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I Was SCARED To Say This To NASA... (But I said it anyway) - Smarter Every Day 293

SmarterEveryDay・56 minutes read

The speaker, a PhD student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, provided insights on the Artemis program to industry leaders at a symposium, stressing communication and architectural issues. He highlighted concerns about the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit, lack of clarity on rocket requirements, and the importance of learning from past mistakes for project success while emphasizing the need for effective communication and transparency.

Insights

  • The speaker, a PhD student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, was invited to speak at the American Astronautical Society's symposium to address industry leaders about potential communication and architectural issues in the Artemis program, despite warnings from NASA, aiming to provide an external perspective and establish credibility within the aerospace industry.
  • The speaker's discussion at the symposium highlighted concerns about the Artemis mission, questioning the use of the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit due to the Orion spacecraft's critical design flaw in lacking the necessary Delta-V for low lunar orbit, emphasizing the importance of effective communication, transparency, and learning from past experiences to ensure project success and address engineering mistakes promptly.

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Recent questions

  • What is the focus of the von Braun Space Exploration Symposium?

    The von Braun Space Exploration Symposium concentrates on advancing space from Leo to Lunar and Beyond, paying tribute to Werner von Braun, the architect of the Apollo program.

  • Why did the speaker decide to address the American Astronautical Society?

    The speaker, a PhD student studying under Dr. Jason Cassibry at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, usually declines speaking engagements but chose to address the American Astronautical Society to discuss the Artemis program with industry leaders.

  • What is the speaker's goal in providing an external perspective on Artemis?

    The speaker aims to highlight potential communication and architectural issues within the Artemis program, despite warnings from NASA, to establish credibility within the aerospace industry and balance his YouTube persona with professional expertise.

  • How does the speaker structure his videos on Smarter Every Day?

    The speaker brands his videos as Smarter Every Day, focusing on quality over quantity by starting with high personality and gradually increasing topical complexity to engage viewers effectively.

  • Why does the speaker emphasize viewer support on Patreon?

    The speaker stresses the importance of viewer support on Patreon to create authentic content free from algorithm constraints, offering exclusive stickers as a token of appreciation to supporters.

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Summary

00:00

PhD student speaks truth on Artemis program

  • The speaker is a PhD student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville studying under Dr. Jason Cassibry.
  • The American Astronautical Society, a group discussing space exploration, invited the speaker to give a talk at the 2023 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium.
  • The symposium focuses on advancing space from Leo to Lunar and Beyond, with a nod to Werner von Braun, the architect of the Apollo program.
  • The speaker usually declines speaking engagements but decided to address the symposium's industry leaders about the Artemis program.
  • The speaker aims to provide an external perspective on Artemis, highlighting potential communication and architectural issues.
  • Despite warnings about potential repercussions from NASA, the speaker is determined to speak the truth about Artemis.
  • The speaker's talk aims to establish credibility within the aerospace industry, balancing his YouTube persona with his professional expertise.
  • The talk is an exercise in rhetoric, persuading the audience to consider different viewpoints on Artemis.
  • The speaker reflects on his upbringing in Alabama, including family influences and professional experiences in aerospace engineering.
  • The speaker shares personal anecdotes, including experiences working on missile systems and reflecting on the impact of technological advancements in warfare.

11:54

"Smarter Every Day: Chicken Head Control Loop"

  • The speaker uploaded a video of a chicken online and noticed a control loop in its head movement.
  • Chickens use the vestibula ocular reflex to keep their heads steady while moving.
  • The speaker decided to brand his videos as Smarter Every Day and focus on quality over quantity.
  • He structured his videos to start with high personality, then increase topical complexity gradually.
  • The speaker met the President and discussed political discourse and negative feedback.
  • The President talked about the importance of negative feedback in society.
  • The speaker was unsatisfied with the President's answer on deep space exploration plans.
  • The audience was nervous during the speaker's presentation.
  • The speaker compared the Apollo era lunar landings to the current Artemis mission.
  • The speaker questioned the use of the Near Rectalinear Halo Orbit in the Artemis mission.

24:13

Challenges in lunar orbit communication and travel

  • The Orion spacecraft lacks the necessary Delta-V to reach low lunar orbit, which is a critical design flaw.
  • Communication with Earth is a key factor in the decision-making process for NRHO (Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit).
  • NRHO is selected for communication purposes, particularly for crew communication.
  • It takes half a day to travel from NRHO to low lunar orbit, with a week-long period in NRHO.
  • The complexity of the orbit and potential risks for astronauts on the moon surface are discussed.
  • A significant number of rockets (at least 15) are required to fuel the human lander for the moon.
  • The lack of clarity on the number of rockets needed highlights a communication issue within the project.
  • Lessons from past tragedies, like the Apollo 1 accident, emphasize the importance of addressing engineering mistakes promptly.
  • The need for effective communication and transparency in decision-making processes is stressed for project success.
  • The importance of learning from past experiences and unifying efforts to overcome challenges in space exploration is highlighted.

36:58

"NASA Changes, Apollo Success, Artemis Challenges"

  • NASA underwent significant changes after certain conversations took place.
  • Time travel movies, like "Back to the Future" and "Primer," highlight the impact of small actions on the future.
  • NASA SP 287, titled "What Made Apollo a Success," is a crucial document for industry leaders in charge of lunar missions.
  • The document emphasizes the importance of simplicity and redundancy in spacecraft design.
  • George M. Lowe's planning strategy for missions involved taking significant steps without excessive risk.
  • Cryogenic refueling in orbit, a new challenge for Artemis III, has never been done by humans before.
  • The importance of focusing on the mission and not getting fixated on technology demonstration is stressed.
  • The Apollo program's redundancy in procedures, down to using bolt cutters if needed, is highlighted.
  • Providing negative feedback when necessary and not compromising on standards are crucial for success.
  • Testing and not compromising on standards, even when pressured to delete tests, are key lessons from the document NASA SP 287.

49:56

"Training Astronauts for Moon Landings"

  • Apollo 8 was able to skip some tests or shots, saving time by cleverly designing experiments.
  • Crew training, especially for landing in different gravity environments, like 1/6th-G, is crucial.
  • The Lunar Lander test vehicle was instrumental in training astronauts for moon landings.
  • Psychological training for astronauts is vital due to the high stakes involved in space missions.
  • Engineers from the '50s and '60s were not necessarily better than modern engineers, but each era has its strengths.
  • The LLTV is essential for training astronauts to return to the moon, as they won't go without proper training.
  • Learning to ride a backwards bike demonstrated the challenges of breaking ingrained thinking patterns.
  • Children have more neuroplasticity than adults, making them quicker learners in certain tasks.
  • Training for the unexpected, as done in Apollo missions, is crucial for handling unforeseen situations effectively.
  • In a world of talkers, be a thinker and a doer, willing to take action and make tough decisions in meetings.

01:02:23

"Support on Patreon for exclusive stickers"

  • The speaker expresses gratitude for the support received and encourages viewers to join the sticker team by supporting on Patreon, allowing him to create authentic content free from algorithm constraints. The stickers offered as a thank you include the Smarter Every Day exploration team sticker, carefully designed in size to be versatile for placement on items like water bottles or laptops.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of viewer support on Patreon, offering exclusive stickers as a token of appreciation. By supporting on patron.com/smartereveryday, viewers can receive the current year's sticker and a bonus sticker, with the speaker's goal being to create genuine content while resisting the pressure to produce sensational material.
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