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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 917
Location: Spain
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 Posted: 13-Sep-2004 04:53 Post subject: Farewell to the Atlas |
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No, not the 'Mech, you freak! 
SPACE OPERATIONS: The Last Launch of the Atlas
September 12, 2004: The last of the Atlas 2AS launchers blasted off on August 31st, carrying a U.S. spy satellite (exact details of which were classified). The Atlas was one the first American ICBMs, but was retired in the late 1960s and many of the missiles were converted to satellite launchers. Fitted with an additional four solid fuel booster rockets, the Atlas 2AS could put 8.6 tons into low orbit (favored for spy satellites), and 3.8 tons into a high, stationary orbit (used for communications satellites.) The Atlas 2AS, one of the later modifications of the basic Atlas design, has been used 30 times since 1993. It is being replaced by a new rocket using Russian technology (which is inexpensive, reliable and robust.) Other versions of the Atlas have long been used for satellite launches. The 197 ton Atlas 2AS was the most powerful of the Atlas launchers. The earliest one, like the 1960 Atlas Agena, weighed 124 tons, and could only put about 2.2 tons into low orbit.
I find the irony of US sats being launched by the enemy's rockets highly amusing
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 13-Sep-2004 07:26 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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Not so odd to me... How long have we been using computer equipment that was made in other countries?
Except the space shuttle, it still has mother boards using Apple IIe technology. Kinda scary huh?
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Bo
ComStar
Private, First Class
Joined: 20-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 39
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| Posted: 13-Sep-2004 09:20 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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The shuttle program was built on _proven_ technology, not necessarily new technology. Lets not also forget the shuttle program was designed in the 1970's and built in the early 80's.
But I have heard they replaced the main computers which were IBM J11 with Intel 386s a number of years ago, but I can not confirm.
Also the last shuttle is getting its "glass cockpit" upgrade. The "glass cockpit" is a Boeing thing that has been on the 747s for some time now. It weighs less and uses less power than the existing system. Go to www.nasa.gov for the details.
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 13-Sep-2004 10:32 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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I would rather see the shuttles using the older tech than anything from the latest windows years. 
Could you imagine if the system went to the blue screen of death during takeoff?
I'm sorry Dave you cannot do that. hehe
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DarkAdder
Clan Star Adder
Star Commander
Joined: 10-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 604
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| Posted: 13-Sep-2004 12:30 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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So thats why the flight stick has a button on it labled 'Ctrl-Alt-Del'.
I wonder what the threshhold is for upgrading the tech on the shuttle. Every 5 years, 10 years? They could cut alot of weight and crap by going with bleeding-edge tech right now. And in space, where its cold, the just route a few coolant tubes through the cargo bay, open that boy up when they get into orbit, and overclock the piss out of the chips
Yeah, I know, they probably wont do it, but it would still be nifty.
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 13-Sep-2004 14:29 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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The only problem with running some of the wires in an area that in directly in space is how to protect it from all the crap we have left up there. I think between the US and the Russians there is at least a bucket of nuts and bolts and half a tool box worth of wrenches floating free. These are small enough objects that they increase in speed as they orbit before they fall into the atmosphere. The last thing you need is for a small bolt travelling at 200 MPH to hit a CPU and take out one of your systems.
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SaberDance
Federated Suns
Colonel
Joined: 07-May-2004 00:00
Posts: 837
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| Posted: 13-Sep-2004 22:23 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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Quote:
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On 2004-09-13 12:30, DarkAdder wrote:
So thats why the flight stick has a button on it labled 'Ctrl-Alt-Del'.
I wonder what the threshhold is for upgrading the tech on the shuttle. Every 5 years, 10 years? They could cut alot of weight and crap by going with bleeding-edge tech right now. And in space, where its cold, the just route a few coolant tubes through the cargo bay, open that boy up when they get into orbit, and overclock the piss out of the chips
Yeah, I know, they probably wont do it, but it would still be nifty.
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They do something similar already. When the shuttle reaches orbit, it opens its cargo bay to vent heat from the ship. The Shuttle's problem is that it was designed from proven materials thirty years ago, and after Congress got done with the budget "flying deathtrap" just about covered what they could pay for.
We had then, and have now, the technology to build reusable spacecraft that could jog to the moon and back without breaking a sweat. They're just really freaking expensive. They won't be built until some private entreprenuer decides to make a fotrune selling moonrocks.
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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 908
Location: United States
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| Posted: 14-Sep-2004 11:06 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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Quote:
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On 2004-09-13 04:53, Vampire wrote:
No, not the 'Mech, you freak!
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Phew! You had me scared for a second there!
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 15-Sep-2004 06:27 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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Yeah, the mech has been gone for a while..... 
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Shadowking
Kell Hounds
Captain
Joined: 22-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 365
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Sep-2004 14:45 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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| A 200-ton Atlas would be scary
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mud
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 23-Jul-2002 00:00
Posts: 1618
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| Posted: 01-Oct-2004 23:22 Post subject: RE: Farewell to the Atlas |
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Don't you guys know nobody's ever been up in space.
It's all made in TV studios in LA...in the same back lots where the pornos are made
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