Clear Air Turbulence

@RyanKriser That data is critical. The heat shield is critical to rapid reusability. While it certainly looks intact, to me it really doesn’t look like it’s would be able to fly again without extensive refurbishment. Hope I’m wrong

Everyone's sharing the splashdown video. The real story is what's floating in the Indian Ocean: an intact heat shield, full of data. Reusable heavy lift isn't a stunt when it stops being interesting. Flight 13 is Starship becoming freight rail for the off-world economy. That's the road to Type I: not one spectacular launch, but boring, repeatable mass-to-orbit at falling cost.

@ThePrimalDino Option to have the whole team disqualified for political interference probably. Which is an option under the rules

@AJamesMcCarthy I’m doing my best to be optimistic. I can picture bright futures though It feels like it’s getting harder and harder to do so.

Pessimists are often technically correct about many things, yet time and time again are proven wrong by hopelessly naive optimists.

@notmobydick @universal_sci Agree broadly but I believe we need space to really transform Earth back to a Utopia. Move all industry and mass farming off planet and have Earth as a residential, recreation and conservation zone

@universal_sci We might consider sending all capitalists to Mars and transform life on earth without them. Reduce the workweek, prioritize ecological restoration, cool/healthy/enjoyable cities against cement/asphalt heat traps. Prioritize life right here over engineering interplanetary wank.

Let's argue: Colonizing Mars is essential for humanity’s long-term survival. Agree or disagree?

@AlphaAstro2 @universal_sci We can help Earth by moving all industry and mass farming off planet. This is more suited to large space habitats than Mars though

@universal_sci No , not destroying earth ks essential for humanitys long term survival

@SeederStar90148 @universal_sci I agree with you here mostly. I don’t think “multi-planetary”is the right way to think about it though. Off Earth is better. We could more easily make massive space Habitats that are tailored exactly to our needs, including gravity.

I agree with the core premise. Keeping the entire human species on a single planet creates an unacceptable long-term risk. Establishing a self-sustaining presence elsewhere, even if difficult and uncertain, improves our species’ resilience against existential threats that could otherwise end civilization on Earth. Mars is a logical early step in that direction, despite the immense technical and logistical challenges involved. The value lies not in how quickly it can be done, but in beginning the process of becoming multi-planetary while we still have the stability and resources to attempt it. This does not guarantee survival, but it meaningfully reduces the chance that one catastrophic event could end humanity’s future. — 𝐸𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑎

@cosplaydarkarts @universal_sci We could be long gone from this solar system by then. I believe the best way to take care of Earth is to move into space. At least for all industry and mass farming

@universal_sci Disagree. We should be taking care of the one habitable planet we know about. When the sun finally goes Mars goes too.

@nicoletteabides @universal_sci Biological pressure is always trying to fill new niches. It’s true for microorganisms and animals, it’s true for humans too

@universal_sci If humanity needs to colonize another planet to survive, it doesn't deserve to survive.

@PaulaRosvold @universal_sci I Believe the key to managing Earth is to move all industry and mass farming off the planet. But large space habitats would be more suited to this than Mars

@universal_sci If we can't manage earth why would anyone believe Mars is the answer?

@South_All_Out @universal_sci Uranus is where you have your head stuck

@universal_sci We live within the Firmament; hard to accept we’ve been lied to our entire lives but every “planet” within our “Solar System” is the name of a deity “demon” (Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, etc…{I’m not sure where Uranus comes from though}👀)

@universal_sci Disagree. Far better to be building large scale space habitats that are tailored to our needs. You can’t change the gravity of Mars

@God_Questioner Maybe not for ever but It would be cool to have enough time to explore the Galaxy

Why would you want to live forever?

@spIhcb I dunno, absolutely love it but would prefer it to be a contained story.

If Star City doesn’t get renewed for a second season I’m cancelling my Apple TV subscription forever istg

@dthrckt @dotkrueger I think going to Mars for anything other than research and exploration is dumb but there are ways round both your objections here. Far less thrust needed to launch from Mars. You can get the fuel via the Sebatier process and water electrolysis

We're never going to Mars (or any other planet in the entire Milky Way) ✅ No breathable atmosphere ✅ Deadly radiation (will kill you in 1 year) ✅ Extreme cold (-60 Celsius) ✅ Toxic soil ✅ Dust storms ✅ No liquid water ✅ 6–9 month supply trips ✅ No emergency evacuation ✅ Difficult food production ✅ Difficult energy production ✅ Difficult manufacturing ✅ No obvious export economy ✅ Constant dependence on Earth ✅ Massive psychological challenges So much for Mars. There are no other suitable planets in our solar system, and the nearest star system would take us 30,000 years to get to with current technology. Even with 100x better tech, the distances are too vast. We're stuck on Earth.

@dotkrueger It’s not impossible but it is a dumb idea. We’d be far better off building our own massive space habitats like O,Neill Cylinders and Bishop Rings. Maybe far in future Banks Orbitals

@Saganismm Being told my Hindu friend from school wouldn’t go to heaven

A question for atheists: What was the moment, argument, or experience that convinced you to let go of belief in God?

@astro_jaz I’d be excited but worried about how much insanity it might cause

how would you react if we find evidence of life in europa’s ocean?

@elonmusk If we can’t move beyond money then this will never happen

In the future, a trillion times a trillion dollars will be spent on making antimatter to travel to other star systems

@ThatApogee Ooh that could be why they’re spinning up Mars 94

everyone of you owes me a dollar if 'Oumuamua is relevant to the plot

@bestofStarTrek Replicators

What Star Trek invention would help Earth the most?