CoolPix: ISS Self Portrait... Sittin' On Top Of The World!

(click pic for hi-res) Amazing view! ISS self portrait - Tracy Caldwell Dyson (photo: wiki)

 No, AirPigz is not going 'all space, all the time', but with the fabulous success story of the SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon mission recently completed, I've been spending a little more time paying attention to off-Earth hardware like the International Space Station. That's how I stumbled on to this amazing self-portrait taken back in 2010 by astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson while on Expedition 24 to the ISS. This view looks like something out of 2001 A Space Odyssey... imagine being in orbit above the Earth, in a short sleeve shirt leaning against a huge window with a massive view of the Earth below. Wow!

 The big windows are the part of the Cupola (ISS module) which has been in the works for many years but didn't actually get shipped and fitted to the ISS until February 2010. Tracy's picture was taken on September 11, 2010, not all that long after the Cupola has become a part of the ISS. The large windows in the Cupola (six trapezoid shaped and the really large circular, 31 inch diameter one) give the astronauts by far their best opportunity for external observation. The windows also all have shutters that are able to be closed to protect against object impact. You can see the shutters open in the CoolPix hi-res Cupola pic below, and in the closed position in the far bottom photo.

 Seeing that big round window and knowing you have such an incredible view of earth from it has made me wish, for the first time ever, that I could go spend some time at the ISS. What an adventure that would be!

(click pic for hi-res)  External view of the Cupola module on the ISS   (photo: wiki)

Wider view showing the Cupola module attached to the Tranquility (Node 3) module

Video: SpaceX Dragon Parachute Deploy And Splashdown (May 31, 2012)

 This video is still nothing like the fancy one from the 2010 helicopter test drop and splashdown of the SpaceX Dragon, but it's waaaay better than the first video released of the actual and historic return from space of Dragon on May 31st. This video begins with Dragon descending at a fairly high rate of speed with the two drogue chutes out. These drogues help slow the spacecraft down, keep it stabilized in preparation for the big parachutes to deploy, and then they are used to extract those big parachutes.

 I was raised around parachutes and skydiving so I find the opportunity to watch the main parachute deployment to be ultra cool. It's especially important here too because a proper deployment of the parachutes was a critical last benchmark for making this SpaceX demonstration flight to the ISS so successful. And while I don't know the details of the reefing system (a system used to dramatically slow the inflation of a parachute to prevent damage to the parachute and/or the payload) you can clearly see that the area where the lines attach to the parachutes is held to a rather small size for 15 to 20 seconds before the parachutes are finally allowed to inflate freely. The reduction in airspeed during that time of reefing is significant... and it appears that the system worked very well.

 The video continues to splashdown, tho it's not very clear to see when that happens. Additional videos may eventually be released but at least this one shows some very critical systems working exactly as needed. Again I say to the people at SpaceX - Bravo! 

 Description of the video from the ReelNASA youtube page:  During the reentry of SpaceX's Dragon capsule, NASA and the United States Navy flew a P-3 Orion Cast Glance aircraft to capture airborne views of the spacecraft's descent. The aircraft, based at the Navy's VX-30 squadron at the Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif., was able to record Dragon's reentry, parachute chute deployment and the capsule in the water. Dragon splashed down at 11:42 a.m. EDT on May 31 in the Pacific Ocean, more than 560 miles off the coast of Baja California. During its mission, Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft the rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station, paving the way for future commercial cargo delivery flights.

Video screenshot of the SpaceX Dragon successfully returning to Earth May 31, 2012

HD Video! Sean Tucker Onboard Cam: Takeoff To Touchdown At Manassas 2012

 I never get tired of seeing a great onboard video of a great aerobatic pilot on a day with great weather, do you? I sure hope you don't cuz if you do there's something very wrong with your avgeekery. This video is from May 12th at the Manassas Wings-Wheels & Warriors Airshow and the camera is mounted in front and above the windshield (unlike the amazing Chicago 2010 video mounted inside the cockpit) - you get a little engine and wind noise here but no audio of Sean. 

 It looks like the weather was beautiful that day and Sean and the Oracle Challenger III didn't miss a beat. The video is the entire routine from takeoff to touchdown, so if you don't have 13 minutes to invest in this video, skip up to 2:30 for smoke-on and enjoy the ride. I especially like the rolling tail slide (torque roll if you're not old school like me) that starts at 6:20, and also the very high angle of attack ride around the super tight loop that starts at 7:50 - it's so cool to see the smoke indicate that insane angle of attack on the way around that loop. You can thank the 400hp under the hood and that big fan up front to pull off a maneuver like that!

 The whole video is an awesome and wild ride, I highly encourage you to take it all in... especially if getting to an airshow somewhere this weekend isn't in your plans. You can feel like you went to one just by watching this 13 minute video!

(to watch in HD: hit play and then pause - then look for the 'gear' icon in the lower 
right of the video window & select 1080p... click 'fullscreen' and enjoy!)

Video screenshot of Sean Tucker in the Oracle Challenger III at Manassas 2012

Video: Round Trip Success - SpaceX Dragon Capsule Splash Down! (May 31, 2012)

 
 The SpaceX Dragon capsule was launched on a Falcon 9 rocket on May 22nd, and after spending 5 days connected to the ISS (delivering cargo on a test mission) Dragon returned to Earth today (May 31, 2012) with a successful splashdown southwest of California in the Pacific Ocean. An excellent end to an excellent mission!

 The video above is pretty much all that's available at the moment of the descent under parachutes for Dragon... it's not fast paced or very good quality imagery, but I'd like to think they spent the money on the spacecraft hardware rather than on the expensive task of trying to capture high quality video of the splashdown. My understanding is that you never know exactly where the capsule will land, so being in the right place at the right time is very difficult. What's important is that this re-usable spacecraft, designed and built by a private company, has proven itself to be up to the task on every front in its first ISS demonstration. Bravo SpaceX!

Dragon spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean after splashdown May 31, 2012 (photo: SpaceX)

 The much nicer video below shows a test drop of the Dragon capsule in August 2010 from an Erikson Air-Crane at 14,000 off the coast of Morro Bay, California. This video gives an excellent idea of what today's successful recovery likely looked like. Very impressive stuff! 

NOTE: the video above is a test drop from 2010 and not the splashdown from today.

Poll: Awesome Or Ugly? The 1931 Vickers Type 161 Biplane Pusher

The very interesting 1931 Vickers Type 161 - vote now: Awesome or Ugly?

 The poll from last Friday with boomin' bombers (supersonic US bombers) has over 200 votes and the B-58 Hustler is snagging the lead with about 47% of the vote. Yay! I was hoping it would be the overall fave.

 Today I'm trying something new: Awesome or Ugly? It's a simple poll to see what you think about really unusual aircraft while also showing you some thinking from the past that you may have never seen. This one is the 1931 Vickers Type 161 pusher biplane designed as an interceptor attack aircraft. Apparently it performed quite well but for whatever reason the concept wasn't put into production.

 The most unusual design aspect to me is that aft tail cone mounted behind the approximately 500hp Bristol Jupiter radial engine, which just happens to spin a 4-blade prop! The Vickers Type 161 was just very, very different! I'm guessing it was a pretty big rush to fly too, especially with all that power and no prop blast in your face!

 I think it's awesome... what about you?

Video: Keeping The ICON A5 From Spinning Out Of Control

 I've kept the long-running ICON A5 project at arms length, watching mostly from pretty far off. The flashy displays at OSH and the overall vibe just felt too much like big-project-promises from the past... and the fact that the airplane has the number '5' in doesn't help any. But having said all that, I can't deny that the airplane is beautiful, the design elements seem well thought out, and it looks like a joy to fly. Who wouldn't want an amphibious flying toy that looks like a sports car and is realistically fairly affordable?

 This video posted the other day on the ICON youtube account tells some of the story as to why we're still waiting for this airplane to get into production. They've been attempting to engineer the possibility of a spin out of the A5's aerodynamic design. As a general concept I think it's a good idea. However, I really just wish we'd find better ways to teach people to fly. Stall/spin accidents that occur in takeoff and landing phase just shouldn't happen. But that's a long and difficult discussion to be sure. I did notice the posting in the comments section on the youtube page that ICON has achieved what they believe to be a truly spin resistant design without limiting the pitch control. They've done it by advanced wing design and left the pitch control alone.

 You'll see Jon Karkow in this video, he's the Lead Aero Engineer for ICON, and that's a pretty big deal. I didn't know he was involved in the A5, and to me, his participation adds a lot of credibility to the A5. Jon spent 21 years as a key player in the development of many aircraft at Scaled Composites as an aeronautical and project engineer, and he's a very accomplished test pilot as well. Just knowing that he's involved has changed a lot of my attitude toward the A5 project.

 One last thing I think is very important tho is that I really think that the ICON marketing department should stop showing the airplane making low turning passes over the water. The same pilot that doesn't wind up in a stall/spin accident because the airplane kept his dumb butt out of trouble is also the guy who's gonna drag a wingtip in the water with disastrous results. I'm always gonna argue for smarter pilots rather than smarter airplanes!

Video screenshot showing the sleek and beautiful ICON A5 amphibian in flight

Videos: Some USAF Thunderbirds Action For Your Memorial Day

 
 The official Thunderbirds youtube channel (usafThuderbirdVideo) has put some great videos up in the last few days, and I figure seeing these beautiful F-16's in the air is another great way to remember those who have given their life in service to the United States Armed Forces on this Memorial Day. The video above gives a nice little insight into the air refueling process to keep the jets percolating on long leg trips (tho it can't begin to compare to this incredible Blue Angels refueling in the clouds video!)

 And the one above gives you a backseat view of the slot aircraft on takeoff (starting in a wing position) and then as the team goes directly into a loop. The best part is the sliding into the slot position part way thru the loop! What an amazing view, and it all underscores the amazing skill and concentration required to operate these aircraft in such a tight formation. Awesome stuff to see - great job Thunderbirds!

Screenshot from the loop video showing the view a little over halfway thru - wow!

Remembering Those Who Gave Their Lives - Memorial Day 2012

 This video from last year shows a level of dedication and gratitude that all of us Americans should have for those who have given their life in service to the United States of America. Memorial Day shouldn't be about cookouts, family and fun... not that there's anything wrong with any of that, but as a nation of people who are free only because of the willingness of those who will defend that freedom, we have a responsibility to remember those who gave all they had.

 Thank you Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers for your dedication to the fallen servicemen and women. May we all learn from your tremendous example.

Video: Enter The Dragon - ISS Crew Answers Questions From Inside The SpaceX Dragon

 The youtube channel for NASAtelevision has been posting a lot of great videos of what's been taking place with the Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station in the last few days. The Dragon is the first commercial/private spacecraft to demonstrate the capability of resupplying the ISS, and is expected to add the capability of being a manned capsule sometime in the next three years.

 Dragon left Earth as part of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch on May 22nd and thus far the mission has been extremely successful. Three members of the six person ISS crew are seen in this video answering questions from reporters and sharing their positive feedback on the the design and performance of Dragon. The videos posted by NASAtelevision aren't flashy entertainment pieces, but they are excellent viewing for anyone with a serious interest in space and the fantastic events currently taking place in the cooperative effort between SpaceX and NASA... I hope you'll take some time and check it al out!

Video screenshot showing 3 ISS crewmembers inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft

Poll: Which Supersonic US Bomber Makes Your Heart Beat The Fastest?

1950's era Convair B-58 Hustler

 I figure it's time for a poll to see which supersonic bomber from the US y'all think is the sweetest, the hottest, or just the mostest of the most. It's an easy choice for me (B-58 Hustler), but I'll add that each of these three aircraft are top-shelf awesome to me. And yeah, I know the XB-70 was never anything more than an X-plane, but you just can't can't have a poll about supersonic bombers and not include the stunning Valkyrie.

 So please take a moment and vote for your favorite of these three supersonic bombers: the Convair B-58 Hustler; the North American XB-70 Valkyrie; or the Rockwell B-1 Lancer. If you're an Aardvark fan, sorry... I decided we're talking full on dedicated bombers for this poll. And really(?) - you'd pick the F-111 over any of these three hotties?  Lets. Get. Real!

 The poll is at the bottom of the post. Happy voting : )

1960's era North American XB-70 Valkyrie

1970's era Rockwell B-1 Lancer