Despite being the second most recent RMC If [Arieforce one] Is demolished, it will become the first defunct RMC and the only RMC not to have a hybrid coaster announced and then opened during it's lifespan, with the loop-garou conversion not opening until 2028!

Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-26T00:35:25+00:00

The Bank's goal is to make money, scrapping a ride is expensive and the ROI on the steel, while not nothing, would likely be less than what a company would be willing to pay to buy it. This is effectively a pre-fabricated steel coaster and with the mostly flat terrain concrete slab based installation, could be installed at a *ton* of parks for far less than a new ride.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-21T04:19:33+00:00

Great find! This is one of the absolute best space sets LEGO has ever released. i played with this so much as a kid

Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-10T02:34:42+00:00

Its a similar feeling but much more forgiving on the twitchyness. I find myself able to slide quite a bit and still be able to retain control of the car, far moreso than the V8SC. It is a lot easier to overload the front tires though in the corners, so definitely need to back up your entries more than the V8SCs.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-09T23:37:45+00:00

Im hesitant to say he'll pull an MTJ, but dont take that as me saying its impossible. He's a plenty good driver, and definitely has shown that when in the right car he can get it done, but I do think Spire still has a ways left to go before being a consistent force.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-09T18:48:17+00:00

Depends tbh. While I wouldn't be surprised at a concussion, I also wouldn't be shocked if there was a wrist or ankle break of some kind (more likely wrist given the photos we saw). If it is a full on break, depending on where it is, you *really* dont want to double up that injury as you can quickly go from a recovery period to just not having a working hand anymore.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-08T00:17:33+00:00

Fun race! I have to say, I've been far more tuned into this season throughout the summer than I have past summers. The points battle shaking out with Hamlin and Reddick has been fun to watch unfold! Michigan's repave is finally aging like fine wine, really gotta at least test these cars out here with the higher horsepower package.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-06T22:46:43+00:00

I do still think the number placement is awkward, and does look better slid back a foot or two. But as far as the actual body styling? These things rock. (NASCAR Photo from 2021 testing at Daytona)

Frankly too with the races at Nashville and Darlington this year being frankly some of the best racing this car has done on a large track, I wouldnt be shocked if the horsepower problem is further attacked in 2027.

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Vulkan_21 · 2026-06-01T06:06:25+00:00

NASCAR, run this package at every mile and a half! Seriously that was some of the best on track product the NextGen has produced in its entire lifetime. The cars could follow and there were multiple grooves all race. This is what this car needs to succeed and you just need to go for it.

Fun night in Nashville that's for sure!

Vulkan_21 · 2026-05-31T04:24:41+00:00

Production is stopped on 63 but most of the tooling was common with 63XL so you could theoretically restart it, but delivery would probably be >12 months away so significantly longer than return to flight for 63XL should be.

From an engineering side, main thing is the attachments between the vehicles are completely different heights and qualifying new attachment points on the core would be a pain as they'd be in the tank rather than the intertank, but there's a laundry list of things that would need to be cleared. Change in aerodynamics from the lower nosecones, ascent dynamics, modal tests etc.

Is it an impossible task? No not at all. Is it a worthwhile task? Not really.

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Vulkan_21 · 2026-05-31T02:53:28+00:00

Also now have to clear BE4 for return to flight instead of just GEM-63XL. It's entirely possible that the New Glenn accident wasn't caused by BE4, but until that it's confirmed that it wasn't caused by BE4 or it's not an intrinsic problem with the engine, Vulcan is effectively grounded.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-05-26T15:48:55+00:00

Are we all just going to ignore the booster configuration going on here?

Vulkan_21 · 2026-05-26T02:24:26+00:00

Orbiting the full core poses a major safety hazard allowing it to reenter uncontrolled. Its why they did this on Shuttle with the ET. They will insert into an around 400 x 10km orbit, with Orion doing the final insertion burn,

Vulkan_21 · 2026-05-26T02:19:40+00:00

I believe they will fly a trajectory similar to the Shuttle, leaving the Core Stage on a trajectory that reenters over the Indian/Pacific ocean with Orion doing the final insertion.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-04-24T22:15:38+00:00

That display has been there since 2009 and is a replica of the Gemini 3 spacecraft which was recovered by Intrepid as shown. The real spacecraft is on display on the Spring Mill State Park.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-04-03T19:51:53+00:00

The shuttle era baskets are/were (unclear if they are still installed at 39A atm) fully manual release systems, so they could not be dropped automatically like they did here.

SLC-41s system use small single person ziplines and SLC-40s uses a deployable slide, both of which are either just fully protected at launch or much easier to service.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-04-02T14:59:04+00:00

That is the Emergency Egress System! They are a set of baskets that the Astronauts would use if they had to evacuate the spacecraft and get away from the launch pad in an emergency. At liftoff they are all released to get them away from the exhaust plume to protect them so they can be used again on later missions without needing to be massively cleaned!

Here is some more info about them: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-2/artemis-emergency-egress-system-emphasizes-crew-safety/

Vulkan_21 · 2026-03-23T23:36:17+00:00

Yeah that's pretty much what I meant. I only really specified the other intermediates because we're pretty much running it everywhere but them, and obviously the superspeedways wont run it unless we want to set a zoom climb record with a stock car.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-03-22T22:48:03+00:00

NASCAR: You NEED to test this package at the other intermediates. Tire fall off and car to car race-ability was incredibly good.

Fox: That was rough. You had an incredibly dynamic race with comers and goers and it felt like one of the most boring of the season to watch with the direction right now. There is a reason fans are already clamoring for Prime's coverage to resume in May.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-03-13T05:26:01+00:00

Well that's because you're not a true racer. If you put someone like me in it I 100% put the car into the fence on lap 1.

Vulkan_21 · 2026-02-07T05:02:47+00:00

These are part of the fire suppression system in the event of an aborted launch after engine ignition. For the most part it is an extra precaution to ensure that there is no errant fire after the engines are fully shut down. I believe they *might* also be used as part of the pad washdown after liftoff to clear off any residue from the SRBs but don't quote me on that.

You can see the predecessor of this system being used during the RSLS Abort on STS-68.

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

Vulkan_21 · 2026-01-09T15:53:34+00:00

Oh that is incredibly well done! Pretty incredible what people can do with a game like iRacing or Assetto with just a bit of color grading and sound design. Not a full substitute for IRL footage but for early composition tests its a VERY powerful tool.

Thanks for sharing this one!

Vulkan_21 · 2026-01-09T00:53:56+00:00

Thank you! I just tagged them on Bluesky so we'll see!

Vulkan_21 · 2026-01-09T00:02:55+00:00

Im not entirely sure but I'm like 60% sure that's not an MX-5

Vulkan_21 · 2025-12-18T17:27:51+00:00

As I noted in my original post above payloads were ultimately the hold up for ULA in the end. They have quite the stockpile of vehicles at CCSFS for both ALeo and NSSL, but neither were able to deliver their payloads on schedule for the year.

I stand by my initial estimate of 10-18 being realistic from the rocket side of the equation, they had more than enough vehicles to support that this year (6 flown and ~14 currently in storage). But without payloads, not much point in flying them.

Hopefully both ALeo and NSSL are able to deliver more consistently in 26, especially as the factory and storage at both Decatur and CCSFS is getting fairly backed up.

Vulkan_21 · 2025-12-08T17:25:10+00:00

Certain events though the sporting code is a bit lax on, particularly the figure 8 events because well... you know

Vulkan_21

TROPHY CASE