@AstroHawk@spacey.space
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

AstroHawk

@AstroHawk@spacey.space

About me: Software Engineer network/cybersecurity, pilot/CFI, Libertarian, electronics, Ham, rocket/balloon tracker

Hi! I'm Ian Kluft. https://spacey.space/@AstroHawk is my #space account.
#NewSpace #aerospace #astronomy #rocketry #commsat #GPS #fedi22

AstroHawk originally stood for "Adventurous Space Tweep Reinforcing Operations Hatching Advancement Worth Kudos" at one time on other social media, promoting NewSpace.

Also me: https://avgeek.social/@ikluft (aviation/science) & https://pnw.zone/@KO6YQ (tech/local)

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

AstroHawk, to Astronomy
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Northern Lights" expected tonight across northern states. Space Weather Prediction Center @NWSSWPC forecasts G4-level geomagnetic storm. https://www.spaceweather.gov/products/aurora-viewline-tonight-and-tomorrow-night-experimental https://www.spaceweather.gov/news/severe-geomagnetic-storm-still-likely

image/png

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Best places near Portland to catch the Northern Lights" by @KOINNews CBS Portland Oregon - Get away from city lights, and not necessarily to the same places the crowds go when are in the news. https://www.koin.com/weather/best-places-near-portland-to-catch-the-northern-lights/

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Severe solar storm expected to supercharge northern lights on Friday" by @NBCNews - Last time issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch was 2005. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/northern-lights-visible-us-where-solar-storm-rcna151643

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

I got a pic of Multnomah Falls (east of Portland OR) with red aurora behind it - this is looking south. You know it's big when polar lights are south from here!

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

I got some more pics overlooking the Columbia River near Mosier, Oregon. Mountains across the river are in Washington state.

image/jpeg

AstroHawk, to Astronomy
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Google Solar Cycle" by @XKCD comic - A trend spotted by the cartoonist: Google Trends has been around long enough to correlate 11-year solar activity cycles with similar cycles in people searching for info about it https://xkcd.com/2930/

AstroHawk, to SpaceX
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"SpaceX has now landed more boosters than most other rockets ever launch" by @arstechnica / @sciguyspace - successfully landed an orbital booster🚀, including from & launches, for the 300th time. 👀 https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/spacex-has-now-landed-more-boosters-than-most-other-rockets-ever-launch/

arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Russian space chief says new rocket will put Falcon 9 reuse to shame

There's just one catch...

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/russian-space-chief-says-new-rocket-will-put-falcon-9-reuse-to-shame/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

@arstechnica I remember 20-25 years ago when NewSpace advocates encouraged reusable rockets, it would make people look crosseyed at you. Even people at NASA.

Now that SpaceX demonstrated it on orbital class rockets, everyone sees the point. Before SpaceX jumped in with enough money, it was proven on smaller rockets by DC-X, Armadillo, Masten Space and Unreasonable Rocket.

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Yes, I know NASA's Space Shuttle had reusable orbiters. But even that was so expensive, it was really just "refurbishable". Space Shuttle technology got people thinking about reuse over the long term, but failed spectacularly in reducing cost per launch.

AstroHawk, to space
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Trash from the International Space Station may have hit a house in Florida" by @arstechnica / @StephenClark1 - Very rare circumstance. Timing agrees a battery from ISS was what smashed into a house in Naples FL. Lab tests in progress. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/trash-from-the-international-space-station-may-have-hit-a-house-in-florida/

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Object that slammed into Florida home was indeed space junk from ISS, NASA confirms" by @SpaceDotCom / @michaeldwall - Lab test confirms debris which smashed into a Florida home was from a battery pallet released from ISS in 2021. https://www.space.com/object-crash-florida-home-iss-space-junk-nasa-confirms

AstroHawk, to Weather
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Long-range outlook by @theeyewallwx / @mattlanza for April 8 : early Spring has high probability of clouds across much of the path of totality in central Mexico, eastern USA (Texas to Maine) & eastern Canada https://theeyewall.com/digging-into-the-model-data-to-tell-you-what-we-know-about-the-weather-for-april-8ths-solar-eclipse/

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Many used historical climate data to plan where to watch , since reservations would be gone months before forecasts were in range. That's why so many went to Texas. Actual weather turned out backwards from expectations, better northeast.

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

I heard from some people, and apparently this was a widespread problem, that their AirB&B reservations were cancelled by the hosts and re-listed for over $1000/night on other services. Some didn't find any new accommodations in the path of totality.

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Some pics from my visit to Johnson Space Center in Houston. Almost everyone I met there was also visiting as a next stop after wherever they went to see .

image/jpeg
image/jpeg
image/jpeg

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

One more related landmark as last stop before leaving Texas on my trip... I made my second visit to the Sierra Madera impact crater. It's 8mi/13km across. If you look up the Wikipedia page, it has a picture from my first time there.

image/jpeg

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Continuing to visit related landmarks on the way home from , I saw the US🇺🇸 National Science Foundation's Very Large Array (VLA)🔭 in Socorro County, New Mexico. 27 radio antennas use interferometry to act like a big dish the width of the array.

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Arizona's Meteor Crater, also known as Barringer Crater, was the final planned related landmark on my trip. It was the world's first scientifically confirmed impact site, instrumental in developing the science for later ones.

image/jpeg

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Safe at home in Portland. So the trip is now a complete success.

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Looking forward to (Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Atlantic & Spain), it will coincide with the annual meteor shower peak. Some lucky observers may see up to a few meteors during 2 minutes of totality. Map by EclipseWise/Fred Espenak.

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Looking Up and Down During the Eclipse" by @NASAEarth Observatory - imagery of looking up from the ground and down at the Moon's shadow from orbit https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152683/looking-up-and-down-during-the-eclipse

image/png
image/png
image/png

AstroHawk, to space
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

" & Prepare for Flight This Summer" by @NASA @Commercial_Crew - Crew flight test schedule updated no earlier than (NET) Fri July 21. This considers launch readiness and available docking ports at . https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2023/03/29/nasa-boeing-prepare-for-starliner-flight-this-summer/

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"NASA gives Starliner ‘go to proceed’" by @Boeing / @BoeingSpace - readiness review "go" for 🚀 Crew Flight Test launch, planned no earlier than 22:34ET May 6. 1st crewed launch at ULA's SLC-41. https://starlinerupdates.com/nasa-gives-starliner-go-to-proceed/

image/png
image/png

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will not fly private missions yet, officials say" by @SPACEdotcom / @howellspace - is focusing on astronaut flight contracts for now, with flights to being 4 years late. Nothing else can move forward until they get that right. https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-spacecraft-private-astronaut-nasa-focus

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"CFT: A preview of launch day activities" by @ULAlaunch - ULA describes different procedure for crewed launch of Atlas V. Atlas rocket family evolved from ICBMs, last carried crew for Mercury in 1962-63. https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/cft-a-preview-of-launch-day-activities

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"NASA and Boeing ‘Go’ for Crew Flight Test Mission" by @NASA / @Commercial_Crew - First crewed space flight scheduled Monday, May 6 at 10:34pm US/Eastern. 2 test pilot astronauts for 6+ days at . https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2024/05/03/nasa-and-boeing-go-for-crew-flight-test-mission/

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

"The surprise is not that lost commercial crew but that it finished at all" by @arstechnica / @sciguyspace - Presumed leader in program after Space Shuttle retirement failed to adjust to fixed-cost contracts. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/05/the-surprise-is-not-that-boeing-lost-commercial-crew-but-that-it-finished-at-all/

AstroHawk,
@AstroHawk@spacey.space avatar

Comparing the performance of and in program, I've been saying for years the lesson for is to require future crew launch vendors to get incremental experience with cargo launches first, as progression of qualification.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • provamag3
  • kavyap
  • DreamBathrooms
  • tacticalgear
  • magazineikmin
  • vwfavf
  • Youngstown
  • ngwrru68w68
  • ethstaker
  • slotface
  • rosin
  • mdbf
  • thenastyranch
  • PowerRangers
  • anitta
  • modclub
  • Durango
  • cubers
  • osvaldo12
  • GTA5RPClips
  • everett
  • khanakhh
  • InstantRegret
  • Leos
  • tester
  • normalnudes
  • cisconetworking
  • megavids
  • All magazines
    •