Questions tagged [identify-this-object]
Questions which ask for an object in a photograph or other media to be identified and/or have its function described.
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1answer
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Where is Farside's 4th stage?
This answer has a lot of images that I shouldn't need to repost here, and is supplemental to this answer to the question Help me understand what Farside, a ten “stage” rockoon looked like? How was it ...
19
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1answer
4k views
What were the “pills” that were added to solid waste in Apollo 7?
In the BBC News Worldservice podcast 10, 9, 8, 7: The dramatic missions that made the Moon landing possible told by retired astronaut Nicole Stott (Expeditions 20, 21, STS-128 and STS-133) after ...
8
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1answer
145 views
What does this SpaceX tweeted photo show and what causes the pure red and blue color?
This May 4, 2019 SpaceX tweet says
More photos from Falcon 9’s 40th successful launch from Pad 40 in Florida and 39th first stage rocket booster landing to date → http://flickr.com/spacex
and ...
6
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1answer
105 views
Are mechanical pencils used on the ISS?
I have read through this question ("Is it possible to use mechanical pencil instead of space pen in ISS?") and it seems that without specially made pencils, it's unlikely as there are better options. ...
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0answers
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Have there been any Foucault pendulum demonstrations in space?
A Foucault pendulum is a pendulum allowed to oscillate in 2 directions, unlike the pendulum in a clock which is restricted to 1 dimensional oscillation.
On Earth, (except at the equator) the plane of ...
5
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1answer
192 views
What is this strange, liquid-cooled tube hanging in a wind tunnel?
Near the end of the NASA video Rocket Engine Testing the NASA Way! there is an image that appears to be archival an possibly quite old. It's a long cylinder densely wrapped with what I assume is ...
3
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1answer
101 views
Help identifying this archival NACA/NASA image of a wind tunnel test object
Near the end of the NASA video Rocket Engine Testing the NASA Way! there is an image that appears to be archival an possibly quite old. It's a metal model of a launch vehicle with two very long ...
3
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0answers
67 views
Why does the Electron rocket throw sparks; especially at SECO?
The RocketLab YouTube video STP-27RD Launch - 05/05/2019 shows the exhaust plume from the second stage engine evolve as the atmospheric pressure drops. During this time there are frequent outbursts of ...
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0answers
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What object is visible in the background of the Dragon view from the CRS-17 launch?
In the livestream of the CRS-17 Mission, at 28:02 into the livestream (T+13:02) there is a flashing object visible in the bottom, left third of the screen. This object moves "up" in the frame. It is ...
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1answer
84 views
How did fictional asteroid 2019 PDC get its name?
Gizmodo's NASA and FEMA Will Simulate an Impending Asteroid Strike Next Week
The hypothetical discovery takes place in 2019, but what does "PDC" stand for?
Perhaps it is another "discovery" by the ...
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1answer
92 views
Why is DSX two satellites connected by a ring, and what are all those tubes? (upcoming SpaceX STP-2 payload)
Reminiscent of a chrome-plated exhaust manifold from a 20th century vehicle.
The Teslarati article SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy flies a complex mission for the Air Force in launch video discusses the ...
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4answers
773 views
What is “propulsive passivation” and why will the SpaceX STP-2 mission do it?
The Teslarati article SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy flies a complex mission for the Air Force in launch video discusses the upcoming third Falcon Heavy mission STP-2 and quotes the caption on the linked ...
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1answer
174 views
What barge height limit warning sign is Scott Manley describing? (Falcon Heavy core fell into ocean)
In the beginning of Scott Manley's new video The First Commercial Lunar Spacecraft - 20 Years before Israel & Beresheet he takes a moment to talk about recent Falcon Heavy core falling off the ...
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1answer
71 views
Does the arrow in this SOHO trajectory animation point heliocentric prograde, or towards the Sun?
This answer links to this NASA page. The first video shows the two STEREO spacecraft use two and three passes by the Moon to leave Earth orbit and enter into an orbit around the sun.
Below is a GIF ...
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2answers
181 views
What are these big shiny metallic “lumps” on the bottom edge of each Falcon Heavy nozzle?
What are these big shiny metallic "lumps" on the bottom edge of each nozzle of each core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first official ...
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1answer
2k views
What is the white spray-pattern residue inside these Falcon Heavy nozzles?
What is the white residue in a spray pattern seen on the inside of each nozzle of each side core of this Falcon Heavy image from the Teslarati article SpaceX reveals Falcon Heavy Block 5 in first ...
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1answer
96 views
What is the point in which metal turns white hot during launch or reentry called?
This is a slow motion film of the Sprint missle. There is a point where to skin goes white hot like a light switch. What is that called?
What metal gets white hot while keeping its shape?
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0answers
116 views
Are there “Space Jellyfish” in Florida? Would they be possible?
The Wikipedia article Space Jellyfish shows the image below with the caption:
A California space jellyfish from 22 December 2017
I think that when other Q&A here have shown similar space ...
2
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1answer
118 views
What steel ball was thrown out of the ISS to help test how well ground stations can track orbital debris?
The question What kinds of things have been tossed out of the ISS? has a broken YouTube link. This is why it's good to include at least the name of the video in your post (which I didn't back in 2016)....
2
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1answer
152 views
How would this two-stage Mars Ascent Vehicle work? Where do you sit?
This curious answer shows an image of a liquid-fueled Mars Ascent Vehicle with a sign in front that only says
Two Stage Mars Ascent Vehicle
Question: Is there some NASA program associated with it ...
3
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0answers
209 views
Could a steam Engine outperform other electric producing devices in space? [closed]
What would be the Specific Impulse of a steam-based propulsion system like this model in space?
Are there any types of engine that works this way?
Could 2 tanks be designed to rotate slowly in space ...
22
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1answer
6k views
Why is this part of the Space Shuttle launch pad suspended so high off the ground?
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-107/images/high/KSC-02PD-1894.jpg
shows a large part of the launch pad suspended off the ground.
What is it for and why is there all that empty space ...
3
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2answers
326 views
Help me understand what Farside, a ten “stage” rockoon looked like? How was it configured?
@OrganicMarble's answer links to NASA Sounding Rockets, 1958-1968, A Historical Summary and in Appendix A starting on page 79 it lists:
Farside: A type of rockoon developed by Aeronutronics ...
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1answer
77 views
Identify this astronaut and shuttle mission
After about 02:00 in the Kinematic video SpaceX Delivers Critical Docking Adapter for NASA to the ISS the astronaut says:
You know the Space Shuttle’s been with ...
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1answer
2k views
What is under these four white covers on the upper part of the Orion capsule?
The New York Times article A NASA Journey to the Moon May Need to Find Another Rocket or Two shows an image of the Orion capsule in a file photo, along with the NASA director.
There are four white ...
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1answer
80 views
How is atmospheric temperature measured from a satellite?
How does an Earth observing satellite measure the temperature of the atmosphere?
Can they measure temperature at multiple altitudes, or measure the temperature of clouds?
4
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1answer
148 views
What kind of “jet engine-like propulsion” does HyperSciences use to accelerate projectiles to sub-orbital altitudes?
The Teslarati article For HyperSciences, geothermal energy builds a path to space describes the use of technology which has been applied to drilling to launching projectiles to sub-orbital altitudes ...
12
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1answer
3k views
What is Earthy controling in the ISS cupola?
ScienceAlert.com's Astronauts on The Space Station Liked SpaceX's 'Earthy' Toy So Much They Kidnapped It shows a series of photos of Earthy, the new plushy member of the ISS crew.
In the photo below ...
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1answer
209 views
ISS location identification; estimate size and direction of astronaut acceleration puzzler
note: This question addresses the same video and phenomenon described in this answer (which I found after posting this) but here I'm asking for an analysis of the trajectories of the test masses (the ...
4
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1answer
141 views
Why did Skylab have a thick blue flexible cord running down its central axis?
After watching the video below (found here and here and here) I am reminded of the series of possibly less than 100% serious questions here about being weightless in the middle of a large volume and ...
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1answer
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Identifying some sort of flare near Earth
Anyone know what this flare is in the top lefthand corner of the picture?
The image was captured from the ISS live feed app for android 28/02/2019 at 18:38 BST
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0answers
97 views
What light was the Falcon 9 grid fin occulting in todays SpaceX Nusantara Satu Mission live broadcast?
What light was the Falcon 9 grid fin occulting in todays SpaceX Nusantara Satu Mission live broadcast?
I backed up the time slider on the YouTube live broadcast and snapped some screen captures, ...
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1answer
123 views
What is a raptor engine manifold and what's happening in these tweeted pics?
When I think of the words "engine manifold" I think of these.
I saw this tweet by Elon Musk which shows the image below, and then there is a reply image with a checkerboard pattern behind part of the ...
7
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0answers
153 views
What's the shiny triangular feature on this Progress vehicle?
Picture from here
What's the shiny, slightly curved triangular plate with rails above it?
A larger version, cropped from here, thanks to a comment by ohsin.
9
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1answer
2k views
What are these stacked panels on the ISS in this image?
I found this image of the ISS in a folder on my computer. I don't know the exact source but a reverse image search shows it in many different websites. Unfortunately I can't pin down a date.
What are ...
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1answer
238 views
What are these mysterious white star-like dots near MU69 Ultima Thule? Real objects near the asteroid, noise, cosmic rays, or something else?
NOTE: I think either possibility suggested below is possible, I'm not looking for arguments why one of them would be your favorite like this answer. Instead, I'm looking for a fairly conclusive answer;...
9
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2answers
224 views
What is this balloon for in this clean room and what is the proper name for the “stand” that is holding the satellite?
What is this balloon doing in this clean room and what is the proper name for the "stand" (white & blue) that is holding the satellite?
2
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1answer
114 views
What's the smallest kerolox engine that is/was used for spaceflight?
This comment linked in this answer to the question How does the camera make the exhaust of the Electron's RP-1/LOX exhaust transparent? says
Some quick calculation suggests the thickness of the ...
2
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2answers
166 views
Was there once a semi-serious space-art project planning to use solar reflectors to put a spot of light on the crescent Moon?
Reading the question What are the effects of orbital reflectors and advertising on scientific observation and orbital debris? I am reminded of a story I read a while ago about an even in the past, ...
3
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1answer
149 views
Why does the Apollo-8 Trans-Lunar Injection burn appear to be pulsing in this photo?
This tweet called my attention to The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum story Photographing Apollo 8's Orbit Toward the Moon. The story is quite an interesting bit of space history and worth a ...
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1answer
175 views
What was the first piece of wood to reach the far side of the Moon? Or the first spacecraft?
Chang'e-4 is the first lander/rover mission to reach the far side, but probably doesn't have any wood on it.
What was the first piece of wood that landed on the far side of the Moon, and what was the ...
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1answer
127 views
What spacecraft components are in the foreground of this image of the Earth and Moon? What is the camera inside of?
This tweet shows the image below, and says:
Finally, some images from Queqiao, the relay satellite for the Chang'e-4 far side mission, showing the Earth and Moon! Queqiao is in a halo orbit at a ...
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1answer
118 views
At what time in the Apollo 14 mission did the maneuver shown in this image happen, and what exactly was happening?
In a search for information for this answer I received this google books link of Comment: The Relevance of Space, by Arthur Kantrowitz, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 197, 4 April 1971, pp 32-33. ...
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1answer
180 views
Was New Horizons launched on a copper rocket?
Screenshots below are from Brian May's new music video Brian May - New Horizons (Ultima Thule Mix) [Official Music Video] The beginning shows the launch of a rocket.
I can't tell for sure if this is ...
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1answer
65 views
Has there ever been musical events or performances associated with deep-space spacecraft or their flyby maneuvers?
We've had several questions related to music being played (live, or recorded) in space:
Music played in space (6 answers)
How did Sergei Krikalev get (or build) the drum he is shown playing here? (no ...
6
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1answer
199 views
Is there really moon rock in this cathedral window? If so, how, and from where on the Moon?
This Tweet by NASA Space Flight Editor Ian Atkinson says:
Some pictures from the Cathedral before the event starts, they have a table set up with artifacts from Apollo 8, including the flown ...
3
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3answers
328 views
What is the largest antenna deployed in space?
@Tristan's answer says:
The satellites are classified, so details are speculative, but it is believed that the Magnum/Orion and Mentor SIGINT satellites have parabolic antennae around 100 m in ...
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2answers
176 views
Where is the “antenna farm” from which this Soyuz launch photo was taken?
The Phys.org article SpaceX Christmas delivery arrives at space station
had a small version of this photo, and I found this large one at wirenews.com's SpaceX Christmas delivery arrives at space ...
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1answer
77 views
Which orbit around Earth has the least perturbation?
Which orbit around Earth would have the least amount of perturbation from the moon, Sun etc.? Does an orbit exist where in either direction of travel that the perturbation would be the same?
The ...
3
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1answer
295 views
What is the meaning of this writing on the InSight lander, and why is some in Braille?
I spotted this image in this answer and a few things caught my eye.
Both images are cropped from the much larger image PIA22540.
First Braille in Space?
On the left and right sides there is what ...
