Artemis II (+)

[Morrus]

Watching the recovery after splashdown. I’m finding the whole thing quite emotional. The best accomplishments of humanity in a time of darkness.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I don’t mean to speak for @trappedslider but my reading of his comment was that he’s hoping they’ve taken photos but we haven’t seen them yet because NASA is still reviewing them.

One of the astronauts before reentry mentioned they have a ton of images the public hasn't seen yet, because high res images going over narrow bandwidth really forced them to just share a few images, relatively speaking.

So lots more in the weeks to come as everything gets pulled off the drives on Orion.

 

[pukunui]

One of the astronauts before reentry mentioned they have a ton of images the public hasn't seen yet, because high res images going over narrow bandwidth really forced them to just share a few images, relatively speaking.

So lots more in the weeks to come as everything gets pulled off the drives on Orion.

Yeah I heard one of the NASA guys on the recovery ship mention that they were keen to get all the data off Integrity that couldn’t be transmitted wirelessly. I assumed that included high-res photos.

 

[Morrus]

I actually shed a tear as Artemis splashed down. Truly, the best accomplishments of the human race. I can think of no better calling than that of the astronaut. The Artemis mission shows the pinnacle of humanity in a time where such signs are needed. I feel privileged to have witnessed this. I talked to my dad yesterday about his memory of Apollo 11's moon landing. He was in a camp in France, and listened to it live on the radio. I'm 51, and humanity last went to the moon in 1972, two years before I was born. For me, this was really emotional. For the four astronauts aboard--they are the best of us. They have done what no Olympian, pop star, politician, actor, or influencer can even dream of. I enjoy actors and musicians; I admire Olympians; but I am in awe of astronauts. They are the tiny top of that pyramid of human achievement. No president, king, athlete, or entertainer can match what they have done.

2028 is the moon landing. I cannot wait.

 

[Koloth]

Turned the TV on in time to see the capsule free falling just before drogue chute deployment. Those main chutes took a long time to open. Interested in how the heat shield performed with the different re-entry profile. Seems they had some com problems once they were on the water. Glad everyone is back safe and looking forward to the high high res pictures.

I was a kid when Apollo 11 happened. My mom and I were visiting friends that lived in Houston. Normally, we could have toured the NASA complex but due to the landing, it was on security lock down. The night of the walk, everyone but me went out to eat as the astronauts were scheduled to take a several hour rest. I wanted to stay and watch the coverage anyway and leaving a 10 year old alone wasn't the crime it is today. The astronauts decided to skip the planned rest and go to the walk shortly after landing. I got to watch it live. Everyone else came back later and got to watch replays.

I was worrying that I might not see folks on the moon again. Not optimistic about the 2028 date but at least there is a plan now. NASA admin Isaacman was willing to speak truth to power and get buyoff on a simpler plan. I think one lander is undergoing vacuum testing at NASA and the other one is still mostly a paper drawing. The EVA spacesuits are another big question. Plus there is only one upper stage for SLS left. The larger one was canceled. A different upper stage is under development but.... Hope SpaceX can get Starship V3 working soon as I think the current lunar landing plan uses Starship is some capacity as the current Orion CSM doesn't have the oomph to get into and out of lunar orbit.

But I keep telling myself that at least there is a plan.