Hobby Thread - July 27, 2024 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the horde. Do not adjust your interweb. This thread is blasting off to outer space. On July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to earth by spashing down in the Pacific Ocean. A 21 day quarantine period followed, but the mission ignited the imagination of the world. A spin of the Ace of Spades wheel of hobbies has come up with a theme of rocketry for this week.

Did you build model rockets as a kid? Do you build model rockets as an adult? How did you get started? Do you have a box of Estes rocket parts and engines somewhere? How many rockets have you lost to trees, buildings and power lines? Do you remember the Apollo program? Were you watching when the Space Shuttle first launched? Have you seen a Space Shuttle return? Do you follow the modern private space launch companies like SpaceX and RocketLab? Do you dream of flying in space, walking on the moon, or going to Mars?

Let's not turn this thread into a debate about Elon Musk's personal life. We're here to talk about those who build and follow rockets. We'll leave astronomy for another thread another day, so keep your telescopes holstered for now. As usual, keep this thread limited to hobbies. Politics and current events can wait for other threads. Play nice. Don't feed the trolls.

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Every vision is a joke until the first man accomplishes it; once realized, it becomes commonplace. ~ Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882-1945)

Dr. Goddard is considered the father of modern rocket propulsion. He constructed and successfully tested the first rocket using liquid fuel on March 16, 1926, at Auburn, Massachusetts. In a 1920 report, Goddard outlined the possibility of a rocket reaching the moon and exploding a load of flash powder there to mark its arrival. The bulk of his scientific report to the Smithsonian was a dry explanation of how he used a $5,000 grant in his research. The press picked up Goddards scientific proposal about a rocket flight to the moon, however, and created a journalistic controversy concerning its feasibility. The resulting ridicule created in Goddard firm convictions about the nature of the press corps, which he held for the rest of his life.

Dr. Goddard was a very smart person.

***

Top photo

The Apollo 11 Command Module, called Columbia, was the living quarters for the three-person crew during most of the first crewed lunar landing mission in July 1969. On July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were launched from Cape Kennedy atop a Saturn V rocket. Command Module no. 107 was manufactured by North American Rockwell. It was one of three parts of the complete Apollo spacecraft. The other two parts were the Service Module and the Lunar Module (nicknamed Eagle). The Service Module contained the main spacecraft propulsion system and consumables while the Lunar Module was the two-person craft used by Armstrong and Aldrin to descend to the Moon's surface on July 20. The Command Module is the only portion of the spacecraft to return to Earth. It was physically transferred to the Smithsonian in 1971 following a NASA-sponsored tour of American cities.

NASA's website has a full archive of information on each Apollo mission. Photos, audio and even a map showing where you can see moon rocks.

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This extraordinary video is a detailed account of every second of the Apollo 11 descent and landing. The video combines data from the onboard computer for altitude and pitch angle with 16mm film shot throughout the descent.

Destin asks a lot of good questions of smart people:

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This is an all-time great SpaceX video (published after the development problems got resolved and first stage reusability was accomplished):

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Unbox to launch in seven minutes:

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Building rockets with household supplies:

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Do you know about Egglofting? Eggloft combines the challenge of flying a model containing one or two eggs while trying to reach the highest altitude or longest duration possible. The eggs must be returned undamaged. If any egg is cracked or broken, the flight is disqualified. The egg must be allowed to land naturally. Good for kids but not just for kids.

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Space Shuttle content:

This video has some extraordinary footage and fact nuggets from the early development of the shuttle orbiters, particularly for engineering the landing:

Space Shuttle Discovery's final launch:

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I was today years old when I learned that a 243 page 1968 flight manual for the Saturn V rocket is posted on NASA's website (pdf).

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Did you miss last week's hobby thread with a second attempt at a family history theme? The horde shared some great stories. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Two notable comments from last week:

20240726-Screenshot 2024-07-26 142811.jpg

20240726-Screenshot 2024-07-26 143453.jpg

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

***

If rocketry and space travel is not your thing and you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different hobby next time around. Send thoughts or suggestions to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Ace of Spades is not responsible for explosive accidents in your garage (or elsewhere).

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 05:32 PM (fwDg9)

2 For 2 years got into model rockets in the fun days of also being able to but fuse. Think by 3rd year string fuse wasn't able to get and had to use a battery I think.
It was 50 years ago

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 05:36 PM (fwDg9)

3 "Have you seen a Space Shuttle return? "

Several flying over Texas, one in pieces.

Posted by: Next2Nothing at July 27, 2024 05:36 PM (tA1/w)

4 Do bottle rocket fights count?

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at July 27, 2024 05:37 PM (IFNME)

5 Back in about 1975, my older brother and I made a mortar out of a bunch of steel tennis ball cans... I don't know where he got the instructions, if there were any at all, he just cut half of the bottoms out of the cans, taped them together with the cuts staggered.... a big pool of lighter fluid at the base, and POW!!!!!

Fucking thing went up like a moon shot... pretty cool.....

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 05:37 PM (5AVMW)

6 Oh, shit, too early for the technical talk" I understand.....

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 05:38 PM (5AVMW)

7 I'm not a space or rocket junkie but Michael Collins's "Carrying the Fire" is one of the best books I've ever read.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at July 27, 2024 05:39 PM (FEVMW)

8 4 Do bottle rocket fights count?

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at July 27, 2024 05:37 PM (IFNME)
***
Yes. Fwiw, the content almost included a video of RC controlled airplanes in airborne combat but it wasn't close enough to the theme.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 05:40 PM (IQ6Gq)

9 What happens if the egg hatches before it returns to the ground?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 27, 2024 05:40 PM (63Dwl)

10 I've put a few more oil paintings on my site since the last time I posted my website here. Stuppleart.com.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:41 PM (pFQ77)

11 Hobby?

It's my freaking career.

The Starlink constellation orbits at 550 km. How do I know? Because they act like they own 525-575. 😡😡

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 05:41 PM (5p7BC)

12 I built some of the basic Estes model rockets as a kid. They were fun.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at July 27, 2024 05:42 PM (CHHv1)

13 I like the trivia that they skip the number five on countdowns.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:42 PM (pFQ77)

14 I've done regular model rockets and high power model rockets and now I do space stuff professionally.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 27, 2024 05:46 PM (iZEhM)

15 I write (amatuer) novels. Fantasy, sci-fi, children's books, horror

https://tinyurl.com/2bfmefmd

Posted by: Booksbymatthew at July 27, 2024 05:46 PM (lcyZw)

16 I've done regular model rockets and high power model rockets and now I do space stuff professionally.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 27, 2024 05:46 PM (iZE

Hobby turned into a career?

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:47 PM (pFQ77)

17 We built some Estes rockets while in high school in the 1960's. The engines were expensive.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 27, 2024 05:47 PM (63Dwl)

18 Spacecoast was issued a new atea code when we split off the Orlando 404 area code.

They gave us 321

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 05:47 PM (5p7BC)

19 I've lost a lot of Estes blowing them out of sight. Tumbler tiny ones with streamers no chutes were my favorites.

Posted by: M. Gaga at July 27, 2024 05:48 PM (jMmu1)

20 As kids, my brother and would take the cheap Estes "mosquito" rockets and launch them into the community pool. While occupied. From deep concealment.

Yes... we were urban terrorists.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 05:50 PM (Q4IgG)

21 Spacecoast is the world's only quad-modal transportation center. Air, Rail, Shipping, and Space.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 05:50 PM (5p7BC)

22 Must. make. tiny. rockets.

because they are adorable.

Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 05:50 PM (4lnL8)

23 I bought a froe at a flea market last year, it was missing the handle, and honestly it was welded out of a chunk of pipe and apparently a section of leaf spring from some sort of truck. I whittled a new handle for it, and this year, since I am getting firewood in, I decided to try to make shingles.
I now have a pile of douglas fir shakes, no real ability to smooth them down with a draw knife since I don't have a shave horse, and no real need for them, so I will stack them with the rest of the firewood.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 27, 2024 05:52 PM (D7oie)

24 I loved photog in the day and still like framing shots.

Enchanted Rock looking east.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EF8RrsQBiwJayQSW9

Hamilton Pool thru the trees.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3VN1JitD3jTW89V2A

Perdenalas River under clouds.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5Gb3mRKgCtHP9f6p6

thanks for clicking.

R

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 27, 2024 05:52 PM (gbOdA)

25 It was just about 25 years ago. 2200 CDT. I was watching the news and knew Columbia was getting ready to land. Steve "IT IS GOING TO SNOW!!!!!!!!!!" Browne was the weather dude on KSAT at the time and found it unusual that he was leading off the news. This was because he was talking about Columbia's reentry, and that it was in progress, and people in the San Antonio viewing area would be able to see the reentry - at this point I was almost buck ass naked getting ready to go to bed - then he said "in two minutes" -

Within 10 seconds I was fully dressed and running down the stairs in the apartment, and making a mad dash for a place where I could have an unobstructed view to the northern horizon. And I waited about 90 seconds until a fireball streaked across the sky with some sparks flying off. And it just moved across the sky at speed, crossing my field of view in less than five seconds. The fire trail from its path seemed to hang there for 10 minutes before going away. By then, the Columbia had landed at KSC in FL.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 05:53 PM (8sMut)

26 Posted by: Kindltot at July 27, 2024 05:52 PM (D7oie)

What's a Froe?

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:53 PM (pFQ77)

27 I just finished my socks! I don't notmally do cotton socks but thought they would be nice for summer. Finished one, got busy with work and just wasn't making progress. I have been pushing hard on them the last few weeks. Now I can try and finish my cardigan. Really need a pullover but I'm over half way done with this.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 05:54 PM (xjTDL)

28 When possible, my father and I would hit Kelly AFB (as it was at the time) to see the 747 carrying the Shuttle stop there for a refuel before heading back off to FL.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 05:54 PM (8sMut)

29 18 Spacecoast was issued a new atea code when we split off the Orlando 404 area code. They gave us 321

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 05:47 PM (5p7BC)
***
Now, this is the kind of trivia I appreciate.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 05:55 PM (IQ6Gq)

30 Posted by: rhennigantx at July 27, 2024 05:52 PM (gbOdA)

I like the Perdenalas River photo. Nicely done.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:55 PM (pFQ77)

31 What's a Froe?
Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:53 PM (pFQ77)

About $20....same as in town

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 05:56 PM (OX9vb)

32 Did you build model rockets as a kid? - Yes

Do you build model rockets as an adult? - Only to help Cub Scouts, but that's over with.

How did you get started? - Asked for a rocket kit for Christmas

Do you have a box of Estes rocket parts and engines somewhere? - Yes

How many rockets have you lost to trees, buildings and power lines? - Many. Isn't that part of it?

I wanted to build a rocket like Goddard's when I was about 12 or so. Drew plans and everything. I included a seat in case I wanted to ride in it.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 05:56 PM (vFG9F)

33 those are lovely, R.
I grew up in the Hill Country, those are very nostalgic.

Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 05:56 PM (4lnL8)

34 10 ... "I've put a few more oil paintings on my site since the last time I posted my website here. Stuppleart.com."

Hi polynikes,

Love "Moose at Sunset". It is a gorgeous image. The distant mountains are great and I like the way the outline of the moose has the feel of the reflection in the water. Peaceful and grand at the same time.

Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024 05:57 PM (zudum)

35 My stepson wanted a froe, so I got it for him for Christmas that year. No idea why he needed it.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 05:57 PM (xjTDL)

36 They are sort of flat bladed, used for splitting shingles.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 05:58 PM (xjTDL)

37 Upon my wall, I have a panoramic framed image of the Columbia lifting off on the morning of January 16, 2003. I saw this on TV before heading off to another day at Elmendorf AFB in AK. I also have a fridge magnet rendition of the patch from STS-107 on my fridge as we speak.

Rick Husband was from Amarillo. Willie McCool was from Lubbock. About 200,000 feet above I-27 between New Deal and Abernathy, TX, on February 1, 2003, the Columbia began to fall apart as it attempted re-entry.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 05:58 PM (8sMut)

38 When I was 13 a friend and I used to shoot off bare rocket engines from a plastic launch pad in a parking lot. Sometimes they'd fly back right towards us. Fun times.

Posted by: look whats not at July 27, 2024 05:58 PM (nakGR)

39 I hope SiD sees this. We had a blast last year going through the Smithsonian #2 for aviation out at Dulles. They have a space shuttle there. We spent a lot of time back in the space stuff.

I also got to see the Enterprise when I was a kid. My dad worked for Rockwell (doing radio stuff) and they brought the Enterprise in and had a big open house. (I liked the radio and computer stuff as much as the shuttle.)

Posted by: GWB at July 27, 2024 05:58 PM (AWrpC)

40 Did you build model rockets as a kid? - Yes

Do you build model rockets as an adult? - Only to help Cub Scouts, but that's over with.

How did you get started? - Asked for a rocket kit for Christmas

Do you have a box of Estes rocket parts and engines somewhere? - Yes

How many rockets have you lost to trees, buildings and power lines? - Many. Isn't that part of it?

I wanted to build a rocket like Goddard's when I was about 12 or so. Drew plans and everything. I included a seat in case I wanted to ride in it.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 05:56 PM (vFG9F)

Is this a letter to Santa Claus that we missed? LOL

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 05:59 PM (5AVMW)

41 My Flickr page has some pretty cool shots. It's public, so you can download one or more if so inclined.

I probably need to update it with some more current stuff...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 05:59 PM (Q4IgG)

42 Love "Moose at Sunset"

Very nice but the antlers look more like a caribou ?

Posted by: Next2Nothing at July 27, 2024 05:59 PM (tA1/w)

43 I like the Perdenalas River photo. Nicely done.
Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:55 PM (pFQ77)

This may be better every pool has clouds

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nVnv2JGVnUjhgcKY7

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 27, 2024 05:59 PM (gbOdA)

44 What's a Froe?
Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:53 PM (pFQ77)

I am sorry, it is a type of splitting tool that has the blade at right angle to the handle. You put it across the end grain of the wood you want to split and bash on it with a mallet of some sort, it causes a split across the whole end grain, and you use the leverage of the handle to continue the split to the end. There is some fancy twisting that you do to make it split evenly all the way to the end, and I am still trying to figure that one out.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 27, 2024 05:59 PM (D7oie)

45 For my Space Exploration merit badge in the Boy Scouts, I put together a model rocket (Estes of course, is there another?) and fired that bad boy a good 2-3 times during summer camp in CO.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:00 PM (8sMut)

46 Art Rondelet of Malmsey

I echo your appreciation for Michael Collins's Carrying the Fire. It is in my top 10 list of most influential books of all time.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 27, 2024 06:00 PM (u82oZ)

47 Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024 05:57 PM (zudum

Thanks JTB. I actually got the reference photo from one of ace's Cafe threads.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:01 PM (pFQ77)

48 Afternoon or evening, hobby folk!

It's raining again today, so my washing of the Buick this morning was utterly wasted. Well, not utterly, as I got rid of dead leaves and grass bits and dirt that had accumulated all this week during those rain storms. Now the car is parked out in the NE lot, away from any trees.

My other hobby, pipe smoking, led me to the local cigar/pipe shop this morning where I picked up an ounce of Stokkebye Luxury Twist Flake, a Virginia tobacco blend. This morning I finished a tin of the stuff that Tolkien apparently preferred, and it's kind of pricey and not that much better than this LTF I've tried before.

I'll try this leaf tomorrow morning after breakfast.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:01 PM (omVj0)

49 Art Vandelay???

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 06:01 PM (5AVMW)

50 I grew up in the Hill Country, those are very nostalgic.
Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 05:56 PM (4lnL

I may downsize and get a little house here in the bay and then another place out there.

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 27, 2024 06:01 PM (gbOdA)

51 When I was a kid I watched every launch from the first Mercury flights up to Apollo 11.. Even got to stay home a couple times from school.

Wanted to build rockets but back then Estes would not ship to Washington State. Jerks.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 06:01 PM (W/lyH)

52 The shuttle used to stop at Robins AFB on occasion while riding on the back of the 747 and there would always be a big crowd on the highway out by the fence. You could see the pair from the road.

I saw most of the Apollo launches and landings. I was pretty into it until the year 2000 came around and we still could barely get into orbit. We were suppose to have Moon colonies and Pam Am flights to get there.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (vFG9F)

53 I watched the final.shuttle launch, ironically, in my rear view mirror.

Those days the launches were special. Everyone would watch from their yards or roofs. The best place to watch a launch is still Jetty Park in Cocoa Beach.

Now we have a couple launches a week. The house shakes and we say "oh another launch". The exceptions are the Atlas Vs and the Falcon Heavy. Those feel like earthquakes and will wake you up.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (5p7BC)

54 Posted by: Kindltot at July 27, 2024 05:59 PM (D7oie)

Thanks. Always be learning. 😀

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (pFQ77)

55 For all my interest in the space program, starting with the first Mercury launches and continuing today, I never got into model rockets for some reason. (I'm not the most mechanically inclined person on the planet and think of a hammer and screwdriver as advanced tools.)

Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (zudum)

56 Love "Moose at Sunset". It is a gorgeous image. The distant mountains are great and I like the way the outline of the moose has the feel of the reflection in the water. Peaceful and grand at the same time.
Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024 05:57 PM (zudum)

I have a photo on my wall called "Moose Tracks". Well, it has moose tracks in the snow. Besides TAPS. With an aurora overhead.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (8sMut)

57 Oh, and I built rockets in my day - of the Estes variety.
Loads of fun. And useful tools for teaching kids - even when they go off course or burn up on the launch pad. Learning from blowing or burning stuff up is cool.

Posted by: GWB at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (AWrpC)

58 this guy is splitting cedar shakes with a froe, and he is really good at it. And he is using cedar that likes being split.

https://youtu.be/bkghjN0veJ0

Posted by: Kindltot at July 27, 2024 06:03 PM (D7oie)

59 Now we have a couple launches a week. The house shakes and we say "oh another launch". The exceptions are the Atlas Vs and the Falcon Heavy. Those feel like earthquakes and will wake you up.
Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (5p7BC)

All a matter of perspective. I would like to head out there to see one some day, even if it lacks the drama and power of a Saturn V or a Shuttle launch.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:04 PM (8sMut)

60 JTB, I looked for your initials before I posted about my latest pipe tobacco purchase. I'm smoked this G.L. Pease Horizons blend a couple of times now. For my part it needs a little more dry time before lighting, but it smokes well, has no tongue bite, and has a good aroma.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:04 PM (omVj0)

61 I hope SiD sees this. We had a blast last year going through the Smithsonian #2 for aviation out at Dulles. They have a space shuttle there. We spent a lot of time back in the space stuff.

...
Posted by: GWB
---
I am here! That was a blast, and you were an awesome guide/companion. Seeing the Discovery was a big thrill for me (among many others, but that was THE highlight for me). I was sorry to miss this year's NoVaMoMe, not only for missing all the local Hordelings, but I wanted to visit Udvar-Hazy again.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:04 PM (iZbyp)

62 Every year in December there is a 10 mile race on Canaveral Air Force station. You get to run past the original Mercury mission control bunker and the Mercury 7 memorial. One of the few ways the public can see those, they are not part of a regular tour.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:05 PM (5p7BC)

63 I saw most of the Apollo launches and landings. I was pretty into it until the year 2000 came around and we still could barely get into orbit. We were suppose to have Moon colonies and Pam Am flights to get there.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (vFG9F)

Well, we DID have a moon base. Until September 13, 1999. Hell, we even had a moon, period!

Posted by: Moon Base Alpha at July 27, 2024 06:05 PM (8sMut)

64 Up to about five minutes of animation now, the first "chapter" essentially done.

I drew my character in front view, and I'd really like to find some AI program or website that could re-draw it as a side or 3/4 view. I think my needs are beyond AI's abilities, though.

AI can do some amazing things with photos, because photos are of things that exist and probably exist in hundreds of other photos, so AI can do a lot. Drawings on the other hand are by themselves.

I tried Adobe PhotoShop's AI capabilities some months ago and they...didn't work. At all.

So I'm redrawing by hand. Fortunately the character is mostly machine so it isn't that difficult, just time-consuming when I'd rather be using the time for something else.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at July 27, 2024 06:06 PM (CHHv1)

65 I am here! That was a blast, and you were an awesome guide/companion. Seeing the Discovery was a big thrill for me (among many others, but that was THE highlight for me). I was sorry to miss this year's NoVaMoMe, not only for missing all the local Hordelings, but I wanted to visit Udvar-Hazy again.
Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:04 PM (iZbyp)

I'm not worthy. I have yet to see a Shuttle up close.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:06 PM (8sMut)

66 've done regular model rockets and high power model rockets and now I do space stuff professionally.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 27, 2024 05:46 PM

Hobby turned into a career?
Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 05:47 PM

Not exactly. I've always been a professional computer programmer, at least since I got out of college, and I still do computer programming, except now what I program is stuff that flies in space.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 27, 2024 06:07 PM (iZEhM)

67 Finished the crocheted motivational pickles, and the quilt for the organist just needs to be tied.
Really working hard on the Prayer Shawl for our friend's little cousin, who has leukemia. It's a fast pattern, but I'm using a DK weight for lightness, so that slows me down a little.

Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 06:08 PM (4lnL8)

68 The Space Shuttle landing video in the content has lots of great clips and photos from early development days, including launching the Enterprise from the piggybacked 747 in flight. Lots of great fact nuggets in there too.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:08 PM (IQ6Gq)

69 Spacecoast was issued a new atea code when we split off the Orlando 404 area code.

They gave us 321
Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 05:47 PM (5p7BC)

That's a hoot.

Posted by: MrExcitement at July 27, 2024 06:08 PM (hOOi9)

70 When we lived on the Washougal river, we had access to some cedar left from the Tillamook burn. My husband would split it with an axe and build stuff out of it. It's easy to split.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 06:08 PM (xjTDL)

71 I saw most of the Apollo launches and landings. I was pretty into it until the year 2000 came around and we still could barely get into orbit. We were suppose to have Moon colonies and Pam Am flights to get there.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 06:02 PM (vFG9F)
---
Stanley Kubrick lied to us!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 27, 2024 06:09 PM (BpYfr)

72 24: I took a pic not unlike that one, from the top of Enchanted Rock. Spent a birthday weekend there. I was bent at not going there sooner. It is a great place.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:10 PM (8sMut)

73 I saw most of the Apollo launches and landings. I was pretty into it until the year 2000 came around and we still could barely get into orbit. We were suppose to have Moon colonies and Pam Am flights to get there.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024

***
We should have had a Luna City by 1975, a Mars station by 1980, and been exploring and mining the outer planets and their moons by 2000. By this year we ought to have a super telescope in the cometary halo, and we should have fired off at least an unmanned probe to Alpha Centauri in 2015. We'd be receiving images from one of their planets now.

Of course, that was the same timeline in which Goldwater became president in 1964 and Reagan in 1976.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:10 PM (omVj0)

74 I was a Space Camp kid. The Saturn V at Huntsville is truly amazing. The Apollo 16 command module is also there. Unless I dreamed this up, they used to let you climb inside it. That was a long time ago...

I have seen the Apollo 8, 11, and 16 command modules, Freedom 7 and Friendship 7. Would love to see more spacecraft from those days. I wish I'd been alive to see and remember those missions. Skylab is the earliest I have any personal memory of.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:10 PM (iZbyp)

75 I remember how bummed out I was when I first realized I was outgrowing all the early astronauts. My uncle was on the engineering team for the Gemini life support gear when doing 'space walks'. He assured me and my cousin that we wouldn't easily fit in the capsules. But we got to see his signed photos from the astronauts and other souvenirs given to his team.

Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024 06:10 PM (zudum)

76 I built some of the basic Estes model rockets as a kid. They were fun.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at July 27, 2024 05:42 PM (CHHv1)

Me, too. Estes - the good ol' Alpha Centauri (2X) and the X-Ray.

Posted by: mrp at July 27, 2024 06:11 PM (rj6Yv)

77 I grew up in Sherwood Park in Huntsville, AL in the 60's which is right outside of Gate 9 on Redstone Arsenal where WVB (PBUH) designed and built the Saturn V.

Everyone had a parent or neighbor who was working in the space program back then.

I built Estes rockets and had a lot of exciting times chasing them down through the fields behind the neighborhood. Multistage rockets were the best because they went so high.

Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at July 27, 2024 06:11 PM (qZdIZ)

78 I may upset some people, but I have read several books describing Goddard's work, and I have also read the complete collection of the Wright's papers, plus several descriptions of their work. I could not avoid being impressed by the Wrights and underwhelmed by Goddard.

In contrast to the methodical experiment-driven approach of the Wrights, Goddard's approach struck me as very much hit and miss, and ultimately his achievements were modest, IMHO. This is especially surprising given his formal education, which gave him access to some funding, compared to the high-school-educated Wrights, who were self-funded.

Nothing illustrates this better than the engine-on-top design of Goddard's rockets, which he assumed would give stability, but failed to. In contrast, the Wrights challenged fundamental aspects of "obvious" airplane designs, such as Langely's (another PhD). For example they understood stability and propulsion far beyond to flying-ship designs of Langley and others.

Apparently the Germans gave a lot of credit to Goddard, but I see little resemblance between his work and Von Braun's.

Flame away, but I think I'm right!

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at July 27, 2024 06:11 PM (gfztU)

79 Perdenalas River under clouds.
***********
Nice photo. Have traveled thru TX alot, but never saw that river in person. However, I do love the Pedernales wine!

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:12 PM (IQ6Gq)

80 IIRC the shuttle "Enterprise" and the 747 carrier did a circle around Washington D.C. at some point. I recall my dad taking us out to some off-ramp parking lot to see it.

I did witness the last Apollo launch. I think it was the Apollo-Soyuz hook up.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 06:12 PM (Q4IgG)

81 I have seen the Apollo 8, 11, and 16 command modules, Freedom 7 and Friendship 7. Would love to see more spacecraft from those days. I wish I'd been alive to see and remember those missions. Skylab is the earliest I have any personal memory of.
Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:10 PM (iZbyp

I can just remember Columbia going into space/landing in 1981.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:12 PM (8sMut)

82 This may be better every pool has clouds

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nVnv2JGVnUjhgcKY7

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 27, 2024 05:59 PM (gbOdA

That's nice because it's unique but I still like the Perdenalas River photo. The exposure you used allowed the boldness of the color of the sky jump out at you . And the transitions of the greens in the water also jump out to me.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:12 PM (pFQ77)

83 5 years ago I had an idea for a new way to do internal communication with a satellite. My company to my surprise liked the idea and funded my invention. I spent 3 years as the principal investigator turning it into reality.

On Valentines Day, the first constellation using my invention launched on a SpaceX rocket with 4 satellites aboard. They are currently operating at 1000 km.

I got to sit in the grandstands at Kennedy Space Center and watch the launch.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:13 PM (5p7BC)

84 Art Vandelay???

You are the ONLY one who has gotten my (badly) attempted joke! Rondelet of Malmsey--a vat of wine--is supposedly how the Duke of Clarence was murdered in 1478.

It was a Seinfeld/Shakespeare mash up.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at July 27, 2024 06:13 PM (FEVMW)

85 "Of course, that was the same timeline in which Goldwater became president in 1964 and Reagan in 1976.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere "

What really went wrong? Did the experts underestimate how hard it is? Did technology have to catch up to make it possible? I think it's some of both. What would a Moonbase with Y2K era computers be like? They didn't even have utoob yet.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 06:13 PM (vFG9F)

86 I did witness the last Apollo launch. I think it was the Apollo-Soyuz hook up.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 06:12 PM (Q4IgG)

June 1975 (the Year of Physical Graffiti and Wish You Were Here).

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:13 PM (8sMut)

87 Everyone had a parent or neighbor who was working in the space program back then.

I built Estes rockets and had a lot of exciting times chasing them down through the fields behind the neighborhood. Multistage rockets were the best because they went so high.
Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at July 27, 2024

***
My father, the bookkeeper, worked at the Michoud plant in the far eastern part of the city in the early '60s. All I can recall him saying about it were his complaints about the commute. (I've driven it since, and even with traffic it's a snap compared to Interstate and bridge commuting.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:14 PM (omVj0)

88 Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 27, 2024 06:07 PM (iZEhM)

Roger that. I think that's the most amazing part about space exploration. The programs that allow communication millions of miles away and allows corrections and fixes .

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:16 PM (pFQ77)

89 83 5 years ago I had an idea for a new way to do internal communication with a satellite. My company to my surprise liked the idea and funded my invention. I spent 3 years as the principal investigator turning it into reality.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:13 PM (5p7BC)
***
I would like to buy you a beer someday.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:16 PM (IQ6Gq)

90 "Flame away, but I think I'm right!

Posted by: Ray Van Dune "

Goddard figured out a way to control and maintain the reaction to make a rocket fly. That was a good enough achievement for me.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 06:16 PM (vFG9F)

91 To combine the thread with the ham radio operators here, NASA on the Air is always fun to work: https://is.gd/8LnoKP

Not sure why they don't have NN4SA, the Marshall Flight Center club, listed.

Posted by: Bert G at July 27, 2024 06:17 PM (VARTN)

92 Can hobbyists purchase and use liquid propellant in their rockets ?

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:17 PM (pFQ77)

93 When we lived on the Washougal river, we had access to some cedar left from the Tillamook burn. My husband would split it with an axe and build stuff out of it. It's easy to split.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 06:08 PM (xjTDL)

My dad was the warden at the Prison Honor Farm up on the Washougal. Used to go up there and swim in the big pool with the falls. Cold!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 06:17 PM (W/lyH)

94 You are the ONLY one who has gotten my (badly) attempted joke! Rondelet of Malmsey--a vat of wine--is supposedly how the Duke of Clarence was murdered in 1478.

It was a Seinfeld/Shakespeare mash up.
Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at July 27, 2024 06:13 PM (FEVMW)

I always figured everyone knew except me, so I never asked. I still don't get it...but then, I have never watched Seinfeld. I understand there is an applicable Seinfeld episode/bit for every situation.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 06:17 PM (OX9vb)

95 I'm not worthy. I have yet to see a Shuttle up close.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33
---
I've never seen one in reentry, nor on the 747, so you're ahead of me.

Next year's NoVaMoMe, let's go. I already know I'm not going to England again next year so I should be able to go to NoVa. Udvar-Hazy is close to the range where the DMV MGC shoots. Right on the way from where I stayed for the MoMe. Thanks to Ed L for that tip.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:17 PM (iZbyp)

96 "Of course, that was the same timeline in which Goldwater became president in 1964 and Reagan in 1976.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere "
*
What really went wrong? Did the experts underestimate how hard it is? Did technology have to catch up to make it possible? I think it's some of both. What would a Moonbase with Y2K era computers be like? They didn't even have utoob yet.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024

***
America lost its self-confidence and turned away from any kind of risk. It's as if England or Spain, after a couple of political reverses in the 1500s, decided not to attempt any more colonies in the New World, or supply the existing ones. England, I hope, would have brought the colonists home; Spain, I suspect, would have said, "Ese, you on your own. Buena suerte."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:18 PM (omVj0)

97 TRex, just encourage Dave to put the MoMe on his calendar.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 06:18 PM (5MvGY)

98 Spacecoast is the world's only quad-modal transportation center. Air, Rail, Shipping, and Space.

Soon to include balloons!!!

I spent about 15 years working on STS off and on.

It was a great time with lots of ups and downs!

Posted by: pawn at July 27, 2024 06:18 PM (QB+5g)

99 Goddard figured out a way to control and maintain the reaction to make a rocket fly. That was a good enough achievement for me.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 06:16 PM (vFG9F)

Dude laid down the foundations for what was to follow.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:18 PM (8sMut)

100 Notsothorea

Do you knit or crochet? I just finished my first crocheted cardigan. I want to crochet some socks but the patterns I like are knitted. I don't knit but I'm learning. Crochet is easier for me.

Posted by: Megthered at July 27, 2024 06:19 PM (rwiQP)

101 A friend of mine belonged to a LDS rocket club. I think LDS stood for "Large Dangerous Rockets". They were large, some 6' or more. They would meet at a sod farm with 100s of acres around.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 06:19 PM (vFG9F)

102 I got to sit in the grandstands at Kennedy Space Center and watch the launch.
Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:13 PM (5p7BC)

Thats friggin'awesome!

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 06:20 PM (W/lyH)

103 I think the rain has slacked off. We were going out to Chik-Fil-A for "dinner"; I did not relish the idea of running across a parking lot with an umbrella.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:20 PM (omVj0)

104 I am here!
Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:04 PM (iZbyp)

*waves*
We can go next year if you make it. Maybe the hobby guy and his wife can come along, too.

Posted by: GWB at July 27, 2024 06:21 PM (AWrpC)

105 A friend of mine belonged to a LDS rocket club. I think LDS stood for "Large Dangerous Rockets". They were large, some 6' or more. They would meet at a sod farm with 100s of acres around.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024

***
"He did too much LDS in the Sixties."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:21 PM (omVj0)

106 America lost its self-confidence and turned away from any kind of risk. It's as if England or Spain, after a couple of political reverses in the 1500s, decided not to attempt any more colonies in the New World, or supply the existing ones. England, I hope, would have brought the colonists home; Spain, I suspect, would have said, "Ese, you on your own. Buena suerte."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:18 PM (omVj0)

That and "we need to fix all our problems at home first". Yeah, good luck; poverty will ALWAYS be with us. The baggage humanity carries will always be with us. We explore anyway. As we should. Just because.

Besides, how many things have come to us thanks to space exploration? Like this computer than I am using to type this response.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:21 PM (8sMut)

107 Lol... I swear Ben Had, one day I will be there.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:21 PM (5p7BC)

108 I always enjoyed building model rockets as a kid, especially when I started making homemade ones and loading up the top of the tube with black powder and confetti; they looked like a flak burst when the rocket would ignite the powder. Good times, although you had to be careful, since a slight imbalance in the homemade rocket could do unexpected things to their trajectory.

Posted by: jackcoke at July 27, 2024 06:21 PM (EFQuV)

109 5 years ago I had an idea for a new way to do internal communication with a satellite. My company to my surprise liked the idea and funded my invention. I spent 3 years as the principal investigator turning it into reality.

On Valentines Day, the first constellation using my invention launched on a SpaceX rocket with 4 satellites aboard. They are currently operating at 1000 km.

I got to sit in the grandstands at Kennedy Space Center and watch the launch.
Posted by: Dave in Fla
---
Wow!!!

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:21 PM (iZbyp)

110 Ben Had,
Everyone should have the MoMe on their calendars! Finally purchased our airline tickets this week, so we are set to go!

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:22 PM (IQ6Gq)

111 60 ... "G.L. Pease Horizons blend a couple of times now. For my part it needs a little more dry time before lighting, but it smokes well, has no tongue bite, and has a good aroma."
Hi Wolfus,
Thanks for the heads up on the GL Pease Horizons. I've never tried any of their blends and the local tobacconist doesn't carry the brand. I came across mention of their Chelsea Morning, Quiet Nights and Maltese Falcon blends. I see some experimenting with the brand in the future. The reviews sound like these would be good contemplative blends to enjoy while reading or listening to music.

Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024 06:22 PM (zudum)

112 Anyone else see The Astronaut Farmer ?

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:22 PM (pFQ77)

113 I don't knit but I'm learning. Crochet is easier for me.
Posted by: Megthered at July 27, 2024 06:19 PM (rwiQP)

I was trying to learn to knit last winter, but it made my hands hurt. Progress was slow. But I really, really want to knit socks. I shall try again this fall.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 06:22 PM (OX9vb)

114 Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been in space for 51 days, six weeks longer than originally planned, …

The problems [with STARLINER] have led to speculation that NASA might decide to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

There's one Crew Dragon currently docked at the station, and another one is slated to launch with a fresh crew next month.

NASA... said the agency has looked at backup plans to bring the Starliner crew home on a SpaceX capsule, but the main focus is still to have the astronauts fly home aboard Starliner.
_Pixy/arstechnica.com
-------------------------------------

Heap shame upon Boeing. SpaceX Dragon is there now and another coming in a month. SpaceX is flying, piloted, back and forth with regularity and Boeings' people are left stranded trying to mend that leaky DEI, pos.

Posted by: Braenyard at July 27, 2024 06:22 PM (y/M9h)

115 The history of Estes is pretty interesting, the YouTube video should be required watching if you ever built one of the kits. It was a great hobby and "fun for all ages" for sure. My dad bought the whole shootin' match, and then bugged me to hurry up and finish so we could go launch.
"Are you done with that thing yet? Let's go!"

Posted by: Common Tater at July 27, 2024 06:23 PM (TNzfB)

116 As a child of the Space Age, I am confounded by the people who do not believe it actually happened.

Is it just my own personal experience, or has it become much more commonplace to doubt that the Moon landings were real?

I figure the main problem is the fact that it's been so long since it was done. Nobody has been back since, and Elon Musk's new attempt to do it seems to people like he's "reinventing" it.

It's been said the old "blueprints" are lost. As if people might not recognize the historical significance, and want to steal such things.

Sorry, but people were just not THAT good at faking things back then. Sure, there were secrets they didn't tell us about important things in this world, but Apollo was way too big to fake.

Posted by: MrExcitement at July 27, 2024 06:23 PM (hOOi9)

117 I am here!
Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:04 PM (iZbyp)

*waves*
We can go next year if you make it. Maybe the hobby guy and his wife can come along, too.
Posted by: GWB
---
I should be there next time! I only missed this year because I'd just been away for 2 weeks (England + work conference) and could not handle adding any more travel at the end of that, what with being over 29.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:23 PM (iZbyp)

118 Dad worked at Vandenburg AFB at the time he was doing electronic salvage (I really don't know a lot about what he salvaged). He once received a large radar controller that had been laid (or fallen) on it side and the lead acid batteries had leaked. He noted there was an AC and DC side and figured the DC side should work if all the contacts were cleaned and proceeded to clean them. When he powered it up the DC side worked (details of other *fixes* always omitted from Dad's stories). His boss contacted the base that owned it, Hickam AFB in HI. They sent a plane to get it, Dad said they backed the plane right up to their dock. Dad got letter in his file thanking him as that unit allowed them to track the Apollo flight, without it they were going to be out of the tracking for that flight.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 06:23 PM (vtl9g)

119 I got to sit in the grandstands at Kennedy Space Center and watch the launch.
Posted by: Dave in Fla
---
Wow!!!
Posted by: screaming in digital
--------------------

Tremendous

Posted by: Braenyard at July 27, 2024 06:24 PM (y/M9h)

120 104 We can go next year if you make it. Maybe the hobby guy and his wife can come along, too.

Posted by: GWB at July 27, 2024 06:21 PM (AWrpC)
***
Absolutely. We're in!

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:25 PM (IQ6Gq)

121 That and "we need to fix all our problems at home first". Yeah, good luck; poverty will ALWAYS be with us. The baggage humanity carries will always be with us. We explore anyway. As we should. Just because.

Besides, how many things have come to us thanks to space exploration? Like this computer than I am using to type this response.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024

***
The monitoring system used to keep tabs on patients in the hospital had its origins in monitors used on the astronauts.

If Homo habilis had decided to stay in the trees in Africa rather than venture out onto the plains, saying, "We need to fix all our problems here in the trees first," well, we wouldn't be here.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:25 PM (omVj0)

122 My mother knitted all her life and did beautiful work. Right now my knitting looks like I did it with my feet. But I'll get the hang of it because I want to do socks.

Posted by: Megthered at July 27, 2024 06:25 PM (rwiQP)

123 Heh, I was so busy on my current program (the 4th constellation using my crap) that I forgot to buy my wife a Valentines Day present. I told her instead she was getting to see what I've been doing all those years of travel, late nights, and weekends.

She was actually pretty happy seeing the launch instead of dinner out.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 06:25 PM (5p7BC)

124 SiD, what year did you do Space Camp?
DILIT was there in 2010. Team Von Tieshaunsen.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:26 PM (2tKzk)

125 Grateful, can't wait to see you both again. We do have many that have taken your advice and will be joining us for the first time.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 06:26 PM (5MvGY)

126 18 Spacecoast was issued a new atea code when we split off the Orlando 404 area code.

They gave us 321

Posted by: Dave in Fla at July 27, 2024 05:47 PM (5p7BC)
----
I guess no one could ever find that Orlando 404 code ...... heh heh!

Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Hobs #01 at July 27, 2024 06:26 PM (qfLjt)

127 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmHABUfjYPI

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 06:26 PM (8sMut)

128 I guess I should mention I worked on the shuttle during its test and evaluations at the test stands on RSA in '78 & '79. The sheer size of the External tank and the Solid rocket motors was something I'll never forget.

Somewhere there is a picture of the shuttle being rolled down Rideout Rd in front of Bldg 4200 on it's way to the test stand and I'm in it.

Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at July 27, 2024 06:27 PM (qZdIZ)

129 If the NASA site does not suffice to slake your thirst of all things Apollo

The Project Apollo Archive may be your cup of tea.

https://apolloarchive.com/

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 06:27 PM (1/gMt)

130 My wife's uncle apparently tinkered with rockets when he was a kid. Took off a corner of the neighbor's roof, is how the story goes.

Oops.

Posted by: MrExcitement at July 27, 2024 06:27 PM (hOOi9)

131 Ah GWB, I am sure the hobby guy and his wife would love to tour it again...It is one of the hobby guys favorite places here...

I do not knit, but I love to crochet and have done everything from baby outfits to all types of blankets to sweaters, etc. Just taught a 16 yo cousin to crochet and she is off to the races with projects. My latest has been crocheting little Christmas stockings for the little cousins. But my one true love is counted cross stitch....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:28 PM (IQ6Gq)

132 We're doing a hobby thread theme on kitting, crochet, etc. at some point, so stay tuned if you're wise in the way of such things.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:28 PM (IQ6Gq)

133 I still recall when the shuttle, Discovery(?), was being ferried to a museum on the back of a 747 or 767. It flew almost overhead and was perfectly visible on the carrier. Everyone pulled their cars over and got out to watch. About the only time I ever saw traffic in the DC area come to a voluntary standstill. Believe it was 2012.

Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024 06:28 PM (zudum)

134 We've got a complaint that people are getting high and playing space in the middle of the street 😆

https://youtu.be/pp1e505TBHI?si=fidB1raw6ogSox00

Posted by: logprof at July 27, 2024 06:28 PM (kmOhO)

135 Where is Gref? This thread is is his forte

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 06:29 PM (5MvGY)

136 Didn't build rockets, but do you remember those water rockets from the 60's or 70's. Those were fun.

https://youtu.be/l7LItj7StIY

Posted by: olddog in mo at July 27, 2024 06:29 PM (LyNt9)

137 Thanks for the heads up on the GL Pease Horizons. I've never tried any of their blends and the local tobacconist doesn't carry the brand. I came across mention of their Chelsea Morning, Quiet Nights and Maltese Falcon blends. I see some experimenting with the brand in the future. The reviews sound like these would be good contemplative blends to enjoy while reading or listening to music.
Posted by: JTB at July 27, 2024

***
Come to think of it, the pipe/cigar shop had several Pease cans, including Maltese Falcon. They had some Cornell & Diehl blends, and some Petersons like Royal Yacht and Elizabethan. Most of these were $16.50 a tin. Argggh.

This morning my post-breakfast with coffee blend was some Stirling Flake (yes, I named my cat after this leaf long before I tried it) mixed with the last of the Capstan Blue. Last evening, though, I dug up some White Burley I'd had for a while, pretty strong stuff, and mixed a pinch in with Sir Walter Raleigh. Both were very nice. Piping combined with mixing blends seems to be the hobby for me, at least right now.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 27, 2024 06:31 PM (omVj0)

138 I was at KSC for Challenger.

I've told my story here before. Although NASA does great things, the management at KSC has consistently been a bunch of assholes and shitheads.

I was at the tip of the spear for a long time and have a bunch of war stories.

I really wanted to work for SpaceX but I was too old to get hired. It's one of those disappointments we all have that I have to live with.

Posted by: pawn at July 27, 2024 06:31 PM (QB+5g)

139 From my understanding you can't see any man made items left behind on the moon with any telescope on earth. I think they said even Hubble couldn't photograph anything. I find that hard to believe and I guess it's one of the things that deniers grasp to.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:31 PM (pFQ77)

140 SiD, what year did you do Space Camp?
DILIT was there in 2010. Team Von Tieshaunsen.
Posted by: RI Red
---
Uh... a lot of years before 2010. :-)

I went to the Space & Rocket Center with the family a couple times before I went to Space Camp. I think it would have been 1985 or 1986 when I was a camper.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:31 PM (iZbyp)

141 >> Heap shame upon Boeing. SpaceX Dragon is there now and another coming in a month. SpaceX is flying, piloted, back and forth with regularity and Boeings' people are left stranded trying to mend that leaky DEI, pos.
Posted by: Braenyard

The Boeing astronauts are just arguing over who has to sit in the window seat.

Posted by: Aviator at July 27, 2024 06:32 PM (HQ9Sl)

142 We took the trip to Cape Canaveral I think just before the Apollo Russian Soyez (?) hook up

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 06:32 PM (fwDg9)

143 I came here to chew gum and talk about Elon Musk's personal life, and I'm all out of gum.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 06:33 PM (p+X/W)

144 One of the great things about my time at KSC was working with a couple of the honest-to-god Apollo engineers. I can listen to them tell war stories all night.

Posted by: pawn at July 27, 2024 06:34 PM (QB+5g)

145 The Project Apollo Archive may be your cup of tea.

For me, that site is like crack. I go there and can't seem to leave.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at July 27, 2024 06:34 PM (mH6SG)

146 Cicero, sailing is your hobby. How goes it?

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 06:34 PM (5MvGY)

147 RI Red, I'm sure SID thanks you for the complement! And we will be sure that is added to your permanent record!

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:34 PM (IQ6Gq)

148 I remember building an Estes Saturn V model when I was a kid. It took Estes D rocket engines.

Anything that used the D engines was serious pyro.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 06:35 PM (p+X/W)

149 139 From my understanding you can't see any man made items left behind on the moon with any telescope on earth.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:31 PM (pFQ77)
***
There are six reflectors on the moon that can bounce lasers back to earth. Does that count?

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:35 PM (IQ6Gq)

150 Hey, I wanna hit the Udvar-Hazy museum again! Count me in.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at July 27, 2024 06:35 PM (kpS4V)

151 Grateful
I have done cross stitch for years and absolutely love it. I just finished a project on some linen I found at a thrift store. I have a full coverage piece in the wings and I'll probably start that in the fall. I taught my daughter to crochet when she was young and she makes the most beautiful things. I'm crocheting a throw using the German shell pattern but I'm using #10 thread for it.

Posted by: Megthered at July 27, 2024 06:35 PM (rwiQP)

152 SiD, that’s a hoot!

I watched the ‘69 landing and walk from, yes, Band Camp.
My uncle designed the camera that filmed it.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:36 PM (2tKzk)

153 The more one reads about the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo projects, the deeper one goes, it's like an onion, the more is revealed and it is even yet more amazing. These were hardcore military test pilots with engineering degrees, combat veterans and similar backgrounds with Navy and Air Force.

The engineering and production issues, the administrative side is almost as interesting. They named that outer space telescope after James Webb for a reason. Still, you had to talk a bunch of people into strapping into a rocket that had a non-zero chance of blowing up on the launch pad. If everything goes to plan, why, they will shoot you on a 5,000 feet a second trajectory into the Moon. Hope they didn't drop a decimal point somewhere in there.

You might crash into the Moon, or skim by it altogether. Permanent orbiting space monument exhibit filled with freeze-dried Astronauts. On the way home, bouncing off the earth atmosphere back out into space is a possibility, as is roasting in a spectacular fireball if the entry corridor is too steep.

Then hopefully the parachutes aren't frozen, or burned up, or damaged, and everything opens on time etc. I understand now why Collins flew space once.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 27, 2024 06:36 PM (TNzfB)

154 Aerial photography has always interested me. I know there was an Estes rocket with some sort of camera that would, allegedly, take photos. I think it worked about 2% of the time.

Drones are where it's at for this. I have some pretty stunning video of significant flooding here in KY from years ago. Every low spot is a lake.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 06:36 PM (Q4IgG)

155 150 Hey, I wanna hit the Udvar-Hazy museum again! Count me in.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at July 27, 2024 06:35 PM (kpS4V)
***
Mini MoMe!

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:36 PM (IQ6Gq)

156 I might have mentioned this one. Dad took all of us out of school one day and took us to Vandenburg AFB to see a rocket launch. It seemed like every person on the base was outside looking the same direction. The noise was unbelievable, felt it in your chest.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 06:37 PM (vtl9g)

157 pawn - I would like to buy you a beer someday (or come to a MoMe and I'll catch you there).

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:38 PM (IQ6Gq)

158 Hah! Grateful, DILIT is1 year short of the rest of us 29 year-olds.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:38 PM (2tKzk)

159 Any re-wiring tips?

@amuse 11m
Power is out in Paris…

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 27, 2024 06:38 PM (IG4Id)

160 Hey, I wanna hit the Udvar-Hazy museum again! Count me in.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at July 27, 2024 06:35 PM (kpS4V)
***
Mini MoMe!
Posted by: TRex
---
This is gonna be epic!

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:39 PM (iZbyp)

161 Grandpa was a NASA engineer during the Apollo missions. One of hundreds. He never bragged about it. He told me about it when he, Dad and I were watching Apollo 13.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at July 27, 2024 06:40 PM (Ad8y9)

162 128 I guess I should mention I worked on the shuttle during its test and evaluations at the test stands on RSA in '78 & '79. The sheer size of the External tank and the Solid rocket motors was something I'll never forget.

Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at July 27, 2024 06:27 PM (qZdIZ)
***
Very cool. The scale is hard to fathom.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:41 PM (IQ6Gq)

163 151/ Megthered
How is the German shell pattern different from ours?

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:42 PM (IQ6Gq)

164 The Horde loose amidst all those planes.

How soon until we are 'kindly requested' to leave the premises??

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 06:42 PM (1/gMt)

165 The knowledge and experiences of the Horde never cease to amaze me.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:42 PM (iZbyp)

166 I need to do that NoVaMoMe one of these years. It's certainly a lot closer to me than Texas, so if I can make TX, I should be able to make VA.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 06:42 PM (OX9vb)

167 164/
I'll always take the under on those bets....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:42 PM (IQ6Gq)

168 I watched the Space Shuttle plenty when I was growing up. Challenger is one of those events seared into my memory...I was in 2nd grade. We've all seen the footage many, many times, but you can search around and find some tracking camera views that caught more of the plume burn-through event and external tank being compromised, and it's as terrifying to watch now as ever.

Posted by: Andy_in_Colorado at July 27, 2024 06:43 PM (M3prz)

169 146 Cicero, sailing is your hobby. How goes it?
Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 06:34 PM (5MvGY)

--------

It's been a roller coaster. I've kind of decided that this won't come to a conclusion until I get a bigger, newer boat. I'm on the waiting list for a 35 ft slip.

Until then, I've been upgrading the existing vessel but my recent addition of in-cockpit remote controls has introduced a new set of problems. Don't ask.

That said, I have a great slip with a to-die-for view of the main channel. The Lady Cicero and I are sitting here now, in 75 degree sunshine with a light breeze, drinking wine and watching the Pretty Young Things in their thong bikinis go by on their paddleboards.

Life could be worse.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 06:43 PM (p+X/W)

170 The Udvar Hazy museum is a fantastic day trip

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 06:43 PM (fwDg9)

171 TRex, thank you . Your subject matter is drawing out the most fascinating Moron stories. I am in awe.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 06:43 PM (5MvGY)

172 For me, that site is like crack. I go there and can't seem to leave.

So for posting the link. am I an enabler??

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 06:43 PM (1/gMt)

173 From my understanding you can't see any man made items left behind on the moon with any telescope on earth.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:31 PM (pFQ77)
***
There are six reflectors on the moon that can bounce lasers back to earth. Does that count?
Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:35 PM (IQ6Gq)

Counts for me but I'm not the one you have to convince. But in my ignorance of our most powerful telescopes I never knew we couldn't see for example one of the 3 land rovers we left there.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:43 PM (pFQ77)

174 I will buy the second round for Dave and pawn and anyone else involved in space. I was on a track (in my head) to be an astronaut until second year at the Air Force Academy.
It’s a long story, best told over beers.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:44 PM (2tKzk)

175 Grateful, it's done in an infinity square. It's also called the virus pattern. I don't know how it became German.

Posted by: Megthered at July 27, 2024 06:44 PM (rwiQP)

176 Aerial photography has always interested me. I know there was an Estes rocket with some sort of camera that would, allegedly, take photos. I think it worked about 2% of the time.
Posted by: Martini Farmer

I'll bet they were film cameras.
BIL built model rockets (big ones that had to shut down air traffic over Antelope Valley CA) and put small digital cameras on them. They all worked.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 06:44 PM (vtl9g)

177 Hey TRex!

Thanks!

I've tried to make it to TX for 2 or 3 years now and something always comes up.

I'm going to try again this year. I really want to meet you folks.

Posted by: pawn at July 27, 2024 06:44 PM (QB+5g)

178 170 tinyurl.com/bddt84u7

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 06:45 PM (fwDg9)

179 until second year at the Air Force Academy.
It’s a long story, best told over beers.
Posted by: RI Red

Is she still alive?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 06:47 PM (vtl9g)

180 I tried without success to sneak rickl's name on a sensor used on the Vulcan but it didn't work out.

Posted by: pawn at July 27, 2024 06:48 PM (QB+5g)

181 So for posting the link. am I an enabler??

Yes, you are indeed. It has been a while but I'm on the site right now getting my long-delayed fix. Heh.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at July 27, 2024 06:48 PM (mH6SG)

182 171 TRex, thank you. Your subject matter is drawing out the most fascinating Moron stories. I am in awe.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 06:43 PM (5MvGY)
***
This is fun, isn't it?! The horde is an interesting mix of experiences, interests, knowledge, and silliness. Glad you're all here!

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:48 PM (IQ6Gq)

183 I was trying to learn to knit last winter, but it made my hands hurt. Progress was slow. But I really, really want to knit socks. I shall try again this fall.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 06:22 PM (OX9vb)

They make compression gloves for handworkers, that I use when mine get sore.
I knit Continental style, which I think distributes the stress more evenly and gives you more control over the tension.

Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 06:48 PM (4lnL8)

184 Aerial photography has always interested me. I know there was an Estes rocket with some sort of camera that would, allegedly, take photos. I think it worked about 2% of the time.
Posted by: Martini Farmer

I'll bet they were film cameras.
BIL built model rockets (big ones that had to shut down air traffic over Antelope Valley CA) and put small digital cameras on them. They all worked.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 06:44 PM

They were film cameras that used a special kind of film that IIRC you could only get from Estes model rocket company. We had a rich kid that we hung with sometimes that had one of those rockets with the camera in the nose back in the 60s. I don't recall ever seeing a single picture he got that was clear enough to see any detail but I could be misremembering.

It's been so long I don't remember how it worked I just recall that it was a pain in the a$$ to set up and he didn't use it too much.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at July 27, 2024 06:49 PM (QNSds)

185 It’s a long story, best told over beers.
Posted by: RI Red
---
Are you coming to Corsicana? If so, I'll keep you supplied with beers until the story is told.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 06:49 PM (iZbyp)

186 174 I was on a track (in my head) to be an astronaut until second year at the Air Force Academy. It’s a long story, best told over beers.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:44 PM (2tKzk)
***
Most stories are better with beer.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:50 PM (IQ6Gq)

187 Kenya.
Boarding school weekends were dreadfully boring.
So we made gunpowder, lots of gunpowder but my formula: potassium chlorate and charcoal. No saltpeter, no sulfur. The charcoal was from the huge pile outside the kitchens (used for fuel for the hot water boiler). The chlorate was 'obtained' from the chem lab as were a couple of mortars and pestles for grinding. The gunpowder was very high quality. No scales available so charcoal was ground to a fine powder and also for the crystalline chlorate. Then we slowly added chlorate to the charcoal and mixed. Small batches would be sampled and ignited with a cigarette (did I mention that we smoked throughout this procedure?) to check for burn speed and thus ratio adjustments would be made.

Fuses: string is washed and air-dried. Dipped in a potassium chlorate, KClO3, or potassium nitrate, KNO3, solution and hung to dry. Next, dipped in home-made collodion solution (acetone/ether) and air-dried. I never tested this but it might have burned under water. Anyway it burned very quickly.

Crackers: we tried tightly wrapped paper tubes but never achieved a bang. Instead they would travel much like misguided rockets.
(cont.)

Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Gunpowder Plot #01 at July 27, 2024 06:51 PM (qfLjt)

188 I was an unemployed college graduate cleaning out the back of a UPS trailers as a part time money maker when the Challenger blew up. Put my temporary hardship in perspective.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:51 PM (pFQ77)

189 Aerial photography in war time

Historic England Archive of some 3,600 photos taken by USAAF photo reconnaissance planes during World War II. The map is interactive.

https://tinyurl.com/usaafphotosuk

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 06:51 PM (1/gMt)

190 175/ Megthered
Thanks for that, I learned to crochet via an infinity square, but became frustrated with it because it wasn't a rectangle, lol. Learned in nursing school, during the OB/GYN rotation - lots of down time waiting for the big event.
I'm now trying to get my hard head around the concept of interlocking crochet....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:52 PM (IQ6Gq)

191 I was on a track (in my head) to be an astronaut until second year at the Air Force Academy.
Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:44 PM (2tKzk)

Similar. I decided astronautics was a little too specialized. I said to myself "They need EEs in space, too." Then I didn't end up a EE either.

Posted by: GWB at July 27, 2024 06:52 PM (AWrpC)

192 The Horde loose amidst all those planes.

How soon until we are 'kindly requested' to leave the premises??
Posted by: Anna Puma

Probably about the time the fueling is done and the pre-flights are completed.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at July 27, 2024 06:53 PM (VNX3d)

193 Does everyone know the story of the frog that photobombed a NASA launch in 2013?
https://tinyurl.com/4smsh4dn

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:53 PM (IQ6Gq)

194 until second year at the Air Force Academy.
It’s a long story, best told over beers.
Posted by: RI Red

Is she still alive?
AZ deplorable moron

Well, yes, but that’s only part of the story!

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:53 PM (2tKzk)

195
Well, yes, but that’s only part of the story!
Posted by: RI Red

If you let us know what type of alcohol will enable the retelling of the story it'll be at the TXmome this year.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 06:55 PM (vtl9g)

196 192 Probably about the time the fueling is done and the pre-flights are completed.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at July 27, 2024 06:53 PM (VNX3d)
***
And fully armed.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:55 PM (IQ6Gq)

197 Dugan Falls. My husband worked with a guy that bought a cabin up there. No one living on that part of the river so he needed someone to keep an eye on things. We'd just bought a schoolbus so we moved up there. Used to do laundry in that river in the summer.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 06:55 PM (xjTDL)

198 Probably about the time the fueling is done and the pre-flights are completed.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf
------

Do I have to reattach all of the 'Remove Before Flight' flags?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 27, 2024 06:55 PM (XeU6L)

199 185/
Yes SID, RI Red is coming to TX this year...he already promised Ben Had....
We'll help with the beers.....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:56 PM (IQ6Gq)

200 They make compression gloves for handworkers, that I use when mine get sore.
I knit Continental style, which I think distributes the stress more evenly and gives you more control over the tension.
Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 06:48 PM (4lnL

I'll check into that, sal, thanks!

Was having some difficulty figuring out the difference between continental and regular, also.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 06:56 PM (OX9vb)

201 I was never on track to be an astronaut.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 06:56 PM (p+X/W)

202 Probably about the time the fueling is done and the pre-flights are completed.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf
------

Do I have to reattach all of the 'Remove Before Flight' flags?
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc.

We would need to remember to arm the ejection seats - not like the end of Top Gun: Maverick.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at July 27, 2024 06:57 PM (VNX3d)

203 All, I am really trying to get back to TX this year!
I luv you guys. Well, mostly gals.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 06:57 PM (2tKzk)

204 Estes catalogues in the mid-to-late 70's were damn cool. Toughest rocket I built was the Mercury Redstone. Did not do a good job but finished it. Never launched it though. I'd spend many a Summer morning inside building model rockets. As a kid at camp in W.Va, they had a model rocketry class and we did launch our rockets. That was so much fun.

Posted by: SFGoth at July 27, 2024 06:57 PM (KAi1n)

205 This is fun, isn't it?! The horde is an interesting mix of experiences, interests, knowledge, and silliness. Glad you're all here!
Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:48 PM (IQ6Gq)

Yes! The Horde is a never-ending source of knowledge, expertise and real life experiences.
Thanks for the Thread, TRex.

Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 06:57 PM (4lnL8)

206 I knit and crochet but haven't done crocheted socks. I do Priscilla Gibson-Roberts simple Socks. They have a short row heel and toe and can be started from either end. She has a great chart in her book if you need to make socks for someone and just have a shoe size.

I like Nancy Bush's sock books but I don't like her finish at the cuff. It's always too tight for me.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 06:58 PM (xjTDL)

207 You need your pitot tube checked? I'm your man.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 06:58 PM (p+X/W)

208 TRex, you do a good job with the Hobby Thread, thank you.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 06:58 PM (vtl9g)

209 Grateful, I have just finished a blanket using interlocking crochet. I was so frustrating but it looks lovely when it's finished. I have tried the planned pooling argyle stitch but I can't get it done for the life of me. I've put that yarn in the time out basket.

Posted by: Megthered at July 27, 2024 06:58 PM (rwiQP)

210 189 Aerial photography in war time. Historic England Archive of some 3,600 photos taken by USAAF photo reconnaissance planes during World War II. The map is interactive.

https://tinyurl.com/usaafphotosuk

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 06:51 PM (1/gMt)
***
Wow. Just wow.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 06:58 PM (IQ6Gq)

211 Kindltot: Horace Kephart's book "Camping and Woodcraft" has a bit of information about using a froe, including how to keep the split straight and/or straighten one going awry.

long out of print, cheap e-book on Kindle

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - they have been lying to us for decades at July 27, 2024 06:58 PM (UWgy2)

212
Crackers: we tried tightly wrapped paper tubes but never achieved a bang. Instead they would travel much like misguided rockets.
(cont.)
Posted by: Ciampino
-------

We used sections of clothes hanger cardboard tube. Coated with wax, those, with tiny wire wire ignitors could be detonated underwater. We were, maybe, 11 years old.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 27, 2024 06:59 PM (XeU6L)

213 Anna I have had that for quite awhile.
Went days searching the photos

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 07:00 PM (fwDg9)

214 Wow, Estes has archived all its catalogues.
https://estesrockets.com/pages/catalogs

Posted by: SFGoth at July 27, 2024 07:00 PM (KAi1n)

215 RI Red, promises made, promises kept. Unless Mrs Red can't come then you can stay home ,shunned.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 07:01 PM (5MvGY)

216 Space exploration/observational astronomy has always been my jam.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 07:01 PM (8sMut)

217 A lot of arial photography is available for your locality through state, county or other archives.

I bookmarked a site that has arial shots of my area going back to the '50's.

It's like night and day. Literally. Most of the shots are done from a low flying plane with a 35mm camera operated by either the pilot or passenger.

It's fascinating.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 07:02 PM (Q4IgG)

218 Learned in nursing school, during the OB/GYN rotation - lots of down time waiting for the big event.
I'm now trying to get my hard head around the concept of interlocking crochet....
Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 06:52 PM (IQ6Gq)

The famous knitting blogger The Yarn Harlot was a doula and was once approached by a staff doctor while knitting a sock in the lobby.
"Oh, I could never learn to do that," said the doc.
"Then your neurosurgery patients are in a world of trouble", she thought.

Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 07:02 PM (4lnL8)

219 208/ Megthered
****************
Congratulations! I am in awe of anyone who can finish a project using this style. And a blanket at that. I'm sure it is beautiful, as are all the photos I see - which is what got me interested in it. But alas, I believe it'll be a January project (more time then to learn new things). Now I have to finish the Christmas projects and ornaments. But thanks for confirming that it can be done!

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:03 PM (IQ6Gq)

220 201 I was never on track to be an astronaut.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 06:56 PM (p+X/W)

Nope. Me, neither. I don't even have any particular interest in the space program or interplanetary exploration, except in a very general sense of appreciation for human achievement.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 07:03 PM (OX9vb)

221 216 Space exploration/observational astronomy has always been my jam.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 07:01 PM (8sMut)

---------

Have you ever boldly gone where no man has gone before?

Be honest.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 07:03 PM (p+X/W)

222 Aerial America is my favorite TV series . I have to ignore some of the narration though.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 07:04 PM (B1dzx)

223 Ben Had, bringing the pressure.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:04 PM (2tKzk)

224 209 Grateful, I have just finished a blanket using interlocking crochet. I was so frustrating but it looks lovely when it's finished.

Posted by: Megthered at July 27, 2024 06:58 PM (rwiQP)
***
If you're willing, please send a photo to the email address in my nic. Will include in the thread content when we do this theme.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:04 PM (IQ6Gq)

225 Photography and space...
Has anyone checked out the Corona project's markers in the Arizona Desert?
Casa Grande Photogrammetric Test Range
https://is.gd/XvlcY7

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 07:05 PM (vtl9g)

226 I had a better chance to ride the range driving cattle than riding in a space ship

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 07:05 PM (fwDg9)

227 222 Aerial America is my favorite TV series . I have to ignore some of the narration though.
Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 07:04 PM (B1dzx)

Yeah, it always gets to climate change somehow, doesn't it? But if you can get past that, it's fascinating.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 07:05 PM (OX9vb)

228 I built the Starship Vega, Satellite Interceptor, Solar Sailer (that was really cool - the parachute was mylar), USS Atlantis, Interceptor, Orion Starfighter, Orbital Transport, Photon Disruptor, plus lots of boring ones.

Posted by: SFGoth at July 27, 2024 07:06 PM (KAi1n)

229 I was never on track to be an astronaut.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 06:56 PM (p+X/W)

You’re a Seanaut.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 07:06 PM (B1dzx)

230 We really ought to build and fire a rocket at the TexMoMee.

If the environs aren't too dry. 🔥

Posted by: All Hail Eris at July 27, 2024 07:07 PM (kpS4V)

231 For what it's worth, I use flex tips for socks. Addi makes them. They are like a double point with a flexible middle. You use three needles. I can do double points but they can feel tricky to beginners. Magic loop is easy when you get the hang of it. You want to knit a fairly tight gauge.

Little Knits has regular sock yarn sales, if you get on their mailing list.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 27, 2024 07:07 PM (xjTDL)

232 Heap shame upon Boeing. SpaceX Dragon is there now and another coming in a month. SpaceX is flying, piloted, back and forth with regularity and Boeings' people are left stranded trying to mend that leaky DEI, pos.
Posted by: Braenyard at July 27, 2024 06:22 PM

What you're doing is similar to seeing the first Starship launch fall into the sea and saying "Fail" even though the goal was just to get it off the pad. It's a test flight, and Boeing is gathering data from their test for as long as they can before they bring it back.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 27, 2024 07:07 PM (iZEhM)

233 Ben Had, bringing the pressure.
Posted by: RI Red

Yeah, well done Ben Had!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 07:07 PM (vtl9g)

234 188 I was an unemployed college graduate cleaning out the back of a UPS trailers as a part time money maker when the Challenger blew up. Put my temporary hardship in perspective.
Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:51 PM (pFQ77)

Many kids were at at school on the last Tuesday of January, 1986, when they saw the Challenger exlode live on TV.

I was school age but I had finished dinner. Being in Germany and thus six hours ahead changed things for me. My sister and I went downtown about a week later. About half of the publications - all German, of course - had images of a) the Challenger b) Christa McAuliffe or c) both.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 07:07 PM (8sMut)

235 Yeah, it always gets to climate change somehow, doesn't it? But if you can get past that, it's fascinating.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 27, 2024 07:05 PM (OX9vb)

That and all the land we stole from Native Americans.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 07:07 PM (B1dzx)

236 Serious. How many of the Horde have violated the Prime Directive at least once?

Be honest. You're among friends.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 07:08 PM (p+X/W)

237 One weekend we went into the Sports Store where odds and ends were kept. We found a broken javelin, the back part and about 4-5 feet long. Aluminium (it was British land). So, fat at the broken 'base' and tapering to a flat end. We plugged that flat end.
Now bear in mind that there was no Internet being 1962. So no idea about pelletizing the fuel, packing density, etc., we just poured gunpowder in until it was full. We went to the far reaches of the school grounds (extensive, lots of bush, rugby fields, seclusion. etc.), and 'constructed' a launch pad thus: 1 large old coffee can. In this was placed a piece of a galvanized water pipe, obviously at a slant, about a foot long and 3-4 inches diameter. The rocket went wide-end into the pipe and rested like that at an angle.
(cont. to Part 3)

Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Gunpowder Plot #02 at July 27, 2024 07:08 PM (qfLjt)

238 My interest in Space is along the lines of how man has through the eons inhabited all the other planets and screwed it up. Musk wants to go to Mars but I bet we've already been there.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 07:08 PM (5MvGY)

239 Have you ever boldly gone where no man has gone before?

Be honest.
Posted by: Cicero
-----

Well, I've been places where no man would want to go.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 27, 2024 07:09 PM (XeU6L)

240 214 Wow, Estes has archived all its catalogues.
https://estesrockets.com/pages/catalogs

Posted by: SFGoth at July 27, 2024 07:00 PM (KAi1n)
***
Great find!! Catalogs go back to 1963.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:10 PM (IQ6Gq)

241 228 I built the Starship Vega, Satellite Interceptor, Solar Sailer (that was really cool - the parachute was mylar), USS Atlantis, Interceptor, Orion Starfighter, Orbital Transport, Photon Disruptor, plus lots of boring ones.
Posted by: SFGoth at July 27, 2024 07:06 PM (KAi1n)

While subbing I have seen two classrooms with Star Wars items. It was at this point I decided if/when I get back into a history class, I need to throw some curveballs. I will need an Eagle Transporter model for the classroom, just to be different, and to showcase nerdiness.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 07:10 PM (8sMut)

242 230/
Please note that any building and firing of rockets at the TX MoMe will at your risk, and that the medical bag, and the medic, will not be available to you when the unforeseen happens. But the nearest hospital is only a half hour away....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

243 "Photography and space...
Has anyone checked out the Corona project's markers in the Arizona Desert?
Casa Grande Photogrammetric Test Range
https://is.gd/XvlcY7

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron"

That's cool. My dad flew C-130s to retrieve Corona satellites in the late 60s. They would fly over the returning capsule, snag the parachute with a hook, and winch it in the back of the plane.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM (vFG9F)

244 236 Serious. How many of the Horde have violated the Prime Directive at least once?

Be honest. You're among friends.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 27, 2024 07:08 PM (p+X/W)

The prime directive is to make you perfect so you are suitable for life on Piri.

Posted by: The Servant of the Guardian at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM (8sMut)

245 Serious. How many of the Horde have violated the Prime Directive at least once?

Here at the HQ? Guilty as charged.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at July 27, 2024 07:12 PM (mH6SG)

246 Boeing deserves some heat, but NASA changed their requirements on the Starliner multiple times... during construction.

YMMV

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 07:12 PM (Q4IgG)

247 239 Have you ever boldly gone where no man has gone before?

I will.

Posted by: Randall Flagg at July 27, 2024 07:13 PM (8sMut)

248 Polynikes, have you been to some of the places you've painted? I really like the Guadalajara Cathedral.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 27, 2024 07:13 PM (YRsIm)

249 I, too, regret that we are not already on Mars, etc. The country took an extreme turn after we got to the Moon. It felt sort of like today when things went off the road. The PTB diverted to social crap, the country was sick of Vietnam, and distracted by Watergate.
Eventually we got back to low orbit, but it wasn’t until the private sector got involved that we started recovering.
I’m pissed. I should have been able to purchase a ticket to a space station, or taken out a loan to go to the Moon.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:13 PM (2tKzk)

250 246 Boeing deserves some heat, but NASA changed their requirements on the Starliner multiple times... during construction.

YMMV
Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 27, 2024 07:12 PM (Q4IgG)

Doesn't matter. Everything Is Boeing's Fault.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 07:13 PM (8sMut)

251 They would fly over the returning capsule, snag the parachute with a hook, and winch it in the back of the plane.
Posted by: fd

That's very cool.

We were driving out in the desert and found one and then I did a bunch of searching (early internet) to figure out what those cement 'things' were with a Fed Geo brass circle in it.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 27, 2024 07:14 PM (vtl9g)

252 MPC has a 22in long Eagle Transporter model kit.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 07:14 PM (1/gMt)

253 The movie thread is coming up but anyone else think The Martian was a DEI fantasy movie? Or am I just so jaded I see DEI behind every rock?

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 07:15 PM (B1dzx)

254
The prime directive is to make you perfect so you are suitable for life on Piri.
Posted by: The Servant of the Guardian at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM (8sMut)

WHERE ARE YOUR OWN PEOPLE? THEY DON'T EXIST DO THEY? NO, BECAUSE THEY DIED! JUST AS MY PEOPLE ARE DYING RIGHT NOW! OF TOTAL APATHY!

Posted by: Commander John Koenig at July 27, 2024 07:16 PM (8sMut)

255 243 Casa Grande Photogrammetric Test Range
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron"

That's cool. My dad flew C-130s to retrieve Corona satellites in the late 60s.
Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM
***
Very cool. Thanks for posting.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:16 PM (IQ6Gq)

256 I’m pissed. I should have been able to purchase a ticket to a space station, or taken out a loan to go to the Moon.
Posted by: RI Red
---
Or board a ship for a visit to the Kanamits' home planet. I hear the food is to die for!

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 07:16 PM (iZbyp)

257 252 MPC has a 22in long Eagle Transporter model kit.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 07:14 PM (1/gMt)

YES!!!

(Fist pump)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 07:17 PM (8sMut)

258 One of the highlights of my military career was participating in the Follow-On Operational Test and Evaluation (FOOTE) shot of a Minuteman III ICBM.
The launches out of Vandenberg AFB are impressive.

Posted by: Minuteman at July 27, 2024 07:17 PM (LaNzR)

259 Polynikes, it was CCP propaganda for sure. There was some ethnic swapping too in comparison to the book.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at July 27, 2024 07:17 PM (kpS4V)

260 252 MPC has a 22in long Eagle Transporter model kit.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 27, 2024 07:14 PM (1/gM

-------

Woof.

Posted by: Elizabeth at July 27, 2024 07:18 PM (p+X/W)

261 I still have my first Estes rocket, a tiny little Mosquito. Flew it alot, it wasn't complicated like my brother's all were. He flew one that had a camera--still had to wait 8 to 10 days for the picture to be developed.

We also flew lots of matchstick rockets off the back porch. It's a wonder we didn't light the yard on fire.

And then there was the black powder stuff...

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at July 27, 2024 07:18 PM (sRfrW)

262 237
Part 3
Location: middle of an empty rugby field in the midst of the African bush. No spectators, just the gang.
Ignition. A drop of concentrated sulfuric acid on gunpowder will ignite said powder. To achieve 'engine' ignition I put a small heap of gunpowder at the base of the rocket where it rested in the cam. After everyone had retired behind trees I put several drops of H2SO4 on the outside of the javelin, about a foot from the base and also retired. The idea was that the acid would slowly trickle down to the bottom and ignite the pile which in turn would ignite the rocket. Did a countdown, including 5, but after waiting an interminable time I went to look.
(cont. Part 4)

Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Gunpowder Plot #03 at July 27, 2024 07:19 PM (qfLjt)

263 SID, when younger, I wanted to go to Mr. Bass’s Mushroom Planet.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:19 PM (2tKzk)

264 For a long time, we had a Corona retrieval practice capsule in our garage. I don't know how my dad got it, but he said he was going to make a grill out it. He never did though, and I think it got sold in a garage sale.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 07:19 PM (vFG9F)

265 uh - oh "went to look" ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - they have been lying to us for decades at July 27, 2024 07:20 PM (UWgy2)

266
Aerial photography has always interested me. I know there was an Estes rocket with some sort of camera that would, allegedly, take photos. I think it worked about 2% of the time.

Camroc

https://tinyurl.com/4f7bh3cr

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 27, 2024 07:20 PM (63Dwl)

267 Polynikes, have you been to some of the places you've painted? I really like the Guadalajara Cathedral.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 27, 2024 07:13 PM (YRsIm)

That was a commission piece. I left out the couple standing in front of the Cathedral who commissioned it .

A number of the paintings are commissions from their vacation photos. Prien Lake is a photo from Lake Charles LA where I grew up.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 07:20 PM (B1dzx)

268 https://tinyurl.com/mpusy9fn
20 Tweets from Bad Blue

Some good stuff tonight

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 07:21 PM (fwDg9)

269 Dad couldn't understand how I was so into Star Trek and had little-to-no interest in model rocketry

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 27, 2024 07:21 PM (JvZF+)

270 I went to look once ... looked, threw myself backwards with all my might in the nick of time ... lucky to still have both eyes!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - they have been lying to us for decades at July 27, 2024 07:22 PM (UWgy2)

271 Anchorage House of Hobbies remains the place to buy your rockets around here. Also, RC stuff, model railroading, any kind of model actually, and other really cool stuff.

For art stuff, you need to go to Blaine's, but that's only a block away.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at July 27, 2024 07:22 PM (sRfrW)

272 I, too, regret that we are not already on Mars, etc. The country took an extreme turn after we got to the Moon. It felt sort of like today when things went off the road. The PTB diverted to social crap, the country was sick of Vietnam, and distracted by Watergate.
Eventually we got back to low orbit, but it wasn’t until the private sector got involved that we started recovering.
I’m pissed. I should have been able to purchase a ticket to a space station, or taken out a loan to go to the Moon.
Posted by: RI Red

Would we have had 2001: A Space Odyssey, Space:1999, or have we come closer to Salvage One (with Andy Griffith)?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at July 27, 2024 07:23 PM (VNX3d)

273 269 Dad couldn't understand how I was so into Star Trek and had little-to-no interest in model rocketry
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 27, 2024 07:21 PM (JvZF+)

That's OK. i played D&D in HS but had little to no interest in fantasy novels/stories.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at July 27, 2024 07:23 PM (8sMut)

274 I remember that book, RI Red!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - they have been lying to us for decades at July 27, 2024 07:23 PM (UWgy2)

275 You can see the VAB - down in Florida, still one of the largest buildings constructed. They had plans for more launch pads, the VAB could have up to four (4) Saturn V getting stacked at any one time and 2 or 3 on the pad.
They envisioned about 100 Saturn V launches, they only built maybe 10 or 12 total.

They spent most of the money before 1965 iirc. Then tapered back along the way, canceling this and canceling that. But the initial outlays were spent. The infrastructure was there.

In a way, the elegant solution of LOR or lunar orbit rendezvoux worked too well. It met the original goal of beating the Soviets, but from an engineering point it wasn't well suited to continuation. The Saturn V could have been quite the workhorse though.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 27, 2024 07:24 PM (Z3/WH)

276 Resolution of Hubble is about 0.2 at seconds. That's about a football field on the Moon. Also, it's designed for faint light sources. The Moon is way too bright. It could be done, but it would be a bitch.

The LRO has confirmed that at least 3 flags are still standing, but how degraded they are is unknown. The Apollo 11 flag is not standing. Aldrin said he thought the ascent stage rocket blast blew it over.

Posted by: Publius on Stupid Phone at July 27, 2024 07:24 PM (w6EFb)

277 Can hobbyists purchase and use liquid propellant in their rockets ?
Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 06:17 PM

Yes, but solid fuel with gaseous oxidizer "hybrid" rockets are a lot more common because they're a lot easier to build.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at July 27, 2024 07:24 PM (iZEhM)

278 Posted by: Publius on Stupid Phone at July 27, 2024 07:24 PM (w6EFb)

Thanks for putting more knowledge into my head.

Posted by: polynikes at July 27, 2024 07:26 PM (B1dzx)

279 I remember flying rockets as a kid. I forget the exact model but it launched off a pad that sat on top of the big old 6V lantern battery. I only tried a C-sized Estes engine a couple of times, stopped that because of loss of rocket and stepped back to the A and B models.

You could buy the engines at the local Ben Franklin 5 and dime in those days.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at July 27, 2024 07:26 PM (/HDaX)

280 >>> 242 230/
Please note that any building and firing of rockets at the TX MoMe will at your risk, and that the medical bag, and the medic, will not be available to you when the unforeseen happens. But the nearest hospital is only a half hour away....
Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

I wonder if it would be a good idea to include this announcement in the Gub Thread as we get closer to October.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 27, 2024 07:26 PM (FnneF)

281 Dunno, HOTF. But humanity does best when there is a pressure relief valve- the New World, the West.
I think Heinlein talked about it. Can you imagine where we’d be now?

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:26 PM (2tKzk)

282 That's 0.1 arcseconds.

Posted by: Publius on Stupid Phone at July 27, 2024 07:26 PM (w6EFb)

283 Watch Elons Harris commercial at Bad Blue #7
That should be ran on tv

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 07:27 PM (fwDg9)

284 Time to say good night and thank you all for being here. Your stories and knowledge amaze me. Thanks for sharing with the horde family. Look forward to meeting you in person, hopefully at a MoMe.

We'll do the hobby thing again next week.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:27 PM (IQ6Gq)

285 Helena Handbasket, we already nixed the tangerine suggestion but the matchbox rockets might be a problem.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 07:29 PM (5MvGY)

286 But the nearest hospital is only a half hour away....
Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

I wonder if it would be a good idea to include this announcement in the Gub Thread as we get closer to October.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 27, 2024 07:26 PM (FnneF)

Not to worry, Helena. She has a stapler.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:30 PM (2tKzk)

287 Thanks TRex for another fun thread! I often miss the Saturday threads live, I'm glad I was here for this one.

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 07:30 PM (iZbyp)

288 TRex, another amazing hobby thread. Almost GT standards!

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:31 PM (2tKzk)

289 286/
Weasel has the stapler not me...and I am deputizing him for that weekend....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:31 PM (IQ6Gq)

290 But the nearest hospital is only a half hour away....
Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

I wonder if it would be a good idea to include this announcement in the Gub Thread as we get closer to October.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 27, 2024 07:26 PM (FnneF)

Not to worry, Helena. She has a stapler.
Posted by: RI Red
---
Grateful, do you have a hot iron in your kit?

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 07:32 PM (iZbyp)

291 Well, Mitt Rombley liked it.

Mitt Romney
@MittRomney
The @Paris2024 Opening Ceremony showcased the world’s most beautiful city. Imaginative, inventive and memorable. The performance by Celine Dion touched hearts. She epitomized the Olympic spirit with her determination, courage and incomparable talent.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Covfefe Today, Covfefe Tomorrow, Covfefe Forever! at July 27, 2024 07:32 PM (L/fGl)

292 Thank you all. I so look forward to being able to visit with you in October

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 07:32 PM (5MvGY)

293 Weasel has the stapler not me...and I am deputizing him for that weekend....
Posted by: Grateful
---
I have a bad feeling about this...

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 07:32 PM (iZbyp)

294 The engines were fun, dad told me one day let's have a "static fire" in the garage, he clamped one of C63 engines or whatever in a shop vise and we hooked it up and let 'er rip. We lost a few rockets in trees anyway, and this was almost as fun.

The spy rocket with hanging camera was the one to get, but my paper route wages didn't meet the outlay. Plus, I figured it would get lost or stolen. I wasn't smart enough to use an appropriate size engine for the neigborhood, we always wanted to use the larges C or D engines.

K-Mart had both Estes and their competitor, Centuri. The models were very nicely designed and supplied. My dad was an old airplane kit kinda guy, he bought one of them that was supposed to launch as a rocket, and then snap out a long glider wing and descend for a conventional landing. That one never flew.

A buddy of mine sold me his launch operation kit. He took an old metal file box, about the size of a small tackle box, and wired an electrical panel with switches and colored bezel lights for different launch pads. An easel saw horse painted green, and wiring for everything. He called it "Collosus" and was pretty swank.

Even had a keyed launch lock switch!

Posted by: Common Tater at July 27, 2024 07:33 PM (Z3/WH)

295 I did enjoy the captions an the SpaceX landing video.

Posted by: tankdemon at July 27, 2024 07:33 PM (R256O)

296 191/
I do not have a hot iron, but that doesn't mean one can't be found....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:33 PM (IQ6Gq)

297 My brother and I did model rockets probably started around when we were 9 or 10. Eventually we got the Estes Big Bertha (the big black one). Then a few years later I started making them completely from scratch. I even launched a spider one time in one of those clear plastic protectors you would get from the nickel prize machine.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at July 27, 2024 07:33 PM (jDLoh)

298 One of the highlights of my military career was participating in the Follow-On Operational Test and Evaluation (FOOTE) shot of a Minuteman III ICBM.
The launches out of Vandenberg AFB are impressive.
Posted by: Minuteman at July 27, 2024 07:17 PM (LaNzR)

When I was a training director at the Army's Intel School at Ft Huachuca, we'd get a day to take the students up to Davis-Mothan to see the Compass Call trainer, and then the Titan SAC guys. A silo visit was cool but what stuck with me was how small the rocket engine was. Could put one on my truck.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 07:33 PM (W/lyH)

299 I see Hubble has taken Moon photos, now. You can look those up.

Posted by: Publius on Stupid Phone at July 27, 2024 07:34 PM (w6EFb)

300 291. Always been proud I did not vote for Romney Ryan.

Posted by: Nick in Tallahassee at July 27, 2024 07:34 PM (aVudl)

301 262
continued Part 4
The acid had stopped trickling - not enough! So I poured a good few mls and smartly evacuated ..... a woosh, flames were shooting out of the can, smoke and then ..... a very loud bang, the javelin flew up into the air, tumbling as it went, end over end, then fell back and lay spewing flames and smoke for a while until all the gunpowder had burnt. Shrapnel went whizzing past my tree trunk whixh I was using as a shield.
After a cooldown a post-mortem analysis was conducted. No FAA. Conclusions.
1. The 'rocket' achieved a low-orbit of about 100 feet estimated.
2. The rocket was too heavy and would never have achieved the magical 'we have liftoff' phase'
3. Too much gunpowder in the heap at the base.
4. The pipe was a mistake. It reversed the flames back up the
side of the rocket. The heat ignited the powder inside the rocket 1 ot 2 feet up resulting in an explosion which flung the upper part of the javelin into the air. The lower part was reduced to shrapnel.
I had finally achieved making a cracker.

Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Gunpowder Plot #04 at July 27, 2024 07:34 PM (qfLjt)

302 300?

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:34 PM (IQ6Gq)

303 drats...obviously the hobby guy is better at this than me...

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:35 PM (IQ6Gq)

304 Diogenes, I’d like to do war stories over a beer.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:35 PM (2tKzk)

305 Weasel may have the stapler but I have the lidocaine and rumpun.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 07:35 PM (5MvGY)

306 258 One of the highlights of my military career was participating in the Follow-On Operational Test and Evaluation (FOOTE) shot of a Minuteman III ICBM.
The launches out of Vandenberg AFB are impressive.
Posted by: Minuteman at July 27, 2024 07:17 PM (LaNzR)

Very cool MINUTEMAN! hey, I get it now...:-)

Posted by: haffhowershower at July 27, 2024 07:37 PM (NMT5x)

307 304 Diogenes, I’d like to do war stories over a beer.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:35 PM (2tKzk)
***
Can I please join?

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:37 PM (IQ6Gq)

308 Article at American Thinker on July 21
First landing on moon in 1969
Barky killed the Space Shuttle program exactly 42 years to the day later

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 07:37 PM (fwDg9)

309 305/
well that's a handy thing to know.....

Posted by: Grateful at July 27, 2024 07:38 PM (IQ6Gq)

310 The heat ignited the powder inside the rocket 1 ot 2 feet up resulting in an explosion which flung the upper part of the javelin into the air. The lower part was reduced to shrapnel.
I had finally achieved making a cracker.
Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Gunpowder Plot #04 at July 27, 2024 07:34 PM (qfLjt)

I'm thinking you have a future at Morton Thiokol.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 07:39 PM (W/lyH)

311 Grateful, my pharmacy has all things and implements for administration.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 07:40 PM (5MvGY)

312 Nothing to do with rockets and I don't really have a set hobby, but helped my son with a simple project today.

He scored a free flatscreen TV, maybe a 32"? It works but doesn't have a remote, so he wanted to make it a digital map display for his strategy games.

We made a simple wooden frame and screwed a clear acrylic top to protect the screen. It sits flat on a table now and he just connects his laptop and can change maps very easily.

I tried to get him to stain it so it looks more finished, but he wanted to take it and start using it right away haha.

Posted by: haffhowershower at July 27, 2024 07:40 PM (NMT5x)

313 Diogenes, I’d like to do war stories over a beer.

Posted by: RI Red at July 27, 2024 07:35 PM (2tKzk)
***
Can I please join?
Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:37 PM (IQ6Gq)
***

I hope we can one day. I had a weird career and as a result did a lot of fun stuff. Some shitty too, but you do what you can.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 07:41 PM (W/lyH)

314 Thanks much for the fun thread, TRex.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at July 27, 2024 07:41 PM (mH6SG)

315 312 We made a simple wooden frame and screwed a clear acrylic top to protect the screen. It sits flat on a table now and he just connects his laptop and can change maps very easily.

Posted by: haffhowershower at July 27, 2024 07:40 PM (NMT5x)
***
This is great. Congrats!

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:43 PM (IQ6Gq)

316 Liberté, égalité, Beyoncé

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Covfefe Today, Covfefe Tomorrow, Covfefe Forever! at July 27, 2024 07:43 PM (L/fGl)

317 Notorious BFD, did I see on the tail end of the cafe thread (I think) last night that you were in the 76 Olympic Trials? Would you tell us what sport?

Posted by: screaming in digital at July 27, 2024 07:44 PM (iZbyp)

318 Really??? None of you girls made the tennis-ball can cannon?????

That's fucked up.

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 07:44 PM (5AVMW)

319 I had the distinct pleasure to watch the first seven Mercury
Astronauts leave Cape Canaveral. Also watched John Glenn take off for the first orbital flight.
I was working for Boeing on the Minuteman research at the time. Those were fantastic times for a young man. Glorious launches and some breath taking explosions as the Atlas and Titan missiles took off and failed in test.
By the way, when a rocket takes off from Cape Canaveral, on a clear night, there is an altitude where it creates the most beautiful blue expanding ring. Sort of like a smoke ring.

Posted by: Sergeant Major at July 27, 2024 07:44 PM (hM+Ep)

320 Not rockety, but a hobby for many. This morning I attended the King County (Seattle area) Highland Games. Wore the kilt and everything. The massing of the Clans was cool as they all marched in. About 3-4000 attending. Fun morning. Sadly I forgot the flask.
Dumb.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 07:45 PM (W/lyH)

321 318 Really??? None of you girls made the tennis-ball can cannon?????

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 07:44 PM (5AVMW)
***
Cannons are a different hobby thread theme.

Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:45 PM (IQ6Gq)

322 312 Nothing to do with rockets and I don't really have a set hobby, but helped my son with a simple project today.

Posted by: haffhowershower at July 27, 2024 07:40 PM (NMT5x)

You're a good daddy, sir.
Dads who can make things are the best!

Posted by: sal at July 27, 2024 07:45 PM (4lnL8)

323 I had other things that flew too. I got an electric plane one time that was supposed to fly patterns depending on the little plastic cam thingy you put in it. It worked ok I guess until it flew away forever.

Then there was the box kite I tied to an aluminum lawn chair. That chair flew too.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 07:46 PM (vFG9F)

324 Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 07:44 PM (5AVMW)
***
Cannons are a different hobby thread theme.
Posted by: TRex at July 27, 2024 07:45 PM (IQ6Gq)

Well, shit, I see what you mean... ok, later folks!

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 07:46 PM (5AVMW)

325 Well, shit, I see what you mean... ok, later folks!
Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at July 27, 2024 07:46 PM (5AVMW)

Hey!
I'm thinking torpedo thread!

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 07:47 PM (W/lyH)

326 Ben Smith
@semaforben
Genuine question: Who, beyond the candidate, gets credit for the Kamala rollout? Has just been incredibly well executed.

-
Every bit as graceful as the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Covfefe Today, Covfefe Tomorrow, Covfefe Forever! at July 27, 2024 07:48 PM (L/fGl)

327 fd,hahaha. I'll bet your boys love those stories.

Posted by: Ben Had at July 27, 2024 07:48 PM (5MvGY)

328 Here to advise you of your noods

MOVIE NOOD

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 07:48 PM (fwDg9)

329 The smell of singed tennis balls is something you never forget.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 07:49 PM (vFG9F)

330 Did about 4 years of rockets with the son back about 15 years ago.
Built a good 20 or so.
My son's favorite was this stupid UFO one that used B engines. It came already assembled and shot up about 100 feet. He would try to catch it as it came back down.
I also built a custom launch pad out of a 55 gallon drum lid and a longer guide wire as we fired so many D engine rockets one day we burned through the base plate and melted the legs on the Estes one.

I have 0 left, lost half in failed launches and landings and gave the rest away to my younger brother for his daughter and him to play with.

I miss doing it a bit. Moreso miss the little guy I did it with. His son is almost to that age so I suppose I'll be doing it again soon.

One thing I did on most of the ones that survived bad launches, I had used 2 part epoxy to coat the cardboard tube and engine structure.

Posted by: Reforger at July 27, 2024 07:51 PM (xcIvR)

331 I got to accompany a buddy of mine at Edwards AFB in the Eddie Mobile Command Post for a shuttle landing. It was mostly a NASA show so we were there to mostly liaise between NASA and the USAF Test Center in the event of an anomalous landing.

A Space Shuttle landing is nowhere near as dramatic as it's launch.

Posted by: Minuteman at July 27, 2024 07:51 PM (LaNzR)

332 I was born on the day Armstrong walked on the moon; in fact, my dad watched the Apollo landing on TV while mom was in the delivery room (I don't hold it against him, though she might have). If I had been blessed with a math-oriented brain, I might've gone into engineering and worked on rockets. Alas, I got stuck with lawyer brains....

I was going to head to a park this morning and play radio, but I had to wait for the air conditioner guy who said, in short, the first service guy was wrong, and I'll need to order a new blower motor. We'll call you next week. FML...

Posted by: PabloD at July 27, 2024 07:51 PM (yhCZc)

333 "fd,hahaha. I'll bet your boys love those stories.
Posted by: Ben Had"

Building rockets with my boys was like reliving my childhood. Now if I just get some grandkids I've got a box of tubes, fins, and motors.

Posted by: fd at July 27, 2024 07:53 PM (vFG9F)

334 okay, I'll close the loop on this ... that's why the space program was dwindled away & then killed; to suppress that progress, to keep humanity within bounds that could be controlled by our self-appointed betters, by any means necessary.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - they have been lying to us for decades at July 27, 2024 07:54 PM (UWgy2)

335 308 Article at American Thinker on July 21
First landing on moon in 1969
Barky killed the Space Shuttle program exactly 42 years to the day later

Posted by: Skip at July 27, 2024 07:37 PM (fwDg9)
----
Do you think that was purposeful or just a coincidence?

Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Gunpowder Plot #05 at July 27, 2024 07:55 PM (qfLjt)

336 310

I'm thinking you have a future at Morton Thiokol.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 27, 2024 07:39 PM (W/lyH)
----
I did get a free sample of unsym-N,N-Dimethyhydrazine from them while still doing my Ph.D.

Posted by: Ciampino - Sat Gunpowder Plot #06 at July 27, 2024 08:01 PM (qfLjt)

337 Ladies and gentlemen, JD Vance just wiped the floor with one Kama Karris. *wipes tear* It was like watching a boxer, land a blow after a blow. Exposed her for the left wing, radical who enabled the lawlessness across this country - illegals, BLM you name it. And after the disembowelment , he finished off by asking her wth she has done for this country - to question him ( a Marine and and a business owner) and DJT who took a bullet, to question what they have done.

Posted by: runner at July 27, 2024 08:03 PM (V13WU)

338 Instead they would travel much like misguided rockets.

Very small scale proto-Estes, but a sort of late 60's Great White special effect: if you disassemble a packet of cheap firecrackers, then place one into the boom of a Shure microphone stand and plug the breach with just any old thing, it aims better than most shotguns, and has a pretty impressive range ("length of the bar," you might say). Sometimes it even cracks a little on impact.

Hard to cue up as part of a song, but a great part of the act.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at July 27, 2024 08:04 PM (zdLoL)

339 oh, too bad Pablo, maybe tomorrow?; I'm hoping to get out there myself tomorrow; first a hike, then POTA ... we'll see how that all works out ...

I keep a complete stock of spares for the hvac here at Chateau D'Eez; in the winter it's a real pita to wait for a part to get the heat working.
big box (up on blocks) behind the furnace; blower motor, control board, ignitors, pressure switches, 24 vac transformer, spare fuses, collect 'em all, lol.
(had 'em all fail one time or another)

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - they have been lying to us for decades at July 27, 2024 08:06 PM (UWgy2)

340 That entire interview video with Luke Talley is incredible. What an unbelievably intelligent man. AND, with a great sense of humor. Those guys who worked on the Apollo missions were the cream of the crop. No DEI hires there.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy now with twice the crazy at July 27, 2024 08:08 PM (iODuv)

341 Was the foam insulation of the shuttle external tanks changed at some date, ostensibly for “environmental reasons”, which was more friable than the old insulation, thus leading to ceramic tile damage and the deaths of the crews? I seem to remember this analysis at the time but can’t seem to find confirmation at this late date (I could see why it might be a detail some people wouldn’t want to acknowledge). Am I remembering this right?

Posted by: BrickShy at July 27, 2024 08:28 PM (F7P5/)

342 As a kid, if it flew, I built it: planes, kites, and most beloved of all, rockets.

I built rockets with my kids one or twice, but they didn’t catch the bug.

Here in my dotage, I was lucky enough to get a job in the space industry for the first time in my life a couple of years ago. During my first week, to celebrate the new job, I stopped by the hobby store after work one day. I bought a rocket, built it, and then stopped by an open field on my way to work one morning.

It all went off like it was supposed to. I ran over to catch it as it came down in its chute, smiling like a kid. Then I went to work.

Man, I love rockets.

Posted by: MarkW at July 27, 2024 08:32 PM (Kn+LY)

343 "Do you have a box of Estes rocket parts and engines somewhere?"

Yeah... it's the "somewhere" part which vexes me.

Posted by: Dood at July 27, 2024 08:39 PM (EmNW6)

344 The most recent movie I saw was -

"Longlegs" two weeks ago.

I'm glad to see that it's doing well because it's a well-made slow burn horror movie of the creepy variety.

Nicholas Cage does a great job as the serial killer. although, he's not in the movie that much he dominates it.

The movie concerns a serial killer calling himself "Longlegs" who is responsible for killing whole families. Yet, he never appears to be on the site of the murders. Someone in the family actually commits the killings.

The movie starts out looking like it might be "Silence of the Lambs" then slowly edges into the supernatural.

It appears that America is going through a slow burn horror moment, similar to what Japan did in the 90s.

Maybe folks are burnt out on the "jump scare". I know that I sure am.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 27, 2024 09:28 PM (eDfFs)

345 In 2010 we went to the Air and Space museum in San Diego. I got to hug "Gumdrop", the command module for Apollo 9. We went there again in 2024 and the module was fenced off and no mere mortals could touch her. A docent recognized my Canadian accent and confirmed how lucky I was back then.

Posted by: Captain Dave at July 27, 2024 11:10 PM (SX5EB)

346 Built and flew Estes rockets as a teenager, then discovered the grown up version (high power rocketry) about 20 years ago. MUCH bigger motors, more complexity, electronics…definitely a niche hobby but tremendous fun.

Posted by: ChillyDawg at July 27, 2024 11:55 PM (zuYBw)

347 I grew up in Lancaster, CA which is near Edwards AFB (Ave L-12). Hearing the sonic booms was almost a daily occurance. One morning, I hear this ungodly roar and look up to see a huge B-52 with the Mount for the X-15, go ripping low right overhead, the bomb bay doors were open and there was a guy looking down at the aft end. I waved and he waved. Many many years later, I was one of the founders of Altius Space Machines.

Posted by: BeachBumBill at July 28, 2024 03:40 PM (5GUie)

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