The Space Stuff thread

Here's a nice link jim: Mice, Flies, Cats, Dogs and Monkeys: The History of Animals in Space ... If you need more do a search for: Animals in space (google search)

More on RocketLab...

Rocket Lab
‏A weather & COLA window (space traffic) briefing has been completed for the @DARPA R3D2 launch from LC-1. With limited COLA windows and a high chance (45%) of violating weather criteria tomorrow, launch is now planned for no earlier than 22:30 UTC, 28 March.
1:22 PM - 26 Mar 2019

Rocket Lab on Twitter:

Apologies on this late posting about RocketLab, RL (real life) took precedence, as usual. Luckily there is a video:

There is a short introduction to the launch and the launch site then at 4:46 of the 23:29 video there are pre-launch preparations until the launch at 12:27. The video finishes up with shots of launch control and animation of the payload release at 22:20 and runs until the end at 23:29.

Posting NASA activity for April:

Upcoming Live Events (all times Eastern)

Tuesday, April 2, 2 p.m.: Preview briefing for April 8 spacewalk. From Johnson Space Center, NASA officials discuss the third in a series of three spacewalks.

Thursday, April 4, 6:45 a.m.: NASA TV coverage of Russian Progress cargo spacecraft launch. Liftoff is at 7:01 a.m. The uncrewed Progress 72 spacecraft will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, delivering food and supplies to the International Space Station.

Monday, April 8, 6:30 a.m.: Expedition 59 spacewalk. NASA astronaut Anne McClain and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency venture outside the International Space Station for the third in a series of three planned spacewalks.

Wednesday, April 17, 4:46 p.m.: Launch of the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia on the NG-11 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. Northrop Grumman's eleventh contracted commercial resupply services mission (NG-11) will deliver several tons of cargo including crew supplies and science experiments to the International Space Station.

Late April: Launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the CRS-17 resupply mission to the International Space Station.

Source: NASA Live

Time is EDT

Thursday, April 4, 6:45 a.m.: NASA TV coverage of Russian Progress cargo spacecraft launch. Liftoff is at 7:01 a.m. The uncrewed Progress 72 spacecraft will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, delivering food and supplies to the International Space Station.

You're welcome, Thanks for the reminder.

There's a lot of places that are already planning activities, from: NASA to Armstrong's Air and Space Museum (scroll to the bottom). As we get closer there should be a few documentaries scheduled on OTA (over the air) and / or cable TV keep an eye out.

If you're near Houston check for: plans for Apollo 50th (google search)

Search for: 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing (google search) and you will find a lot of activities.

Elon Musk: Static fire data looks good so far. This is first launch of Falcon Heavy Block 5, so we’re being extra cautious. Launch date might move.

Elon Musk added, Static fire of Falcon Heavy complete—targeting April 9 launch of Arabsat-6A from Launch Complex 39A in Florida
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1114214017684393986

I'm trying to nail down the launch time.




There was also a test firing of the Raptor engine:



Go to tweet to see Starhopper just lifted off & hit tether limits!
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1114390314565787648

Falcon Heavy is expected to launch at 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) on Tuesday. If all goes according to plan, the two side boosters will touch down in unison on their designated landing pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, while the central booster will land at sea, on one of the company’s two drone ships.

Source; Bottom of, SpaceX Fires Up Falcon Heavy Ahead of Rocket's 2nd-Ever Launch Next Week | Space.com

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1115347895958560771

Now targeting Falcon Heavy launch of Arabsat-6A on Wednesday, April 10 – weather forecast improves to 80% favorable

This is a geostationary orbit launch, so the window time will not change. Window starts at 6:36 pm EDT and closes at 8:32 pm EDT