To the Moon, Alice

I just realized I had time to get over to the Artemis launch, if I had planned on it earlier.

Long time ago, I saw a shuttle launch. At that time, I only had a Kodak disposable camera. A teeny, little spot on my picture which you had to explain what it was if you showed it to people.

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.

I found the CBS News app on my Roku 4 and at the top I clicked play and it opened up to a clock at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas (at 4:49 PM EDT) and a countdown clock at 1:34 left on the clock.

Now it says no-go to launch due to a technical issue. NASA working to fix issue with rocket's flight termination system. The countdown clock continues.
Kennedy Space Center rocket pictured.

Artemis II: Mission Around The Moon

James West could not be found.

With 1:10 left on the clock the flight termination issue has been resolved, Artemis launch is a go.

AI: Apollo 10 was the fourth human spaceflight in the United States' Apollo program and the second to orbit the Moon. NASA, the mission's operator, described it as a "dress rehearsal" for the first Moon landing.
May 18, 1969 – May 26, 1969

LIVE: Artemis II Launch Day Updates
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/01/live-artemis-ii-launch-day-updates/#:~:text=The%20first%20crewed%20deep%2Dspace%20flight,than%20any%20previous%20human%20mission%2C

5:15 p.m.

Engineers have now resolved an issue with the hardware that communicates with the flight termination system that would have prevented the ground from sending a signal to destruct the rocket if it were to veer off course during ascent, to protect public safety. A confidence test was performed to ensure that the hardware is ready to support today’s launch.

Meanwhile, technicians have completed the launch abort system hatch closure – an essential step that ensures the Orion spacecraft is fully sealed and ready for flight. The hatch provides an additional protective barrier for the crew module, designed to safeguard astronauts during the Artemis II flight path and, if necessary, enable a rapid escape in the event of an emergency.

During this phase, the closeout team verifies hatch alignment, engages locking mechanisms, and confirms pressure integrity. These checks guarantee that the launch abort system hatch can perform its function flawlessly, maintaining structural integrity under extreme launch conditions. With the hatch secured, Orion enters its final configuration for liftoff, marking one of the last major milestones before fueling and launch.

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nNiUBVwF-o

I'll watch it on my TV, it creates problems for my computer monitor.
Brave explorers are headed for the far reaches of the galaxy in the continuation of the story that began with "2001: A Space Odyssey." Their destination is Jupiter, where the Russian and American astronauts will conduct their investigation. Drs. Heywood Floyd (Roy Scheider), Walter Curnow (John Lithgow) and R. Chandra (Bob Balaban), along with shipmates Tanya (Helen Mirren) and Dave (Keir Dullea), aim to uncover what led to disaster for the deceased astronauts who preceded them.

35 minutes on countdown: a temperature sensor was found to be reading out of range. There's up to a 2 hour launch window available from countdown zero.

I haven't seen CBS in so long I forgot who Major Garrett was and some guests mentioned his name as he was interviewing them. Now that I identified him, his time is up and a new host will appear after the commercial.

Four orbits around the Earth then a 4 day trip to the Moon with just a simple loop around the dark side of the moon then 4 days back to Earth. (10 day total trip.) If NASA is defunded while they are in space, it's a real possibility.

Liftoff looks better in color than black & white.
Rocket hit 10,000 mph at 77 miles up from Earth. Might have to check an old Star Trek episode about Mr. Seven about that. Big booster separated at 100 miles above Earth. 243K miles to the Moon. Rocket going 18.4K mph at 150 miles above the Earth, and slowing down. The miles to the Moon counter is counting down much faster than the miles from Earth. 240K miles to the Moon and 450 miles from Earth.

Quote: rxwine

I just realized I had time to get over to the Artemis launch, if I had planned on it earlier.

Long time ago, I saw a shuttle launch. At that time, I only had a Kodak disposable camera. A teeny, little spot on my picture which you had to explain what it was if you showed it to people.

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.
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One day the stars will be coming to us. When we merge with Andromeda, we'll have new neighbors.

"Conquering" doesn't mean much when we're talking about extraterrestrials. There are predicted to be planets everywhere, but life and especially intelligent life is predicted to be fleetingly rare. A civilization advanced enough for interstellar travel that was looking for a planet would find countless uninhabited planets that are exactly what they want, before they find one with an intelligent and dangerous species like ours.

That's one theory. Another is that any planet with earthlike conditions is bound to develop earthlike life. It's possible a "class M" planet is the only place where intelligent life can live, so their planet would be just like ours and the planets they are looking to conquer would be just like ours. But I don't think a civilization where those instincts are the norm would survive to a spacefaring age. Too much fighting among themselves.

Quote: rxwine

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.
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If.

Actually, we shouldn't really worry about "super advanced conquering aliens" because, for the most part, they have no way of knowing that we are here. Besides, for all we know, the oxygen on Earth would kill them.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Quote: rxwine

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.
link to original post

If.

Actually, we shouldn't really worry about "super advanced conquering aliens" because, for the most part, they have no way of knowing that we are here. Besides, for all we know, the oxygen on Earth would kill them.
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Hey! How do you know they don't know we're here?

(for that matter, they could have already sent the equivalent of cosmic 'bug spray' our way.)

I was tracking the launch on the official website, and with about three minutes to go, I turned on my TV and tuned in to CNN. For whatever reason, CNN didn't show the launch live; it was about fifteen seconds behind.
I expected to be spending long weekends on the moon by now, so this mission doesn't really thrill me.

Networks always have some kind of timing issue. My streaming box is at least 1 minute behind, like it has a 1 minute no skip buffer from CD player days.

Quote: rxwine

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Quote: rxwine

Do you realize IF it isn't really possible to solve the travel time across great distances to all dozen or first hundred of nearest stars, then there's no reason to worry about super advanced conquering aliens. Because it won't matter how smart they are, they still can't do it, it if can't be done.
link to original post

If.

Actually, we shouldn't really worry about "super advanced conquering aliens" because, for the most part, they have no way of knowing that we are here. Besides, for all we know, the oxygen on Earth would kill them.
link to original post

Hey! How do you know they don't know we're here?

(for that matter, they could have already sent the equivalent of cosmic 'bug spray' our way.)
link to original post

With the thousands of alien abductees that have been returned, it makes sense that some humans weren't returned and might now be living in deep space. They may exist as specimens in a zoo or research lab, or they may roam the stars as members of the crew that kidnapped them. Or possibly not.

The high energy cosmic radiation that permeates space will deliver a fatal dose to any creature made up of organic molecules if they are in space for many tens of years. The only engineering approach I am aware of is to surround the spacecraft with, say, a hundred yards of concrete or similar dense material - which would make the spacecraft incredibly heavy.

Given physics as we know it, the best strategy I have seen (in SF novels) is to use an asteroid as a spacecraft - tunnel a hole into the middle of it as living quarters for the crew and attach a rocket thruster somewhere on the exterior.

If there are any extraterrestrials presently on Earth, they must have utilized some physics that we do not yet understand.

I think we are using are resources incorrectly to explore space instead of putting these great scientists to work to confirm dice setting strategy

Quote: gordonm888

The high energy cosmic radiation that permeates space will deliver a fatal dose to any creature made up of organic molecules if they are in space for many tens of years. The only engineering approach I am aware of is to surround the spacecraft with, say, a hundred yards of concrete or similar dense material - which would make the spacecraft incredibly heavy.

Given physics as we know it, the best strategy I have seen (in SF novels) is to use an asteroid as a spacecraft - tunnel a hole into the middle of it as living quarters for the crew and attach a rocket thruster somewhere on the exterior.

If there are any extraterrestrials presently on Earth, they must have utilized some physics that we do not yet understand.
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I suppose the existence of unknown physics is a given. (E.g., earliest part of Big Bang, inside black holes and some of sort of unifying theory)

Quote: rxwine

Quote: gordonm888

The high energy cosmic radiation that permeates space will deliver a fatal dose to any creature made up of organic molecules if they are in space for many tens of years. The only engineering approach I am aware of is to surround the spacecraft with, say, a hundred yards of concrete or similar dense material - which would make the spacecraft incredibly heavy.

Given physics as we know it, the best strategy I have seen (in SF novels) is to use an asteroid as a spacecraft - tunnel a hole into the middle of it as living quarters for the crew and attach a rocket thruster somewhere on the exterior.

If there are any extraterrestrials presently on Earth, they must have utilized some physics that we do not yet understand.
link to original post

I suppose the existence of unknown physics is a given. (E.g., earliest part of Big Bang, inside black holes and some of sort of unifying theory)
link to original post

Not to mention dark energy, dark matter, fine-tuning of the universe, problems with the microwave background, etc . . . I don't think we're at the end of physics history, we'll keep discovering new things. But it's as if the universe was designed to eternally isolate species born around different stars.

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: rxwine

Quote: gordonm888

The high energy cosmic radiation that permeates space will deliver a fatal dose to any creature made up of organic molecules if they are in space for many tens of years. The only engineering approach I am aware of is to surround the spacecraft with, say, a hundred yards of concrete or similar dense material - which would make the spacecraft incredibly heavy.

Given physics as we know it, the best strategy I have seen (in SF novels) is to use an asteroid as a spacecraft - tunnel a hole into the middle of it as living quarters for the crew and attach a rocket thruster somewhere on the exterior.

If there are any extraterrestrials presently on Earth, they must have utilized some physics that we do not yet understand.
link to original post

I suppose the existence of unknown physics is a given. (E.g., earliest part of Big Bang, inside black holes and some of sort of unifying theory)
link to original post

Not to mention dark energy, dark matter, fine-tuning of the universe, problems with the microwave background, etc . . . I don't think we're at the end of physics history, we'll keep discovering new things. But it's as if the universe was designed to eternally isolate species born around different stars.
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Or perhaps... to isolate intelligent observers from different stars. We don't know how anthropic all of this is yet or what happens when two intelligent observers, one having information forbidden to the other by some physical law, meet. A rock from a distant galaxy can't testify and tell me that the cracks and spallation I see on the surface don't tell the real story, but an ET could tell me stories I am not allowed to hear. A form of "cosmic censorship," perhaps.

Quote: gordonm888

The high energy cosmic radiation that permeates space will deliver a fatal dose to any creature made up of organic molecules if they are in space for many tens of years. The only engineering approach I am aware of is to surround the spacecraft with, say, a hundred yards of concrete or similar dense material - which would make the spacecraft incredibly heavy.

I had Van Allen as a professor at the University of Iowa.

Here's a good one. Possibly the first science fiction film ever made. And it's quite enjoyable!



It's interesting what they predicted accurately, and what they didn't. They did realize the craft would be an aerodynamic object, but they fashioned it as an artillery shell being fired from a gun, which is something they were familiar with in 1902. They also had it splashing down into water when returning to earth.

Since the end goal of our new Moon ventures seems to be building a Moon base, I was wondering about the odds of a significant meteorite strike being as there is no atmosphere to slow or burn one up. Not very high at all for anything approaching marble size. And they could even cover the initial structure with Moon dirt where they don't need anything exposed.

Another interesting fact if true.

Quote:

Researchers have calculated that using local lunar concrete, a tower with a base only as large as a living room couch could reach over a mile (1.6 km) high

...because of 1/6 gravity

Imagine the sponsors and advertising possibilities!

I'm hearing stories that Microsoft Outlook crashed, and this is causing some trouble for the Artemis crew.

They could fix their toilet, but not their email communications.

I found it amusing, anyway.

I realize they have all trained for this, but how long can a man survive in space without email?

As I understand, they use the email system for slight delay data transmission. Apparently, they expect to be taking some photos on their trip that they think we'll be eager to see, ASAP.

I believe there are also some scientific data sets that they want to send home for review while they still have an easy chance to get a second look at anything particularly interesting.

Quote: ChumpChange

Networks always have some kind of timing issue. My streaming box is at least 1 minute behind, like it has a 1 minute no skip buffer from CD player days.
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I think that has to do with when they went digital.

Quote: rxwine

Since the end goal of our new Moon ventures seems to be building a Moon base, I was wondering about the odds of a significant meteorite strike being as there is no atmosphere to slow or burn one up. Not very high at all for anything approaching marble size. And they could even cover the initial structure with Moon dirt where they don't need anything exposed.
...

Not just a direct impact, but when a meteor strikes anywhere on the moon there is no atmosphere to slow down the debris from the impact either. So if there is a strike anywhere within line of sight the structure will be getting some of that mess too.

Quote: billryan

I realize they have all trained for this, but how long can a man survive in space without email?
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Have to go old school with the post office.

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor outer space, stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

Quote: Dieter

As I understand, they use the email system for slight delay data transmission. Apparently, they expect to be taking some photos on their trip that they think we'll be eager to see, ASAP.

I believe there are also some scientific data sets that they want to send home for review while they still have an easy chance to get a second look at anything particularly interesting.
link to original post

There is actually a lot of fun (if you’re a networking nerd) work going on with extending the internet to deep space and interplanetary distances. ISS is close enough that they can connect to the regular internet but Lunar distance and beyond requires new delay-tolerant protocols. Don’t know if Artemis will be testing any of those. But if/when they get it working you’ll be able to get porn anywhere in the solar system!

Quote: TumblingBones

Quote: Dieter

As I understand, they use the email system for slight delay data transmission. Apparently, they expect to be taking some photos on their trip that they think we'll be eager to see, ASAP.

I believe there are also some scientific data sets that they want to send home for review while they still have an easy chance to get a second look at anything particularly interesting.
link to original post

There is actually a lot of fun (if you’re a networking nerd) work going on with extending the internet to deep space and interplanetary distances. ISS is close enough that they can connect to the regular internet but Lunar distance and beyond requires new delay-tolerant protocols. Don’t know if Artemis will be testing any of those. But if/when they get it working you’ll be able to get porn anywhere in the solar system!
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Except Arizona.

Quote: billryan

Quote: TumblingBones

Quote: Dieter

As I understand, they use the email system for slight delay data transmission. Apparently, they expect to be taking some photos on their trip that they think we'll be eager to see, ASAP.

I believe there are also some scientific data sets that they want to send home for review while they still have an easy chance to get a second look at anything particularly interesting.
link to original post

There is actually a lot of fun (if you’re a networking nerd) work going on with extending the internet to deep space and interplanetary distances. ISS is close enough that they can connect to the regular internet but Lunar distance and beyond requires new delay-tolerant protocols. Don’t know if Artemis will be testing any of those. But if/when they get it working you’ll be able to get porn anywhere in the solar system!
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Except Arizona.
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What?!?!?

They don't have "bookstores" anymore?

Quote: TumblingBones

Quote: Dieter

As I understand, they use the email system for slight delay data transmission. Apparently, they expect to be taking some photos on their trip that they think we'll be eager to see, ASAP.

I believe there are also some scientific data sets that they want to send home for review while they still have an easy chance to get a second look at anything particularly interesting.
link to original post

There is actually a lot of fun (if you’re a networking nerd) work going on with extending the internet to deep space and interplanetary distances. ISS is close enough that they can connect to the regular internet but Lunar distance and beyond requires new delay-tolerant protocols. Don’t know if Artemis will be testing any of those. But if/when they get it working you’ll be able to get porn anywhere in the solar system!
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Oh, so that's what they brought a female up there for. Redundant system in case their porn link fails. Everything necessary has a backup, in space.

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

Oh, so that's what they brought a female up there for. Redundant system in case their porn link fails. Everything necessary has a backup, in space.
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Right hand / left hand?

2am. Tonight I’m not sure what time zone though. (Oh I see it now)

“skywatchers may be wondering whether they'll be able to witness the rare event firsthand when it slams into the lunar surface early Wednesday morning (Aug. 5).
The 45-foot-long (13.8-meter), 8,000-pound (4,000-kilogram) rocket stage, left over from the January 2025 launch of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Hakuto-R lunar missions, is expected to strike the moon at about 2:35 a.m. EDT (0635 UTC) on Aug. 5. Traveling at roughly 5,400 mph (8,700 km/h), the impact will occur near the moon's western limb, close to Einstein Crater on the moon's Earth-facing side.
While the collision itself is unlikely to be visible from Earth, observers may have a chance to spot what's known as an ejecta plume rising above the lunar surface. Depending on the force of the impact, debris could be blasted high enough above the moon to stand out against the blackness of space, making it briefly visible to observers on Earth, according to Project Pluto. "Maybe we'll see the flash. Maybe we'll see rocks ejected from the crater. Maybe we'll even see both," astronomer Bill Gray, who first identified the rocket stage's eventual lunar collision, wrote”

Excerpt From
“A 9,000-pound SpaceX rocket will crash into the moon tonight. Will you be able to see it?”
Space
https://apple.news/AUXye4PluT3ueWqGnYHGpdg

The Moon God will be angry!

I can only hope that we don't trigger an interplanetary incident.

Looks like the Rocketts. Can one just volunteer to be taken prisoner? I don't want to resist too much.

Quote: Dieter

I can only hope that we don't trigger an interplanetary incident.
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On an unrelated note…

Quote: Dieter

What?!?!?

They don't have "bookstores" anymore?
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A rather large highway liquor store near me recently closed and is being replaced by a Barnes & Noble. 😳

Quote: Dieter

I can only hope that we don't trigger an interplanetary incident.
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14 provocatively clad women walking on the surface of the moon in high heels. Another small step for man.. .. ..

Quote: DJTeddyBear

On an unrelated note…

Quote: Dieter

What?!?!?

They don't have "bookstores" anymore?
link to original post

A rather large highway liquor store near me recently closed and is being replaced by a Barnes & Noble. 😳
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1984
literally dystopian

Quote: DJTeddyBear

On an unrelated note…

Quote: Dieter

What?!?!?

They don't have "bookstores" anymore?
link to original post

A rather large highway liquor store near me recently closed and is being replaced by a Barnes & Noble. 😳
link to original post

There is a rumor going around that people are drinking less, prefering alternatives like weed or therapy.

Here in Wisconsin, we see little evidence of this trend.

There are still some delivery restrictions around here on alcohol, so I expect my neighborhood liquor stores will continue for a bit.

Quote: Dieter

[

There is a rumor going around that people are drinking less, prefering alternatives like weed or therapy.

I may be responsible for that. After having drank ridiculous amounts of alcohol from 2000 to 2022, I probably average about one drink a month now unless I am on a beach vacation.

I have an idea for a science fiction movie.

A totally different earth. We're quite a bit more scientifically advanced. Our cultures and religions are different, our habits, our geography and calendar are totally different.

No direct explanation of why is given in the movie, maybe a few hints, but everyone figures it out in the last seconds of the movie, when the camera tilts up to the night sky and shows there are two moons.