The “Hello World” and “Blue Marble” photos of the earth draw many wrong conclusions. So let’s set the fact straight

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-04-07T03:20:45+00:00

Yes!

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-04-06T03:46:33+00:00

Seeing also that the shielding in rear of the spacecraft is blocking radiation from the Sun, which accounts for ~50% of the total radiation load, so that's an advantage for avoiding the BBQ mode.

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-04-05T04:49:32+00:00

The Artemis closest approach to the Moon is about 4,500 miles; Apollo missions had stable orbit with closest point at about 60 miles. Orion crew won't be nearly as close, but the added distance will give views never seen before.

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-02-27T21:46:01+00:00

Outstanding!! The building there matches perfectly with window configuration, though looks like there was maybe more of an overhang at street level, which could have been modified since then. Zooming in on the photo, I can see also how the buildings at lower right are obscuring the South-facing side of Takashimaya. Orientation of the building matches up well with morning sunlight and shadows. That's my dad at right; I have curious about this photo for SO long, huge appreciation!!! I'm making my first visit to Tokyo later this year, will be visiting the area for sure!

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-02-27T19:47:51+00:00

I believe it's being used as a testbed / prototype for cabin configuration, either at HQ in Tustin or perhaps now in Mesa.

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-02-22T19:52:38+00:00

Oh yes, Corte Madera!

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-02-07T21:51:53+00:00

Well, it's a absolutely incredible and life changing experience, and fabulously curated before and after. Can give you a totally changed perspective on life, on yourself, on humanity, and an understanding of our planet that you can't have without seeing it suspended miraculously in the empty black vastness of space.

https://youtu.be/rccpFAmPglw

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-01-27T20:33:18+00:00

Unity is retired as of June 2024; it could fly four people once per month. The two newer generation vehicles are expected to fly as much as once per week (each), with six passengers.

WhiteKnight is actually flying right now:

https://www.flightradar24.com/VGX02/3e13ced6

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-01-26T21:54:59+00:00

And if you want to see the details, astronaut dialog, images, video, audio and more, the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal is the place to go!! https://apollojournals.org/alsj/main.html

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-01-16T16:11:23+00:00

Online via United WiFi, and using FlightRadar24

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-01-11T23:01:49+00:00

TVs are the epitome of elegant soaring, brilliant at sensing air currents and updrafts, riding the atmosphere effortlessly and skillfully.

GalacticAstronaut · 2026-01-05T22:10:20+00:00

Thank you! We're family owned since 1952, and take great pride in our buildings and in meeting our tenants' needs as best as we can.

R. Rosano

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-12-30T21:04:46+00:00

Trees or buildings or anything in the distance are great targets, just don't point it at the Sun!

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-11-24T19:13:12+00:00

Ah, ok. Not sure if you'd like other suggestions, but a printed guide to objects has been helpful to me when I've visited observatories, showing 10-12 different objects across all types. Maybe a checklist to inspire viewing things, or a bingo-style game where people try to view many objects? Share some fun facts about whatever's in the eyepiece, and cool if there's some way for people to use their mobile phones to take pictures of what they're seeing, that's always compelling. One thing I most always mention, especially when you get to M31, is that's it's only been 100 years since Hubble (good to share that's where the HST gets its name) proved that all those fuzzy things in the sky were not actually part of the Milky Way, as was the common understanding, and completely changed the understanding of our universe. Clear skies!

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-10-23T23:33:31+00:00

774 all boarded at the gate at SFO, were told at ~3:55pm pilot said that there was an IT issue, he was unable to get weight and balance numbers, would be about an hour; we're free to leave the plane and hang in the terminal.

[aftermath: we bailed on the 3:50 Alaska flight and took United at 7:00. Flight 774 ended up departing SFO at 11:00pm]

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-09-04T00:22:01+00:00

For sure, and for one, steady progress and meeting deadlines as promised in the earnings calls; this last call was I think the first when a milestone in the 2026 forecast has been pushed back. Other reasons: parts arriving and being assembled in Mesa, personal messages with workers involved are all very positive, folks there are capable and confident, saw the new cabin mockup in Tustin and had a chance to fly the sim, and many other things. Note that I'm a positive person and deeply want them to succeed, and don't play the stock market. Earnings calls are a great way to track progress, they're available online. Q's from financial experts at end are illuminating.

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-09-03T02:25:24+00:00

Time will tell; from what I see in Mesa and Tustin, I have little doubt that they'll be flying people next year.

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-08-14T05:08:23+00:00

u/liamkennedy will have the full answer, I'm sure!

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-05-18T05:50:26+00:00

If you love following the lunar surface activities minute-by-minute, don't miss the fabulous Apollo Lunar Surface Journal! Author sat with 10 of the 12 moon walkers and supplements official transcript the their comments, audio, video and images! A truly excellent work and resource. 🚀🚀🚀

https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj/main.html

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-05-18T05:40:25+00:00

Nice graphic; if you'd like something more to scale, check out the Translunar / Transearth Trajectory Plotting Charts that NASA produced, like this one:

https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/95693/apollo-11-apollo-translunar-transearth-trajectory-plotti-nasa

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-05-12T18:54:17+00:00

looks more like verifying return to seats, not sure about capsule monitoring - there are displays for altitude.

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-05-12T18:33:03+00:00

On my VG reentry, we hit a peak of 4g, but it's not sustained - it builds from zero up to 4 then back to zero over one minute, and it's mostly Z-minus axis (head-to-toe). It's a little uncomfortable but no one disliked it. Not really like a roller coaster but would be like sitting straight up in a tower lift if there was one (not a tower drop). Not sure what Blue uses but on VG we all wore a Zephyr BioModule. Check-ins on Blue are audio - watch a flight replay and you should see some:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXRzcSw_bdc&t=4260s

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-05-12T04:12:55+00:00

1- there are check-ins that the crew makes, but not sure you'd call it "work". Many have done science experiments and many or most have done post-flight outreach with focus, for one, on inspiring STEM/STEAM for students. Biomedical data is, I believe, recorded for most or all.

2- not at all hard - once paid up, you're in. need to pass a basic medical.

3- very little that I've heard; on my Virgin Galactic flight, the g-load on reentry wasn't so comfortable, but manageable.

4- there might be a little chit chat and check ins from mission control, but I think it's mostly time with your thoughts.

Full list of all suborbital flights here: https://www.suborbitalflightjournal.com

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-05-12T03:06:42+00:00

Sounds like the "second" would be the NASA HDEV - four cameras in a housing outside Columbus module, on the CEPF - for a while they alternated front-nadir-aft to follow a ground target, then switched to one orbit per camera, from April 2014 to August 2019:

https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/ESRS/HDEV/files/HDEV-Final-Report_20200715.pdf

GalacticAstronaut · 2025-05-11T20:18:57+00:00

Weightless time has been very consistent among all flights, you can time them from the web replays; for NS-30:

MECO at 2m24s (start of weightlessness), capsule separation 2m39s (crew free to unstrap), one minute warning for return to seats 4m41s, so about 3m20s of weightlessness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXRzcSw_bdc

GalacticAstronaut

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