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NASA Shakes, Bakes, and Rattles Lunar Spaceship
coondoggie writes to tell us that NASA has apparently successfully concluded putting the new Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter through its paces. Using vibration and rotation tests NASA scientists were able to determine the center of gravity and were also able to observe the structural integrity during the vibration tests used to simulate launch aboard an Atlas rocket. "It is expected that the LRO will by the end of the year make its way to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final launch preparations. The orbiter and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, a mission to smack into the moon in search of water ice, are scheduled to launch atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida sometime between Feb. 27, 2009 and the end of March 2009."
Like the columbia, I am sure nasa engineers will make sure those things happen naturally.
Seriously. We need to test the hell out of this thing:
* Test monster-proofness of hatches and bulkheads.
* Ensure that air filters can handle sapient moon-dust clouds.
Oh . . . this is just a damn unmanned orbiter?
OK. Please forget this post. I'll use it again when they test the Orion lunar craft.
Will it blend?
"But that's just the beginning, the orbiter will soon undergo four days of acoustics testing during which the spacecraft is placed near massive, multistory, wall-sized speakers that simulate the noise-induced vibrations of launch" Sweet... sign me up, brother.. it'll bring the bong..
... I'll have a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster with a side of Plutonium Nyborg
It'll be released sometime between the release of Playstation Home and Duke Nukem Forever.
Hmm... Center of gravity... For space... These days I'm more and more convinced that these scientists are just pulling our leg.
"Hey Mort, let's ask them for billions so we can build something to send to space!"
"Haha, space? Where do you come up with this stuff?"
"Yeah, it'll be great!"
"I have another idea, let's tell them we need to determine the center of gravity!"
"The center of *gravity* for *spacecraft*? Right after we told them we found water on Mars? Isn't it a bit obvious?"
"No man, it'll be great, you'll see! They actually think we sent a robot to Mars, they'll easily fall for this."
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