couple of workers to the launch platform and

I’ll post up some pics when I have a chance.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

The super-slow motion video was amazing. All the things going on that have to be perfectly timed playing out kept me watching.

I found the narrative interesting as well. To know there was a crew of 20+ persons whose primary job was to produce and review this video of each launch was pretty cool.

Where was that job when I went to the job fair in college!

Lol I'm surprised it's not a hundred people.

Actually I know someone who's internship was crawling through the space shuttle wings and checking wires and stuff. While cool, it was apparently terrible work.

[Capt Spaulding]

SpaceX Launch Facility. A far cry from the Kennedy Center, but a lot of stuff going on.

Here's Super Heavy without the Starship stack. From a distance it doesn't look too impressive.



A closer image with a couple of workers on the launch platform [see red box] gives a sense of scale.



Super heavy at sunset.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Lol I'm surprised it's not a hundred people.

Actually I know someone who's internship was crawling through the space shuttle wings and checking wires and stuff. While cool, it was apparently terrible work.

I think that's just how "the real world works" unfortunately. I mean, some people do love their jobs. But sometimes you'd think Apple/Google/etc. would be great but then you learn about what a friend's experience there is like and it's actually pretty bad too.

But as with any of these, it's always gonna depend on the work environment too, which is a lot like micro-climates in that different orgs/teams in the same company can have drastically different feels and conditions.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by spike021

I mean, some people do love their jobs.

Here's my response to someone who says they "love their job".

"OK, let's test that. If everything you ever wanted, needed or desired came to you like mana from heaven, would you still get up every morning, face your commute and do this? If so, you love your job, if not, its just a means to an end you happen to enjoy."

I do know people that truly love their jobs and would do it for free, but they tends to be artists, clergy, maybe healers (although that's rare).

[Dadhawk]

Anyone going to watch the Inspiration4 launch tonight, and track the mission over it's three days? I've watch most of the Netflix series. It was OK. A little too much fluff and repeat though. There were occasions where you could see the raw emotion and concern, mostly in the face of family members.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Here's my response to someone who says they "love their job".

"OK, let's test that. If everything you ever wanted, needed or desired came to you like mana from heaven, would you still get up every morning, face your commute and do this? If so, you love your job, if not, its just a means to an end you happen to enjoy."

I do know people that truly love their jobs and would do it for free, but they tends to be artists, clergy, maybe healers (although that's rare).

Yes. But sometimes I hate my job.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Here's my response to someone who says they "love their job".

"OK, let's test that. If everything you ever wanted, needed or desired came to you like mana from heaven, would you still get up every morning, face your commute and do this? If so, you love your job, if not, its just a means to an end you happen to enjoy."

I do know people that truly love their jobs and would do it for free, but they tends to be artists, clergy, maybe healers (although that's rare).

Maybe some correction is needed; it depends on what they love about the job. Is it the job itself, the people, the work, the money?

There are people who, for instance, were early engineers at any of the top tech companies you can think of. They're millionaires at this point because of stocks. They could easily retire at like 30-40 years old. But instead they decide to work jobs anyway where they're back to making relatively low six figures again because they enjoy the challenges.

But also I think they just love making more money and having something "to do" during the week.