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Musk's SpaceX testing breakthrough tech in risky spacewalk
Reuters ^ | 23 Aug 2024 | Joey Roulette

Posted on 08/25/2024 7:50:58 PM PDT by blueplum

WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - SpaceX's attempt at the first ever private spacewalk next week will be a test of trailblazing equipment, including slim spacesuits and a cabin with no airlock, in one of the riskiest missions yet for Elon Musk's space company. A billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military fighter pilot and two SpaceX employees are poised to launch on Tuesday aboard a modified Crew Dragon craft, before embarking on a 20-minute spacewalk 434 miles (700 km) into space two days later....

Far outside the protective bubble of Earth's atmosphere, the electronics and shielding on Crew Dragon and spacesuits will be tested as they pass through parts of the Van Allen belt...

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: annamenon; crewdragon; elonmusk; jaredisaacman; kiddpoteet; polaris; polarisdawn; sarahgillis; scottkiddpoteet; scottpoteet; shift4; space; spaceprogram; spacewalk; spacex; vanallenbelt
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breaking barriers
1 posted on 08/25/2024 7:50:58 PM PDT by blueplum
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To: rktman

Ping.


2 posted on 08/25/2024 7:53:38 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: blueplum

Godspeed.


3 posted on 08/25/2024 7:53:55 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: blueplum
It is a truly remarkable company.

Boeing should be taking lessons.

4 posted on 08/25/2024 7:57:33 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: blueplum

I don’t know who is behind his billions of research but they appear to be the most confident and capable since the early days.

Prayer for success is most sincere.


5 posted on 08/25/2024 8:03:57 PM PDT by eyedigress (Trump is my President!)
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To: blueplum

One little mistake and the hyenas will be all over Musk.


6 posted on 08/25/2024 8:04:56 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: eyedigress

We need socialism to spread his genius engineers around so companies like Boeing are not so disadvantaged.


7 posted on 08/25/2024 8:05:11 PM PDT by Jonty30 (Genghis Khan did not have the most descendants. His father had more. )
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To: crusty old prospector

Amen...


8 posted on 08/25/2024 8:06:37 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: Jonty30

Well, if it is up to me the engineers, scientists and programmers can smoke’em if they got ‘em.


9 posted on 08/25/2024 8:09:20 PM PDT by eyedigress (Trump is my President!)
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To: blueplum
Hmm...$25 billion for NASA, $29 billion for the Space Force (2024 figures) and who, exactly is going the farthest out in 52 years and doing

...a test of trailblazing equipment, including slim spacesuits and a cabin with no airlock. ?

10 posted on 08/25/2024 8:22:05 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: blueplum

Meanwhile, NASA and Boeing cannot even get their capsule back down.


11 posted on 08/25/2024 8:22:16 PM PDT by doorgunner69 (I don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. i don't think he knows what he said either)
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To: Carry_Okie
Boeing should be taking lessons.

LOL !!! Having worked for a competitor of Boeing, do you realize how different the culture are ? The last 10 years before I retired was all about diversity - and yes, quotas were set aside for raises. The hardest working Asian employees got the lowest raises - because most would not complain.

12 posted on 08/25/2024 8:24:40 PM PDT by 11th_VA (All Borders Matter)
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To: Jonty30

Boeing is the biggest fail of this century.

They had built up so much.


13 posted on 08/25/2024 8:24:44 PM PDT by eyedigress (Trump is my President!)
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To: eyedigress
Boeing is the biggest fail of this century.

Regarding planes, it's obvious that Boeing needs a competitor.

They shouldn't get involved in spaceflight. Time to cancel their contract.

14 posted on 08/25/2024 8:27:12 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: blueplum

Is one of them named Tom???...


15 posted on 08/25/2024 8:32:02 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: blueplum

Gemini didn’t have an airlock. Apollo didn’t have an airlock. Just means those inside the capsule have to suit up.


16 posted on 08/25/2024 8:41:12 PM PDT by IndispensableDestiny
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To: Carry_Okie

Boeing’s current “leadership team” would be far more inclined to take lessons from Bernie Madoff.


17 posted on 08/25/2024 8:44:13 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: Army Air Corps

Thanks. ๐Ÿ‘


18 posted on 08/25/2024 8:55:42 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this๐Ÿ’ฉ? ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿ’‰! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‘!)
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To: IndispensableDestiny

The danger is if the hatch doesn’t seal again you are now trapped in your suits without cabin pressure. Airlocks have a valid purpose. The Dragon is the safest orbital vehicle humans have ever designed period full stop. If they cannot seal the hatch Dragon can do a deorbit burn and come directly in a ballistic entry it’s PICA heat shield can take that it’s 8+ Gs but the spacecraft is rated for it. While NASA won’t allow it the onbroad Super Drago engines have the delta V for a ground landing anywhere anytime land or sea it was originally designed to land well on land under power of its engines not parachutes. NASA being risk adverse said no way but the fuel ,thrust and capabilities are still there. I would go up in Dragon without hesitation and comeback on land under power not parachutes...engines burn or your dead. I would trust the best aeronautical engineers in the world. They have proven record of excellence.


19 posted on 08/25/2024 8:56:12 PM PDT by GenXPolymath
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To: blueplum
I'm concerned though.

I'm happy that they're moving forward but there sure is a lot of risk (without an escape) for the things they're about to do.

20 posted on 08/25/2024 8:57:43 PM PDT by blam
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