Archive
SpaceX does it again!
Today SpaceX made their second successful launch out of two attempts of their Falcon 9 rocket. They put their Dragon capsule in orbit, and returned it to land on target in the Pacific Ocean. As always Emily Lakdawalla of the Planetary Society has the information. This is fantastic news.
While just about all NASA rockets are built by private companies, they are built to NASA specifications in cost plus bids, which often have cost overruns. The plus in cost plus means the contractors are guaranteed profits. The new commercial firms design and build their own systems based on the general requirements provided by NASA. Whatever they come up with must of course be certified by NASA. NASA’s also paying, but it’s a fixed amount, so the companies can make out like a bandit, or lose their shirt.
Congratulations SpaceX!
12/08/10 – Ephemeris – This weeks bright planets
Wednesday, December 8th. The sun will rise at 8:06. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 3 days past new, will set at 8:06 this evening.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mars is very low and lost in the evening twilight as is Mercury. The planet Jupiter is up in the southern sky in the early evening. It is a spectacular sight in a telescope with its four satellites, shifting their positions, and the cloud bands running in the directions of the satellites. Jupiter will pass due south at 7:13 p.m.. It is the brightest starlight object in the evening. It’s located below the Circlet in Pisces now and will set at 1:01 a.m. The ringed planet Saturn will rise at 2:43 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s located in the constellation Virgo this year. It’s rings are opening nicely for telescopic observers. Venus is brilliant in the morning sky and will rise at 4:25 a.m. in the east southeast.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 