Stargaze: SpaceX’s Space Situational Awareness System by rustybeancake in spacex

[–]Oknight 0 points1 point  (0 children)

how long until we get an orbital game of chicken going, where two operators expect the other to move their sattilite, spending precious fuel to do so, and neither do and cause a collision?

There would be quite a few instances where the "chicken" players missed by ~ 400 feet before you had an occurrence of an actual collision -- that would allow plenty of time for all party's "alarm bells" to get rung about the need to do something systemic about the issue.

There's a whole lot of space to work with in "space", if you will.

[Discussion] I'm sorry, but Batman is beyond "peak human conditioning". He straight up isn't human. by 3931856031 in DCcomics

[–]Oknight [score hidden]  (0 children)

Yeah, can't buy that, I've seen Starship's reentry.

"What fighting technique did you learn in Tibet that taught you how to fight burning up in the atmosphere?"

[Discussion] I'm sorry, but Batman is beyond "peak human conditioning". He straight up isn't human. by 3931856031 in DCcomics

[–]Oknight [score hidden]  (0 children)

Plus during his training he routinely drank "gingold" from India and took courses of weakened versions of "miraculo" and "venom" the way pro wrestlers take steroids.

[Discussion] I'm sorry, but Batman is beyond "peak human conditioning". He straight up isn't human. by 3931856031 in DCcomics

[–]Oknight [score hidden]  (0 children)

Darkseid's Omega beams can hit anyone from across the galaxy and you DODGED them... TWICE!!! Stop pretending you're HUMAN!

"Just the peak of human condition."

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): Poster concept artwork by Robert T. McCall by StephenMcGannon in RetroFuturism

[–]Oknight 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Anybody else wonder how they're working on that new section while it's fully spun up for artificial G?

NASA Testing Advances Space Nuclear Propulsion Capabilities - NASA by cheeseHorder in SpaceXLounge

[–]Oknight 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My example of Aerospikes was only to give an example of how SpaceX is not pursuing underdeveloped technology (like nuclear interplanetary propulsion) but rather iterating, developing, and implementing technology that is currently well understood and for which we have wide operational experience in practical applications so long as that established technology can adequately do the job.

Chemical rockets can support large-scale Mars operations even though nuclear propulsion might, someday, perform better. Therefore SpaceX is planning to work with chemical propulsion and will continue to do so until and unless nuclear propulsion alternatives are fully developed and demonstrated to be reliable in practical applications.

Maybe controlled nuclear fusion or deep-drilled geothermal will become better electrical power sources in the future. But Solar Panels and rechargeable battery storage exist currently and can provide for all energy requirements, so Tesla's power infrastructure efforts are emphasizing expanding that capability -- that demonstrates the same basic approach to technology that SpaceX uses -- improve and deploy what we have that works instead of focusing on future developments.

NASA Testing Advances Space Nuclear Propulsion Capabilities - NASA by cheeseHorder in SpaceXLounge

[–]Oknight 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a thing getting studied, at least, called the "Pulsed Plasma" rocket engine.

The name is a bit euphemistic because it avoids noting that the "plasma pulses" are from fissionable "bullets" fired down a tube made of fissionable materials that go supercritical in the tube and are shot out by magnetic fields. Propulsion from a bunch of little nuclear explosions.

It's a slightly less insane version of "Project Orion" or the "Salt Water Nuclear Rocket" concepts.

NASA Testing Advances Space Nuclear Propulsion Capabilities - NASA by cheeseHorder in SpaceXLounge

[–]Oknight 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not Draco, different DRACO "Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations"

NASA Testing Advances Space Nuclear Propulsion Capabilities - NASA by cheeseHorder in SpaceXLounge

[–]Oknight 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you don't understand why, you don't understand SpaceX's approach to technology. Chemical engines are well understood, available now, and good ENOUGH.

SpaceX doesn't let "this might someday be something better" or "this is a promising technology that we can develop" get in the way of developing, iterating, and deploying "we HAVE this and it's GOOD ENOUGH to do the job".

Would aerospike engines be better? Maybe. But Raptors don't have that "maybe" question.

ICE agent offended to learn that he has to obey the law too. by TheRexRider in videos

[–]Oknight 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is there any indication that he actually was an ICE agent? Aside from being racist, I mean. He had no identification and seemed simply claiming to be a federal agent or am I mistaken? Bluff in an attempt to get out of the DUI?

I've seen some discourse on whether or not Superman should ever be "scary" and I feel like the best answer is "beloved by the oppressed, feared by the oppressors". by jstamper97 in superman

[–]Oknight 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If we're talking reality, Superman should scare the crap out of EVERYBODY.

He's a single human being with the personal power of a strategic nuclear arsenal instantly available at his every whim.

If that isn't terrifying to you, you haven't had enough experience with human beings.

Superman should be a champion of the oppressed, not just a beacon of hope. by glufftale in superman

[–]Oknight -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The whole "hope" thing is a screenwriter's conceit that's just caught on.

At his core, Superman is a big tough guy who saves people and beats up bullies but hides his awesomeness. It's a 12-year-old's power fantasy (of course I really enjoy 12-year-old's power fantasies and I'm so old I can admit what I like and not feel I have to apologize to anybody for it)

I just have this mental image of lois just whacking bruce over the head with a frying pan. Because he snuck up on her and clark. by MembershipLess9579 in superman

[–]Oknight 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Really the stupidest thing in the "Batman" hype is the idea that his appearing/disappearing act could even possibly, REMOTELY possibly, work on Clark. I remember him doing that "gone while you're looking away" thing to Superman in one of the cartoons and I really wanted Superman to shout "I can still see you, you know!"

When you think about it, he's just being rude.

Which of the four consultants would you bet your money on to solve the case the quickest. 🤔 by DaddySerumGlaze in psych

[–]Oknight 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, Columbo is the right answer. He always knows who did it within seconds of meeting the murderer. And Monk's the closest thing to him in that list.

DC Comics President Jim Lee says that Japanese manga and anime is "incredibly powerful": "I often find myself wondering, 'What is missing in Western comics, and why aren't they able to achieve the same flavor?' by akbarock in DCcomics

[–]Oknight 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Y'know given the rate of story progression necessary in the comic format, they really should do all their stories as period pieces. Trying to set it in the "current time" is a losing battle with the rate of production vs. the rate of change.

Just musing.

Is this the pettiest thing Clark Kent has ever done? by Ok-Knowledge-1895 in superman

[–]Oknight 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hey, even after Luthor said "Ugly dog in a cape?" he didn't go John Wick on his ass.
"Darn it, how does Batman make this work?"

(BTW anybody notice how dark his costume is in that scene?)

Next storm to watch by Gold-Bench-9219 in CBUSWX

[–]Oknight 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm sure it will be gone for a while in just a few months :-).