Recent content by Tycho

Welcome home, Integrity. Thank you for an unforgettable flight. Onwards and upwards.

Really beautiful live view of Earth, this is. Not every day we get to see it as such.

One would know it with a basic understanding of orbital mechanics, but the fact that they were halfway home about 24 hours prior to splashdown really gives one a tangible appreciation of how quickly Orion is now accelerating. Even so, the scale and the velocities at play in a spaceflight such as...

Interestingly, Christina had also noted during today's science debrief that, once the Earth came into view close to the Moon's limb, the perception of the color of the Moon's surface becomes a taupe color to the human eye or, at least, to her eye. She specifically described the appearance as...

It was pretty surreal to see Reid Wiseman point an iPhone to the live feed with a photo of the lunar far side. Hertzsprung Basin, by the looks of it, for the lunar geography nerds at home.

These descriptions are riveting. Absolutely riveting.

Victor Glover in particular has proven himself highly articulate in conveying what he is seeing, not just descriptively but emotionally. Really makes me wish I could be up there with them, taking in these incredible views. That they are clearly enjoying what they are doing is gratifying, because...

How poignant a feeling it must be, to be separated from the rest of humanity for these forty minutes. No visual or communicative contact with the Earth, whatsoever. Godspeed, Artemis II. See you at AOS.

Here is a general guide from NASA on the observational targets and objectives during the flyby, for those interested in the hard lunar science in play today.

Here is a rough order of activities, from NASA, all times U.S. ET:

Incredible. Listened to the NASA daily press briefing a bit ago this evening, and Dr. Kelsey Young (lead of the Science Mission Directorate and lunar science lead for AII) embodies all of the enthusiasm for both the scientific objectives and a broader perspective on this mission's historical...

Mind if I ask what add-on this LK is?

Late to the party; but every time I've gotten away from Orbiter, it snatches me back. With a vengeance. Happened in 2010, and again in 2016. Looking forward to "unboxing" this over the weekend. Thanks and kudos to all involved in this veritably herculean effort. You might say orbital mechanics...

This is excellent; thank you, dgatsoulis (and Dan and Fred18). Works beautifully for me thus far and, I have to say, the microtextures and high-resolution elevation maps available in Orbiter 2016 look even more incredible from the flight deck of the Arrow. Incredibly immersive, which is why love...

Thanks for that. If I look to build an accompanying LUT for the Saturn V, I may well look to an alternative brick product, though the structure is, of course, not one that lends itself to ill-fitting elements, so that's a concern of mine with others. Admittedly, part of the draw of the LEGO...