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I would like to see a rocket launched into space

jjjjjjjijjjjjjj — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:57:00 -0800

I'd like to watch a rocket launched into space (from the continental U.S.). I've researched it as best I can, but would like guidance from someone who knows more about it or has seen one before. I'm in St. Louis, Missouri, and I'd like to keep my travel time/expense to a minimum. That said, I'd like to do it right and see the most awesome rocket launch that I can... and see it in the best possible way.

Feel free to correct the following assumptions, which may very likely be wrong:
* If I want to watch a launch in the Continental U.S., I must choose between Cape Canaveral in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
* The launch platforms I have to choose from are: Minotaur I, Taurus, Atlas V, Delta II, Delta IV, and the Space Shuttle.
* These lists, for 2009 and 2010 represent the most comprehensive and accurate information regarding launch schedulings available online.

I have no preference for manned vs. unmanned, and am not favoring launches with any historical import -- I am only wanting to see the most visually impressive launch that I can.

Am I correct in assuming that I want to be as close as is possible? NASA provides instructions on good public viewing positions, but I'd like to be closer, if possible. Who do I schmooze in order to get the best seats in the house? (I'm guessing that the CEO of SatelliteMegaCorp isn't watching the launch with binoculars from his pickup bed on the state highway...) Could choosing a poorly-attended launch help my chances of getting closer? Do different launch providers have different policies on this?

What are the differences in appearance of the various launch platforms? Is bigger better? If so, what's the closest-modern-equivalent to the Saturn V? Are launches to GTO cooler looking than launches to LEO? (Forgive all of this if they are foolish questions... I have no idea).

What am I not asking that I should be? I know there must be an enthusiast community for such things (kindred spirits to Railfans and Roadgeeks), but I'm not finding any online. Do you know of any (are you one?). Many thanks.

Under Pressure

smoke — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:29:39 -0800

How would you get through a black hole? I've been thinking about this one for a while, I've found some info about the possibility but not anything that gets into the mechanics.

Say we did find one of these "milder" singularities - presumably the gravity would still be almost neutron star crushing levels, what kind of ship/situation would we need to get through this? I was thinking maybe some kind of oxygenated liquid to inhale and fill the ship?

I have no idea. My physics knowledge is effectively nil. Help me, Mefites, you're my only hope!

Books about the hisotry of NASA, please.

dpx.mfx — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:55:25 -0800

Please recommend a good book about the history of the space travel. I'm particulary interested in NASA, but if it includes info about other countries, all the better.

Leaving the Earth behind us

vizsla — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 02:11:12 -0800

Assume space travel is currently safe, as fast as possible and comparatively (compared to now) inexpensive. How feasible would it be to start colonizing a planet in a new solar system in a self-sustaining way knowing what we know now? Is this being thought about? Some possible considerations are as follows. Is there a known candidate planet? Is there a readily available energy source to sustain life? Where would water come from? What food sources could be used? How many different people do you need to start populating a new area?

What happens after you're tossed out of the airlock?

the matching mole — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 07:43:34 -0800

Lost in space... forever? What happens after you're tossed out of the airlock? OK, we've all seen it countless times in science fiction films and TV shows. The captain gets wise to the bad guy and tosses him into the cold, vast vacuum of space to die. Or the hero is given a burial-at-space and her flag-draped casket is released out of the space ship. Or President Roslyn learns that you're a frakking Cylon and tosses you out of the airlock. ;-)

Here's my question: after the bad guy dies, what happens to his body and space suit? It's in a vacuum, so there are no forces to cause it to deteriorate, correct? Does it float until it loses its momentum, so it just sits in space forever? Provided it doesn't get snatched by the gravity of a large or moving mass, it'll just be there forever, right?

Time dilation ruined my relationship!

defenestration — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 09:15:49 -0800

I'm looking for stories that deal with human relationships between people seperated by time dilation due to space travel, where the person on Earth ages the same as you and I, but the space traveler, in comparison, ages significantly slower. For example, in the film Hoshi no koe(released as Voices of a Distant Star in the US), one character is sent into space to fight in a war, while the other stays on Earth. Due to time dilation, the character in space ages significantly slower in comparison to her long-distance love left back home. They communicate via text messaging, but the character back on Earth has to patiently wait years and years for his love's replies, with the gap growing longer between each message. It's quite a sad and touching animated short film.

The people don't have to be lovers; they can be friends, family, colleagues, or of any other relation. But, the story should focus on the relationship between the people, as affected by time dilation.

I remember a book my friend's dad recommended to me many years ago that would fit the bill, but I can't remember the name. I'd assume there are science fiction novels that deal with this, but when looking at the sci-fi section at the local bookstore, I wouldn't know where to begin.

It doesn't have to be a book. It can be a film, song, poem, concept album, painting- I don't care! This concept is rather intriguing to me, so any recommendations, even if not exactly what I'm asking for, are encouraged!