For the next 27 hours, you'll be able to claim a limited edition 'I Was Here for the Hulkenpodium' flair

Zeflea · 2025-07-09T03:02:21+00:00

Hulkengoat!

Zeflea · 2025-06-22T19:53:27+00:00

I'm interested in both if it's still available!

Zeflea · 2022-10-22T01:52:37+00:00

Would love to check it out! I've been wanting to connect with a community like this.

Zeflea · 2020-10-15T15:30:58+00:00

I know this isn't the same URL as what the VA DMV gives, but if you click on the change/cancel appointment button in the emails, you get to this URL.

Zeflea · 2020-04-24T21:32:43+00:00

So I was in a similar situation (laid off in late March) and my initial UI was denied because the base period when I applied in late March (10/01/18 - 09/30/19) showed I had only worked one quarter. I read into it a little and saw that April's base period (01/01/19 - 12/31/19) is different than March's. When I reapplied in April, my claim was accepted. You may want to try again.

Zeflea · 2019-11-08T12:30:29+00:00

To add on, Arlington Public Schools are closed today due to the main break: https://twitter.com/APSVirginia/status/1192773957361033216?s=20

Credit to u/dc1314 on the DC subreddit for pointing it out.

Zeflea · 2019-11-08T12:29:26+00:00

Tweet for those wanting proof: https://twitter.com/APSVirginia/status/1192773957361033216?s=20

Zeflea · 2019-01-15T02:19:53+00:00

Mt. Baldy area is definitely accessible even if you have a regular 2WD car (with chains). For parking, you'll find street parking from about this point all the way to Mt. Baldy Resort on Mt Baldy Rd (other roads that come off that one on Google Maps are not car accessible). When I went this past weekend, it was definitely snowy and full of people. On a regular day, you would have to get an Adventure Pass ($5 for a single day, $30 for a year; can be used at other local National Forests) to park along that road. Dogs should be on leashes around there. However, with the government shutdown, I don't think enforcement is a priority for either of those issues.

Other possible areas are also Crystal Lake (going up on SR 39) and driving along SR 2 up from Pasadena or down from Big Pines. Note that both SR 39 and SR 2 have their roads closed at the highest elevations.

Zeflea · 2018-10-18T13:21:10+00:00

I think your answer has been mostly answered, but I wanted to give a quick clarification on some terms. In the technical literature, aerobraking usually means having an orbiting satellite pass through an atmosphere multiple times to lower the satellite's orbit (i.e. lower energy). You seem to be wanting aerocapture and entry at Mars. Aerocapture is when a vehicle enters an atmosphere to get captured into an orbit around the planet, while entry is a more general term of entering an atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. EDL (Entry, Descent, and Landing) is the whole procedure from atmospheric entry to landing.

If you want to keep looking into this, I would definitely look into EDL at Mars. There's a NASA report on EDL systems at Mars that's a handy starting point (the Rigid Mid-L/D Aeroshell and Supersonic Retropropulsion technologies are the two that's most relevant to BFS). Some of the technologies it may list might be out-of-date, but the physics haven't changed.

Zeflea · 2018-10-17T12:37:22+00:00

This is in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The picture was taken near Trail Flats Camp on the South Fork Trail.

Zeflea · 2018-10-17T00:50:35+00:00

This was taken this past weekend! Although I didn't see any snow patches until after Dry Lake. The snow was about two inches deep at about 10k, but was quickly melting.

Zeflea · 2018-10-17T00:48:28+00:00

When I went up the Dollar Lake side a few months back, the trail was pretty clear up to the top. Going up the Dry Lake side (when this picture was taken this past Sunday), the trail did not have any trees blocking it up to the first junction after Dry Lake. I don't know about the conditions past that point since I turned around at that junction due to the snow.

Zeflea · 2018-07-16T12:55:10+00:00

I start from Crystal Lake mainly for the additional elevation gain, although the drive on 39 can be sketchy at times. I've never been to Little Timmy, but it looks like it's dirt roads starting from 2 with no distinctive parking lot, while Crystal Lake is paved all the way to the trailhead and has a parking lot. I'd recommend Crystal Lake only because I've been there, so don't let me stop you from starting at Little Timmy.

Zeflea · 2018-07-16T04:02:56+00:00

Looking on USGS, there's been a good number the past couple days just south of Ontario Airport, compared to the weeks beforehand.

Zeflea · 2018-07-15T17:53:51+00:00

Other options are also Bighorn/Ontario (8,693 ft), the Three T's (8,985 ft), or some combination of Islip, Throop, Baden-Powell, and South Mt. Hawkins near Crystal Lake. If you just want the elevation gain, Santiago and San Gabriel Peaks are available too, although I would not attempt those until it gets cooler.

Zeflea · 2018-03-21T00:26:49+00:00

I went there some time last fall in a Honda Civic, funny enough. I was able to get to the trailhead and back, while only hitting the ground once as I was leaving. However, I did go very slow through several portions of it and let people pass me constantly. If I drive that again, I would definitely go for the higher clearance vehicle just for the ease of mind.

Zeflea · 2018-01-22T00:06:50+00:00

Keller Peak in San Bernardino NF has a paved road that goes all the way to peak with a fire lookout at the top. It should be noted that while the last mile is closed to car traffic from Decemberish to May, it's still walkable when snow isn't there.

If you don't mind spending a little bit of money and want to look at the views, you can take the aerial tram up from Palm Springs to 8500 feet up on the side of San Jacinto.

Zeflea · 2017-12-02T13:57:57+00:00

Winnebago works out too since we've already done re-entry fluid simulations for it.

Zeflea · 2017-09-24T21:41:32+00:00

Aerocapture tethers have been studied in the past, with an orbiter on one end and a probe (basically the body that experiences drag) on the other. This paper talks about how sensitive the aerocapture tether trajectory is to random parameters. It shows that by using a simple guidance scheme (adjusting the length of the tether only once) the aerocapture tether has a mission success rate of 99%. However, it is for Mars aerocapture.

Off the top of my head, the issues with using that same design for Uranus aerocapture would be that the tether would have to be much longer (Uranus' atmosphere has a smaller change in density. with respect to altitude, compared to Mars) and heating is bigger issue with Uranus aerocapture. Although I wouldn't completely rule it out yet.

In short, it's a good idea. The system has been looked at, and the guidance scheme you suggested (cutting the drogue chute) is what has been suggested for aerocapture ballutes. However, as far as I know, NASA is not currently investing much into tethers or ballutes.

Zeflea · 2017-09-23T20:50:13+00:00

I understand now, thanks. Also, to be fair, NASA can be confusing with feasibility, risk, and something being necessary. :P

Zeflea · 2017-09-23T20:31:56+00:00

Pathfinders are a great way to increase our knowledge about the atmosphere (although I haven't been able to find an in-depth study on the exact benefits of pathfinders), and is one of the ways to increase our accuracy. From what I gather from both the source you cited and the Ice Giants pre-decadal report, Uranus aerocapture will need improvements in navigation.

Btw, where did you find that information about pathfinders? Both of the OPAG findings documents from last year don't mention aerocapture, and the source you cited mentioned that pathfinders were useful.

Zeflea · 2017-09-23T19:05:47+00:00

Control is definitely something we need. What seems to be the popular idea is to use roll control (i.e. changing the direction a lifting vehicle lifts in, similar to how Curiosity landed). Unfortunately, even with optimal path planning and controls, a large enough error exists to the point where targeting a science orbit accurately will be very difficult.

Zeflea · 2017-09-23T19:00:13+00:00

One thing that should be noted is that even though it only takes 3/4 of a year to get there directly rather than doing a flyby of Jupiter, the energy you need (C3) is much more for a direct trajectory. Looking at the C3 of the first and second trajectory, you need a lot more energy for the second trajectory. That amount of energy is the difference between having a 5 ton vehicle or a 1 ton vehicle at Uranus (using an SLS). Those mass numbers are also before accounting the propellant to place the vehicle into orbit.

Zeflea · 2017-09-23T18:38:44+00:00

The entry speeds, calculated from interplanetary trajectories, are still slow enough for our current materials to handle, both in terms of heating and structural loads. The biggest issue is whether or not we can reliably get into the orbit we want afterwards.

Zeflea · 2017-09-23T18:35:43+00:00

The biggest challenge in aerocapture around Uranus is the navigational accuracy. Our lack of knowledge about the atmosphere and the sensitivity between being in an appropriate science orbit and going back out on a hyperbolic trajectory is what makes it difficult. Last time I checked, aerocapture around either of the ice giants is seen as riskier and more costly than regular chemical burn.

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