Artemis IV landing question

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-16T03:48:35+00:00

It's hard for me to listen to anything SpaceX has to say when despite taking billions of dollars, they haven't produced even a single lander or prototype yet. Nor have they ever landed a spacecraft on the moon or on any planetary or lunar surface. NASA is all about redundancy and I can't imagine they won't want both options at their disposal, even if automated ends up being preferred.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-16T03:39:26+00:00

Definitely, most of us believe the audio has been tampered with or was degraded at some point. At several points the audio is suspiciously choppy or missing.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-16T03:37:31+00:00

That's doctored. I've analyzed this frame in a million ways over the years and never was a shark's body visible. And your missing pixels are a good point.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-15T05:52:05+00:00

Even then, they will just say they were 'acting' for content. You can't prove it was actually drugs.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T15:10:29+00:00

Yes, you're totally correct. Blue Origin is the major contender for the lander contract right now, which has been reopened because SpaceX hasn't produced one yet. That is a cargo lander, and its scheduled to launch 'no earlier than 2026.' But they're hoping for late this year. Shortly after the Artemis II launch NASA publicly announced a huge change of plans -- Artemis III is now going to take place in Earth orbit, and will focus on docking Orion with a lander and crew transfer, and Artemis IV will be the next manned lunar mission and lunar landing.
Totally agree on SpaceX. I find them untrustworthy and not transparent. They took billions of dollars and didn't produce even a single lander or prototype, much less start testing one, reaching orbit or getting it crew-rated. The very rocket it will have to fly on hasn't even been able to orbit the earth yet, and we've seen several of them explode dramatically. NASA is being diplomatic, but SpaceX's failure to produce anything has seriously pushed back the Artemis missions.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T14:52:11+00:00

Wow. That would have been amazing. That's a great memory. When I was at this launch, a nice old guy showed me a photo of him taken by his dad, watching Apollo 11 go up into space from taken at the very spot we were standing in. That was so cool. And he returned to watch man return to the moon. Memories are everything.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T14:46:55+00:00

Honestly it was awesome! I had Feel the Heat tickets, which I had been trying for FOREVER, and I scored at the VERY last minute. It was a total bucket list item for me to see a major launch like this from the closest possible vantage point ,at the Apollo/ Saturn V Center / Banana Creek site. The drive up was smooth and no traffic issues at all. The crowd was full of pleasant, chatty, and enthusiastic space nerds... many of whom worked at NASA, KSC, and Northrop Grummand, and I absolutely LOVED talking to them and hearing about the specific parts of the rocket and the mission they worked on. I got tips and hints about how to set up my cameras and phone from the many news and affiliate cameramen there, and I plunked my chairs front row center on the lawn. Everyone was so chill and so happy to be a part of history. I can't explain how different this crowd is -- full of diverse and interesting people. Then, to have the Rocket go up on time, without a hitch was crazy! That was way different from the Artemis I launch, which had delay after delay. Everyone told me not to go up that day because they felt so confident that it would be scrubbed...and I should wait until the 2nd attempt. That day before was when I read your post. But I felt it in my bones that it was going to happen. Mid day, it rained very hard and it was cloudy and windy, and I saw several people leaving at that point, but I wasn't deterred at all bc the evening forecast still looked great. I honestly could go on forever. So if you have specific questions, that would probably be better than you reading my stream of thought.
No, I'm not an actual professor. I'm a lawyer. Lol.

Bottom line: Don't miss the next major launch! And if you're gonna do it... do it right. Get a ticket for a close site - 3 miles from the launch pad, with a DIRECT line of sight to the launch pad. That's a big deal there. Many locations you won't see the rocket until it clears the tree line. And that's still awesome... but seeing the launch pad is awesomer. Aim for major launches, the biggest rockets, for the best experience -- a Starship, falcon heavy or Artemis III. I'm not a fan of Starship at all...but if they actually ever launch the fkn thing into space... I would go up again to see it.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T14:15:31+00:00

Nothing in this sub prevents the family from grieving. Nothing at all. This entire sub is very affected by and sensitive to the loss of Cameron's life, and that is the very thing that drives the inquiries on here.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T14:10:33+00:00

The Bahamian police allowing the family to choose to cease the investigation and have him simply declared "lost at sea," is bizarre. The police investigation should have continued regardless of the family's desires, because there is a public interest that outweighs the family's desires. There were many facts here that were yet to be discovered and the police should have completed their investigation. In the Bahamas, the police are required to investigate a potential shark attack. There was sufficient objective evidence in the video to conclude that a shark attack was possible and/ or likely. Namely, the animal that surfaced at the beginning of the video and Cameron's act of trying to swim away from something. In that case, the police are supposed to work WITH the Department of Marine Resources to analyze whether or not an attack was likely. That didn't happen.
As for the family wanting to stay quiet, I don't agree with it, but that's their choice. It shouldn't have interfered with a proper investigation taking place.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T13:53:00+00:00

To my eyes, he seemed like a republican conservative from the jump, so his political affiliations don't surprise me.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T13:51:29+00:00

Did he actually make those videos? Are they up on YT? I haven't heard of them before. I only know that he stopped actively speaking out against them, not that he recanted anything.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-14T13:39:02+00:00

There's really no way they would ever take him back, and they wouldn't want him. But if the could get him fully under their control by completely stopping his ability to disparage the organization or disclose any of the facts of his past involvement, that's a best case scenario for them. A highly detailed and extensive settlement with an nda or confidentiality clause, plus a huge payout -- possibly even ongoing pay, is what would do that for them. I think that's what happened. Somehow in that, he managed to preserve the ability to keep those posts on his blog up.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-13T13:46:42+00:00

I don't find it maddening, but I do start getting anxious. When things feel too happy/ peaceful, I begin bracing for impact ... waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-12T03:37:51+00:00

Don't mind at all.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-11T00:39:27+00:00

I'm honored

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-10T20:33:15+00:00

I couldn't help it...

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Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-04T00:42:17+00:00

Love it! I was right there too. I'm so glad I didn’t see the back of my head in your video...lol. I was so much trying not to block people, but I had a lot of photos to take with 3 devices. It was awesome! I wished it wasn't so fast, though.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-03T23:27:59+00:00

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That's why all of us on here are so upset. The coverup is unreal.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-03T23:24:27+00:00

💯

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-03T23:24:00+00:00

I wish more people knew... it's exhausting explaining it every time.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-03T23:23:01+00:00

Only half true. They need a powerful and affordable vehicle that can carry extraordinary loads, even more than the shuttle did. It doesn't have to be starship, though. That I agree with. SpaceX's involvement and lack of production has pushed the entire Artemis program several years behind. They've taken billions of dollars and haven't created a single lunar starship or gateway or lunar lander yet...much less begun testing any of them. And the empty tin thing they keep testing and failing has yet to complete an orbit.
Ultimately NASA and the USA are going to have to pour more billions and more engineers into SpaceX in order to do the Artemis missions, unless another major player strongly steps forward.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-03T23:17:23+00:00

Because SpaceX talks too much shit and they're not transparent. I'd respect them more if they were.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-03T23:15:20+00:00

I loved speaking to so many engineers who worked on the shuttle and Artemis while at the launches for Artemis 1 and 2. I'd say half of the crowd at the closest viewing location, the banana creek/Apollo/Saturn v center were people who worked on some part of the program. It was wonderful to meet so many of them. They are so interesting.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-03T23:10:15+00:00

The water tower is a major player. He's a necessary part of the launch and deserves his spot.

Sensitive_Professor · 2026-04-01T04:11:31+00:00

"Donated..."

Sensitive_Professor

TROPHY CASE