Unanswered Questions
11
votes
0answers
168 views
What's falling off the Shenzhou/Long March stack?
Watching the launch of the Shenzhou-11 mission on a Long March 2F, I noticed a number of items falling off the exterior of the rocket. I'm used to seeing chunks of ice sheet coming off of cryogenic ...
10
votes
0answers
73 views
How is RF spectrum usage coordinated in Mars orbit?
As of 2016 there are multiple operational missions in orbit around Mars. There are possibly more non-operational missions in orbit around Mars, simply because we do not know the final fate of all ...
10
votes
0answers
463 views
What is the value of the cross-track angle between the two designated CRS-4 first stage recovery zones?
For the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch on its Dragon/CRS-4 cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station, according to Spaceflight 101, two downrange safety zones have been identified:
The SpX-...
9
votes
0answers
47 views
Any imagery from Shuttle Columbia's SILTS pod on the internet?
(Inspired by this question)
One of the distinguishing features of Shuttle Columbia was its Shuttle Infrared Leeside Temperature Sensing (SILTS) pod. This was an experiment that took infrared imagery ...
9
votes
0answers
399 views
How does QUESS, China's quantum communications satellite, relay entangled signals?
China launched the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) satellite today, which will be used for quantum communications between China and Europe. Popular Science describes the science package as ...
9
votes
1answer
114 views
What cryogenic selective surface materials have high Technology Readiness Level?
NIAC ("NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts") has approved the following research application for 2015 funding:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/cryogenic-selective-surfaces
Cryogenic Selective Surfaces
...
8
votes
0answers
93 views
Measuring the pressure and temperature of Pluto's atmosphere using stellar occultations
Is this primarily done analyzing the Voigt profiles absorption bands on background of stellar spectra or on re-emission bands of atmospheric compounds?
Assuming Pluto's atmosphere behaves like an ...
8
votes
0answers
167 views
At what altitude does transonic compressibility become a non-issue?
I know that on the forthcoming SpaceX attempt at sea landing the first stage, they have added hypersonic fins to the first stage. I was curious as to what altitude transonic compressibility is an ...
8
votes
0answers
477 views
Online Porkchop Plotter
Is there an online tool available to calculate porkchop plots at arbitrary resolutions? Real world only please -- I am aware of the tools available to do this for, say, KSP.
7
votes
0answers
130 views
Purpose of hemisphere under shuttle nose cone (Enterprise)
I noticed a small hemisphere protruding from the dorsal side of the Enterprise space shuttle's nose cone, forward of the front landing gear. I have no clue what its purpose is but am far from an ...
7
votes
0answers
141 views
How does ITAR affect SpaceX's display of the Orbcomm first stage outside their headquarters?
There was a time, where people touring the SLC-40 facility were not allowed to take pictures of the engine end of the first stage for ITAR reasons. It appears that has relaxed since I have seen lots ...
7
votes
0answers
85 views
What is the process for allocating GEO slots to commercial satellites?
Building off of this previous question, is there a more detailed summary anywhere of the process that a commercial satellite would have to go through to obtain a GEO slot?
The documentation I have ...
7
votes
0answers
199 views
How many astronauts are left handed?
One kind of 'popular science' fun facts that is very popular is to show how many of the individuals belonging to a notable group of people that are left handed, often showing a large disproportionally ...
7
votes
0answers
69 views
Is loss of flexibility a concern with crew on the ISS?
Videos of people on the ISS make it clear how little they need to bend or stretch, and how their joints stay in their neutral position most of the time as they float around - elbows, knees and hips ...
7
votes
0answers
228 views
Lightest possible solar array?
I'd like to know what is the lightest possible solar array per unit power with current or near future technology.
The arrays I have been able to find:
Vanguard Space THINS 400-500 W/kg (2014; thin ...
