View allAll Photos Tagged engineeringmarvel
An Air France Concorde (Fox Alpha) supersonic airliner.
The first supersonic airliner to enter service, the Concorde flew thousands of passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for over 25 years. Designed and built by Aérospatiale of France and the British Aviation Corporation, the graceful Concorde was a stunning technological achievement that could not overcome serious economic problems.
In January 1976 Air France and British Airways jointly inaugurated Concorde service to destinations around the globe. Carrying up to 100 passengers in great comfort, the Concorde catered to first class passengers for whom speed was critical. It could cross the Atlantic in fewer than four hours - half the time of a conventional jet airliner. However its high operating costs resulted in very high fares that limited the number of passengers who could afford to fly it. These problems and a shrinking market eventually forced the reduction of service until all Concordes were retired in 2003.
By November 1976, these graceful SSTs (Super Sonic Transports) were flying to the United States. A technological masterpiece, each Concorde smoothly transitioned to supersonic flight with no discernable disturbance to the passenger. In service, the Concorde would cruise at twice the speed of sound between 55,000 and 60,000 feet - so high that passengers could actually see the curvature of the Earth. The Concorde was so fast that, despite the outside temperature of less than -56 degrees Celsius, the aircraft's aluminum skin would heat up to over 120 degrees Celsius while the Concorde actually expanded 8 inches in length with the interior of the window gradually growing quite warm to the touch. And all the while each passenger was carefully attended to while enjoying a magnificent meal and superb service. Transatlantic flight time was cut in half with the average flight taking less than four hours.
The aircraft is regarded by many people as an aviation icon and an engineering marvel. Reflecting the treaty between the British and French governments which led to Concorde's construction, the name Concorde is from the French word concorde which has an English equivalent, concord. Both words mean agreement, harmony or union.
Sources: airandspace.si.edu, www.wikipedia.org
December 30, 2012, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia, taken here
Behold the majestic Golden Gate Bridge tower standing tall against the fading light of day in San Francisco. This perspective, likely captured from the water, highlights the colossal scale of the structure and the intricate network of suspension cables reaching towards the sky. The iconic 'International Orange' color of the bridge is dramatically illuminated by the warm, golden hues of the sunset, creating a stunning contrast with the cool tones of the sky and water. The rugged Marin Headlands form the backdrop, their slopes catching the last rays of sunlight, while the famous tiny white structure at Fort Point sits faithfully on its rocky perch below. The gentle ripple of the San Francisco Bay adds a touch of serenity to this vibrant urban landmark scene.
“Anchored to the Space Shuttle Endeavour's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm, Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman works with the replacement Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC II) for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during the third of five space walks. Astronaut F. Story Musgrave, who joined Hoffman for three of the five space walks, helps with alignment at center frame.”
Note the lighting, indicative of being taken during a nighttime pass.
science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/STS61/1009...
“Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) technicians reposition and level the Cassini orbiter in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at KSC in July after stacking the craft’s upper equipment module on the propulsion module. A four-year, close-up study of the Saturnian system, the Cassini mission is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Station in October 1997. It will take seven years for the spacecraft to reach Saturn. Scientific instruments carried aboard the spacecraft will study Saturn’s atmosphere, magnetic field, rings, and several moons. JPL is managing the Cassini project for NASA.”
Vehicle identification is based on, in conjunction with the hand-annotated date on the verso, the following excerpts:
“The S-IC-4 stage arrived at MSFC [this is a little misleading, as technically, the MTF was organizationally a part of MSFC, but not geographically] on April 4 aboard the barge Pearl River. The following day Boeing personnel placed the stage in the MTF S-IC static test stand.”
Above at/from:
www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/MHR-5/part-8.htm
And:
“…the 124-meter-tall test stand at the Mississippi Test Facility is hoisting the first operational S-IC first stage for the Saturn V into test position.”
www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-4206/ch3.htm
Specifically:
www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-4206/p75b.jpg
Interestingly, thanks to the remarkable inherent photo resolution & my gracious 1200 dpi scanning, a “SIC-T4-2” placard affixed to the handrail of the B-1/B-2 Test Stand’s walkway is easily legible, almost directly above the upper right F-1 engine.
Finally, I’m assuming the large, apparently ribbed cylindrical object, wrapped & strapped(?) down to the deck of “Pearl River” to be an F-1 engine nozzle extension. Makes sense it/they would’ve accompanied the S-IC stage, right? However, would all FIVE fit on one barge? I have a photo from another perspective, of “Pearl River”, and it doesn’t look like there’s that much cargo capacity aft of the bridge.
Really a superb photo, further enhanced by the subject matter. Still of superior gloss, the obvious fingerprint near the upper left corner does not detract. And get this, it's part of the original photographic processing...therefore not unique to this photo, there's absolutely no relief to it when viewed obliquely. Not to be a dick, but I think the print should be run through AFIS, and the guy responsible, along with his non-existent "QC" supervisor should both be posthumously suspended, demoted or something like that.
Peripheral, but informative...and it includes pics & references to S-IC-4:
www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum29/HTML/001915.html
Credit: collectSPACE website
Apollo 15 ignition - a moment prior to actual liftoff. Note the dark smoke billowed around the base of the launch vehicle - and about to be sucked back down into the flame trench due to the vacuum created by the five F-1 engines getting up to full thrust.
Amazing reading regarding the mind-blowing sequence of events going on WRT the F-1 engines (to include what the black smoke is due to) at this very moment:
www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/F-1-Engine-Propulsion-o...
Credit: AWESOME stories website
Thanks for the comments. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. copyright all rights reserved.
Thanks for the comments.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.
©VR Danduprolu: All rights reserved.
“The complete remote sensing pallet is lowered by technicians from Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of California Institute of Technology to mate with the Cassini spacecraft in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at KSC in July. A four-year, close-up study of the Saturnian system, the Cassini mission is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in October 1997. It will take seven years for the spacecraft to reach Saturn. Scientific instruments carried aboard the spacecraft will study Saturn’s atmosphere, magnetic field, rings, and several moons. JPL is managing the Cassini project for NASA.”
If not already in it, even if it doesn’t exist, easily a ‘first-year eligible’ inductee to the Interplanetary Spacecraft Hall of Fame.
See also:
artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-remote-sensing-pallet...
Credit: Google Arts & Culture website
solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/11934/remote-sensing-palle...
www.researchgate.net/figure/Remote-Sensing-Pallet-with-In...
Credit: ResearchGate website
Excellent view from within the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) of Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) lifted for mating to the External Tank (ET), in preparation for either the STS-1 or STS-2 mission. A couple of Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) segments can be seen in the left foreground, in the transfer aisle.
An informative well-written read - with an additional photo that seems to kinda, sorta, maybe? support it being STS-1...but who knows:
www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/02/space-shuttle-columbia-a-...
Credit: NASA Spaceflight.com/Chris Gebhardt
Slow, but cool:
Credit: Steven Jochums
Am 12. Juli 2019 stand der Besuch von Fort Dragør und der Öresundbrücke auf dem Programm. Der Tag präsentierte sich mit strahlendem Sonnenschein und Temperaturen, die bis zu 24°C erreichten, perfekt für eine Erkundungstour.
Fort Dragør liegt in der kleinen Stadt Dragør südlich von Kopenhagen und ist eine beeindruckende historische Festungsanlage. Die Geschichte des Forts reicht bis ins Jahr 1910 zurück, als es als Teil der dänischen Verteidigungsstrategie gegen mögliche Angriffe errichtet wurde. Fort Dragør war eine wichtige militärische Einrichtung während des Ersten und Zweiten Weltkriegs, da es eine strategische Lage am Eingang des Kopenhagener Hafens einnahm. Die Festung wurde mit modernen Verteidigungsanlagen ausgestattet, um die dänische Küste zu schützen. Ihre Lage ermöglichte es, Schiffsbewegungen im Öresund zu überwachen, und spielte somit eine bedeutende Rolle in der nationalen Sicherheit Dänemarks.
Die Bauweise des Forts zeigt typisch militärische Architektur aus dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert. Die Struktur besteht aus dicken Betonmauern, Schusslöchern und Bunkern, die auf die Bedürfnisse der damaligen Zeit zugeschnitten sind. Im Laufe der Jahre wurde Fort Dragør mehrfach modernisiert und umgebaut, um den sich verändernden militärischen Anforderungen gerecht zu werden. Heute dient das Fort als historisches Denkmal und bietet einen faszinierenden Einblick in die militärische Vergangenheit Dänemarks.
Neben seiner militärischen Geschichte hat Fort Dragør auch einen malerischen Blick auf die Umgebung zu bieten. Die Nähe zum Wasser und der Blick auf die umliegenden Landschaften machen das Fort zu einem reizvollen Ort für Besucher, die sich für Geschichte und Natur interessieren.
Die Öresundbrücke, die die dänische Hauptstadt Kopenhagen mit der schwedischen Stadt Malmö verbindet, ist ein beeindruckendes Ingenieurbauwerk. Die Brücke wurde am 1. Juli 2000 eröffnet und hat seitdem eine wichtige Rolle im Verkehr zwischen Dänemark und Schweden übernommen. Sie besteht aus einer Kombination von Brücke und Tunnel und erstreckt sich über eine Länge von 7,8 Kilometern, wobei der Tunnelteil etwa 4 Kilometer umfasst.
Die Planung und der Bau der Öresundbrücke waren eine technische Meisterleistung. Sie wurde gebaut, um die wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zwischen Dänemark und Schweden zu stärken und die Reisezeiten erheblich zu verkürzen. Die Brücke besteht aus zwei parallelen Fahrbahnen für Autos und eine Bahntrasse für Züge, was sie zu einem vielseitigen Verkehrsknotenpunkt macht. Die Brücke ist nicht nur ein bedeutendes Verkehrsinfrastrukturprojekt, sondern auch ein architektonisches Wahrzeichen, das die Region prägt.
Touristisch ist die Öresundbrücke ein faszinierendes Beispiel für moderne Ingenieurskunst. Besucher können die Brücke sowohl von der dänischen als auch von der schwedischen Seite bewundern. Besonders beeindruckend ist die Aussicht von der Brücke selbst, die einen spektakulären Blick auf die umliegende Landschaft und das Wasser bietet.
Zusammen bieten Fort Dragør und die Öresundbrücke einen interessanten Mix aus Geschichte und moderner Architektur, der sowohl Geschichtsinteressierte als auch Technikbegeisterte anspricht.
Wikipedia Link: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Øresundbrücke
Kamera und Objektiv
Sony QX1 und Sony SEL18200
Sony A6500 und Sony SEL18200LE
Sony ILCE-7CR und Sony SEL24240
Bildinformation:
12MP - 3464 x 3465 px - ca. 3 bis 6MB
Bildbearbeitung: Adobe Photoshop Express
#FortDragør #Øresundbrücke #ÖresundBridge #Kopenhagen #Copenhagen #Dänemark #Denmark #HistorischeFestung #HistoricFortress #Militärgeschichte #MilitaryHistory #Ingenieurbauwerk #EngineeringMarvel #Brückenbau #BridgeConstruction #Küstenverteidigung #CoastalDefense #KopenhagenerHafen #CopenhagenHarbor #SchwedischDänischeVerbindung #SwedishDanishConnection #ReiseFotografie #TravelPhotography #Fotografie #Photography #Reisen #Travel #NordicArchitecture #NordicHistory #Schweden #Sweden #Technik #Technology #Architektur #Architecture #Geschichte #History #Faszination #Fascination #Erkundung #Exploration #NaturFotografie #NaturePhotography #Landschaftsfotografie #LandscapePhotography #Stadtbesichtigung #CityTour #KulturErleben #ExperienceCulture #Infrastruktur #Infrastructure #Bauwerke #Buildings
NOBODY doesn’t like the LRV.
Am I right???
Especially this one...the Descartes “Grand Prix” John W. Young Signature Edition. Featuring rich Lunarian White nylon webbed bucket seats.
Thanks for the comments. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. copyright all rights reserved.
Hoover "Damn" on the Nevada/Arizona border near Las Vegas. "Damn" because when you see it, you'll say "Damn!" cause it's so damn impressive. Be sure to take the Dam Tour too! Lol
"Lunar Module 5 is removed from an altitude chamber in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building at the NASA Spaceport here after successfully concluding manned altitude runs. To be flown on Apollo 11 in July, Lunar Module 5 is the first of its bread to have the capability of making a lunar landing. The prime crew for the Apollo 11 mission is composed of Neil A. Armstrong, Commander; Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module Pilot.”
In the heart of Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania, lies a captivating scene of rustic wood and timeless steel. A narrow wooden walking bridge spans a gentle stream, surrounded by vibrant green vegetation, embracing the serene essence of nature. As the bridge guides the viewer’s gaze, it leads to the remnants of the once mighty Kinzua Viaduct, a historic landmark and a testament to human ingenuity.
The Kinzua Viaduct, also known as Kinzua Bridge, was once an engineering marvel, showcasing the strength and determination of American industry. Unfortunately, a powerful tornado in 2003 tore through the area, causing significant damage to the steel trestle structure. Today, the remaining sections of the bridge serve as a reminder of its former glory, standing tall against the backdrop of a dramatic sky, casting an air of mystery over the picturesque landscape.
Located within the Kinzua Bridge State Park, this breathtaking setting attracts nature enthusiasts, hikers, and photographers like Duncan Rawlinson. The juxtaposition of the wooden bridge’s simplicity and the steel viaduct’s grandiosity creates an environmental contrast that encapsulates the intersection of nature and human ambition.
The Kinzua Gorge offers visitors an opportunity for outdoor exploration and adventure. The observation platform on the Kinzua Skywalk provides a unique vantage point for admiring the gorge’s views and fall foliage. As the trail meanders through the forest, it offers a tranquil escape into the majestic beauty of the Pennsylvanian wilderness.
Experience the awe-inspiring fusion of natural beauty and historic engineering in this timeless American landscape. Whether you’re seeking an outdoor adventure or simply appreciate the serene elegance of nature, the Kinzua Gorge will surely leave a lasting impression.
Thanks for the comments.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.
Copyright Notice: All rights reserved.
Thanks for the comments. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. copyright all rights reserved.
Under a blanket of low-hanging clouds, the three iconic bridges of the Firth of Forth emerge as enduring testaments to Scotland’s engineering legacy. To the left, the angular cantilevers of the Forth Rail Bridge dominate, a symbol of Victorian strength and precision. The Forth Road Bridge takes a quieter role in the centre, its slender lines blending subtly into the overcast sky. Meanwhile, the Queensferry Crossing tower rises faintly in the mist to the right, its modern silhouette softened by the atmospheric haze. This asymmetrical composition draws the eye across the scene, where muted tones of grey, blue, and winter green evoke a reflective calm. This is a real but refined landscape, where human ingenuity meets nature’s quiet persistence, offering a tranquil moment to pause and appreciate the interplay of history, design, and environment.
Shot on a suspension bridge in mount titlis, the highest suspension bridge in europe. On this particular day, there was heavy snow, so travelling through the bridge, all one could see was white colour. That there is a vertigo inducing cliff under the bridge, was something I came to know only later, when I saw a photo of the bridge shot on a clear day !
Our ship is about to enter the lock to move from the Pacific to the Panama Canal. When one thinks of the canal one does not necessarily understand the sheer size of it, the scale of the engineering wonder that was done and the vast infrastructure necessary for it to function efficiently and safely.
Miraflores is the name of one of the three locks that form part of the Panama Canal, and the name of the small lake that separates these locks from the Pedro Miguel Locks upstream. In the Miraflores locks, vessels are lifted (or lowered) 54 feet (16.5 m) in two stages, allowing them to transit to or from the Pacific Ocean port of Balboa in Panama City. Ships cross below the Bridge of the Americas, which connects North and South America.
The Mumbai Sealink which connects Bandra and Worli! It’s built upon the Arabian Sea! It is the main tourist attraction of Mumbai
“The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) begins its separation from the Space Shuttle Endeavour following a week and a half berthed in the space vehicle’s cargo bay. Part of Earth’s horizon is visible in the lower right corner.”
The Apollo 4 (Spacecraft 017/Saturn 501) space mission was launched from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The liftoff of the huge 363-feet tall Apollo/Saturn V space vehicle was at 7:00:01 a.m. (EST), Nov. 9, 1967. The successful objectives of the Apollo 4 Earth-orbital unmanned space mission obtained included (1) flight information on launch vehicle and spacecraft structural integrity and compatibility, flight loads, stage separation, subsystem operation, and (2) evaluation of the Apollo Command Module heat shield under conditions encountered on return from a moon mission.
Highly entertaining & informative discussion:
forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41286.0
www.nasa.gov/feature/55-years-ago-apollo-4-the-first-flig...
Commissioned in 1959, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) was independent India’s first Integrated Steel Plant and was built with the help of German Collaboration. The four look-alike towering structures in this snap are the Blast Furnaces of RSP, which converts the Iron ore into molten iron. These furnaces supplies raw materials to all downstream plants/mills and in an indirect way they are instrumental in sustaining a township of over 700,000 people.
"View of VAB from S. 50' tower."
An amazing view looking generally northward, through the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Low Bay (nearest the camera), down the transfer aisle, through the cavernous temporary “breezeway” afforded by the enormity of the main structure.
Note of course the Launcher Umbilical Tower (LUT) (on its Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP)) under construction in the left background…along with the Launch Control Center (LCC) to the immediate right of the VAB, also under construction.
And finally, the framework of the squat & rarely acknowledged Utility Annex - under construction as well - is visible to the left of the VAB, partially obstructing some of the LUT MLP.
Probably the first/only time you've read anything about the Utility Annex:
www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/utility-annex-facility-upgr...
Check out the vehicles…this is mid-1964. An engineering marvel to this day.
"South 50-ft. tower"...I vaguely recall coming across some obscure documentation regarding the various towers and their locations in the MILA. For points of elevated overhead illumination? Photographic vantage points? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Interesting & pertinent read. Some of it might even be correct:
public.ksc.nasa.gov/partnerships/wp-content/uploads/sites...
Tower Bridge, London... one of the most iconic, and readily recognizable structures of London, and perhaps the world. It is so famous that many people in fact mistake it for London Bridge, the subject of the wildly popular nursery rhyme "London Bridge is falling down", which is a different bridge from the medieval times. In fact, London bridge was reconstructed in the 1970s, and there is nothing spectacular about that bridge.
The tour of Tower Bridge, while giving a brief history of London, and a detailed history of the construction of the bridge, which completed in 1894, also gives a glimpse of other bridges around the world built in the last 2000 years and are engineering marvels.
The opening of the bridge bascules for ships to pass happens several times a day, and is still a tourist attraction. The place where I stood to take this picture has some very pretty restaurants with outside seating, overseeing the bridge and Thames.
In the background is the Square Mile and the Gherkin can be seen almost at the center of the image.
The right-hand side is the former Zuiderzee, formerly a salt-water inlet of the North Sea. After it was dammed, it became a fresh-water man-made lake named IJsselmeer, measuring 1,100 km² in area.
North of the dyke, the left hand-side, is the Waddenzee, an inlet of the North Sea (Noordzee in Nederlands).
Collection Name: RG107 Missouri Department of Transportation Photograph Collection
Photographer/Studio: Unknown (likely MoDOT staff)
Description: Construction of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis Riverfront. Also visible is the partially constructed Busch Stadium (former home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and football teams) and the Old Courthouse.
Coverage: United States – Missouri – St. Louis City
Date: 07/08/1965
Rights: public domain
Credit: Courtesy of Missouri State Archives
Image Number: MoDOT_2606-03.tif
Institution: Missouri State Archives
“STS-103 ONBOARD VIEW --- The gold of the solar arrays, illuminated from behind by the sunrise, provides stark contrast to the blackness of space in this scene, photographed at the completion of the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Arching between the telescope and one of the solar panels is the thin line of Earth’s atmosphere.”
Dinged upper left corner does not detract.
"Hubble Servicing Mission 3A (STS-103):
December 19-27, 1999
Space Shuttle: Discovery
Crew: Commander Curtis L. Brown, Pilot Scott J. Kelly, Payload Commander Steven L. Smith, Mission Specialists C. Michael Foale, John M. Grunsfield, Claude Nicollier and Jean-Francois Clervoy
NASA decided to split the Servicing Mission 3 (SM3) into two parts, SM3A and SM3B, after the third of Hubble’s six gyroscopes failed. (At that time, Hubble needed three gyroscopes to observe a celestial target.) The second part of the mission, SM3B, took place March 1–12, 2002.
On November 13, 1999, the Hubble Space Telescope was placed into safe mode after the failure of a fourth gyroscope. In safe mode Hubble could not observe targets, but its safety was preserved. This protective mode allows ground control of the telescope, but with only two gyros working, Hubble cannot be aimed with the precision necessary for scientific observations of the sky. Controllers closed the aperture door to protect the optics and aligned the spacecraft to ensure that Hubble’s solar panels would receive adequate power from the Sun.
In the first of the two-part mission, the most pressing task was the replacement of the gyroscopes. The crew, two of whom were Hubble repair veterans, replaced all six gyroscopes — as well as one of Hubble’s three Fine Guidance Sensors, which allow fine pointing and keep Hubble stable during observations, and a transmitter.
The astronauts also installed an advanced central computer, a digital data recorder, an electronics enhancement kit, battery improvement kits, and new outer layers of thermal protection. Hubble was as good as new.
Mission Highlights:
- Replacement of all three Rate Sensing Units (RSUs), each of which contains two gyroscopes
- Installation of new computer, 20 times faster with six times more memory than its predecessor
- Replacement of original reel-to-reel data recorder with digital Solid-State Recorder (SSR) which is faster, more reliable and can store 10 times as much data
- Replacement of no. 2 of 3 Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS) with refurbished unit
- Replacement of failed no. 2 of 2 S-Band Single Access Transmitter (SSAT) used to relay data to the ground
- Installation six Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kits (VIKs) on wiring between Solar Arrays and each battery to control charging of Hubble's batteries
- Installation of Shell/Shield Replacement Fabric (SSRF) over the original Multi-Layer Insulation on Hubble’s forward shell and light shield to add thermal protection
- Installation of Handrail Covers around the handrails above the Fine Guidance Sensor bay to prevent possible contamination to the Aft Shroud area from flaking handrail paint
- Fit New Outer Blanket Layers (NOBLs) on equipment Bay 1"
Mission highlights (in narrative form):
STS-103 restored the Hubble Space Telescope to working order and upgraded some of its systems, allowing the decade-old observatory to get ready to begin its second scheduled decade of astronomical observations.
The first few days of the 8-day mission, the crew prepared for the rendezvous and capture of the Hubble Space Telescope and the three maintenance spacewalks to follow. After a 30-orbit chase Commander Brown and Kelly maneuvered the orbiter to a point directly beneath Hubble, then moved upward toward it. Mission Specialist Clervoy grappled Hubble using the orbiter’s robotic arm and placed it on the Flight Support System in the rear of Discovery’s cargo bay.
EVA No. 1: Mission Specialists Steven Smith and John Grunsfeld conducted the mission’s first spacewalk. The two made numerous repairs, including replacing the telescope’s three Rate Sensor Units — each containing two gyroscopes. They also installed six Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kits between Hubble’s solar panels and its six 10-year-old batteries. The kits, the size of cell telephones, were designed to prevent any overheating or overcharging of those batteries. A few minor objectives were left undone, such as taking close-up photos of the Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kits. The 8-hour, 15-minute spacewalk was second to the longest space walk from Endeavour on STS-49 in May 1992. A few minor problems helped account for the length of the spacewalk. The astronauts had difficulty in removing one of the old RSUs, and opening valves and removing caps on the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer. The tasks were eventually completed.
EVA No. 2: During the mission’s second spacewalk, Mission Specialists Michael Foale and Claude Nicollier installed a new advanced computer — 20 times faster than Hubble’s old one — and a new, 550-pound fine guidance sensor. This 8-hour, 10-minute spacewalk was the third longest in history. With all major activities accomplished, controllers reported that power was reaching both of the new pieces of equipment. “The brains of Hubble have been replaced,” said Mission Specialist Grunsfeld. About 30 minutes later, Hubble began thinking with those new brains.
EVA No. 3: Smith and Grunsfeld again teamed up to make the mission’s third and final space walk. Like the first two, it also lasted more than 8 hours, making it the fourth longest in history. The team installed a transmitter that sends scientific data from Hubble to the ground. It replaced one that failed in 1998. The astronauts used special tools developed for the task because transmitters, usually very reliable, were not designed to be replaced in orbit. Smith and Grunsfeld also installed a solid-state digital recorder, replacing an older mechanical reel-to-reel recorder.
Hubble was released from Discovery’s cargo bay on Christmas Day.
Mission STS-103 is the third time in the U.S. Space Program that a crew has spent Christmas in space.”
Calcutta boasts the third largest cantielver bridge in the world. Its real importance, however, lies in the fact that it serves as Calcutta's gateway to the wese, being the city's only bridge spanning the Hooghly. Taking 7 years to build, it cost $10,000,000. It towers 310 feet as the city's highes structure, is 2,150 feet long with a center span of 1,500 feet. It was completed in 1942, opened in February, 1943.
35028 'Clan Line' on the mainline shortly after departing Haywards Heath Station, on a run from Three Bridges to Bath in December 2024.
For the full details, check out creativesplurges.com/2024/12/27/steam-trains-on-the-mainl...
“This enlargement of a Pioneer 11 picture covers part of Jupiter’s north temperature zone, and its north polar region. It shows the breakup of the regular banded structure of Jupiter’s clouds as one goes north toward the pole. The alternating, planet-girdling orange belts and grey-white zones, the most prominent features on the planet, first appear to break down into swirling scalloped and oval structures, and farther north to disappear completely. The northernmost part of the picture shows areas within 70 of the North Pole. According to Dr. Andrew Ingersoll, California Institute of Technology, these polar regions contain what appears to be an array of unorganized hurricane like convective storms. Many of these storms are circular, and some are several hundred miles across. Since Jupiter’s polar regions cannot be seen from Earth, this picture shows many features never seen before, and far the greatest array of details ever seen on the giant planet. Pioneer 11 flew within 42,000 km (26,000 mi) of Jupiter. This view was taken in blue light from 600,000 km (373,000 mi). The Pioneer Project is managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA. and the Pioneer spacecraft were built by TRW Systems, Redondo Beach, Ca. The Jovian polar storms may be similar to Earth’s fast-spinning tropical hurricanes in that they are of similar size, and like hurricane may well be “heat pumps”, powered by the latent heat of condensation of water vapor and ammonia vapor. Sharply defined spiral features and scallops, most of them at the boundaries of high-latitude belt and zone regions are believed to result from the wind shears between adjacent, counterflowing jet streams produced in the belts and zones. Many of the jet streams producing these spiral features have speeds relative to the planet of 150 mph each, in opposite directions. This means 300 mph winds at [three words illegible]. Scientists believe that understanding of Jupiter’s Meteorology will lead to better understanding of weather on Earth. Jupiter is a liquid planet and hence has no solid surface, nor any “oceans”, only a gradual transition going down from atmosphere gat to liquid.”
The above is exactly how it’s written on the verso.
Compare/contrast:
bjj.mmedia.is/planet_rend/jup_north.jpg
Credit: Björn Jónsson's website (lots of really cool stuff there)
Finally:
"Figure 9-15. Image D8. Range 1,079,000 km (671,000 mi.), 13 1/2 hours after periapsis."
And:
"The series of images Figures 9-15 through 9-20 shows Jupiter receding as Pioneer 11 leaves the giant planet and rises high above the ecliptic plane on its way to Saturn. Due to an anomaly which affected the rate at which the telescope swept across the planet the command sequence to obtain these pictures had to be changed day by day. Nevertheless all were obtained without any being lost, despite the fact that there was no time to verify the command sequence by computer simulations in advance."
Both above from/at:
history.nasa.gov/SP-349/ch9.htm
Specifically:
Editing style purely inspired by, or should I say copied from my friend and inspiration, Linhberg.
Sorry I had to steal the glow again, Linh.
Picture was taken at HuangPu Port in GuangZhou. It's the 3rd largest port in China and 5th in the world in terms of size and operation.
Lothal was one of the most prominent cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Located in the state of Gujarat in India, it was discovered in 1954, and its existence dates from 2400 BCE. Lothal's dock—the world's earliest—made the city a vital centre of trade between Harappan cities, West Asia and Africa. The dock, its wharf, lock-gate system, and sophisticated drainage system are unusual marvels of engineering. Lothal yielded the most important Indus-era antiquities in modern India.