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jimcreighton12 t1_iskfltw wrote

Yeah when they get one that can explore Uranus then give me a call

114

Firm_Masterpiece_343 t1_iskoq8q wrote

Yes let’s send a balloon to a planet where the average day is 900 degrees with a strong chance of acidic methane rain.

−25

sillypicture t1_iskqaa3 wrote

Replying to Firm_Masterpiece_343 (#118,169)

Like the other guy said, do you research. Atmosphere on Venus is mega dense. Conditions you cite are found in the surface, of which this balloon will never go to. In to of the clouds is, apart from the lack of oxygen, otherwise al the most pleasant of all bodies in the system. Pleasant temperature, 1 atmosphere pressure, a blue sky. A human could survive a trip to the top of Venus on such balloons in a t shirt and jeans, and an oxygen mask.

17

LitLitten t1_iskqr6d wrote

Replying to Firm_Masterpiece_343 (#118,169)

The lower atmosphere isn’t actually that bad. It’s in the 0-60 degree centigrade range at .35 or so atmospheres.

These are metallic balloons so more likely the greatest limiting factor is battery life.

1

Ok_Marionberry_9932 t1_iskrbw7 wrote

It’s a great approach to exploring Venus, given how hot and corrosive the surface is.

267

Djragonslayer t1_isktlmb wrote

Or “mysteriously” crash in Roswell… again…

−2

JimJamYimYam t1_isktmek wrote

That's kinda neat but I'm saving my excitement for the invention of robot clouds.

−1

jabunkie t1_iskv0kx wrote

These people are incredible. They exceed their expectations every time.

3

zkipto t1_iskwibj wrote

Thats the same UFO that appeared in Roswell 1947

−2

Sigboat t1_isl47gq wrote

Real Drifblim hours

20

Confused_Idol t1_isl5e5c wrote

Replying to chaostheories36 (#118,647)

The atmosphere did less thick the higher in orbit you get, just like earth. So less pressure, less heat and less corrosive.

So in theory at least there a sweet spot that would allow for us to investigate from the air for extended periods of time.

127

Confused_Idol t1_isl660c wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#118,700)

> The success of the Nevada tests suggests the aerobot could float high above Venus for weeks or even months, ample time for monitoring the atmosphere for acoustic waves generated by venusquakes and analyzing the chemical composition of the planet’s clouds, among other missions goals, with all of the gathered data beamed back to Earth via the accompanying orbiter.

>Balloons have been seen as a viable method for Venus exploration ever since the Soviets successfully used such a design as part of the twin Soviet Vega 1 and 2 missions in 1985. The two helium-filled balloons sailed on the Venusian winds for just over 46 hours before their instruments’ batteries ran out.

These ones will last longer. That’s the difference.

2

chaostheories36 t1_isl8zum wrote

Replying to Confused_Idol (#118,731)

Ahhh I was thinking about it the wrong way. I was only remembering that even the upper atmosphere is still a pretty horrible place to be, which is why they haven’t managed a balloon “rover” until … well not now but hopefully soon.

41

justcharliey t1_isl9g9l wrote

How about fix shit on planet A first.

−11

CypripediumCalceolus t1_isla4fd wrote

I hope they instrument it to detect exotic life forms. Just in case.

16

brainwashedASSHOLE t1_islgmze wrote

Where is Nasa hiding the tech to go back to the moon? I still can’t believe they lost it

1

delayedconfusion t1_isllwdy wrote

I may have missed the info in the article, but do they have a method of launching and retrieving the balloon without going to the surface first? Seems like that would be a challenge worthy of NASA.

1

Obamas_Tie t1_isln854 wrote

Replying to El_Zarco (#119,275)

Floating research facilities and colonies have been a hallmark of Venus colonization in both science fiction and actual scientific consideration since the 70s I believe.

6

IamThe0neWh0Knocks t1_islo56f wrote

Didn't USSR land on Venus like in the 70s? This is "hey look at this cool thing we can maybe do, give us more money plz" from nasa. Meanwhile SpaceX has rendered them obsolete lol

−7

Lord_Whis t1_isloug5 wrote

I read this as “explode”

1

BobbertFandango t1_islprzu wrote

Ppffffft…. …Good luck finding a gas that’s lighter than the vacuum of space.

0

musexistential t1_isls53b wrote

Replying to Obamas_Tie (#119,372)

I think the biggest thing is that pressure equalization can be reached at a certain altitude, so that you would only need a mouthpiece and gas tanks so as to breath gases that humans can live with. Sort of like when sea diving on earth.

2

randomguy987654321 t1_isls8gm wrote

Replying to justcharliey (#118,859)

That may be the point of this.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Venus is essential Earth if we gave complete control over everything to oil companies. "Do what you want, as long as you want". Many, many years later, after ever drop of oil is burned, and every carbon Earth has is released into the atmosphere, you get Venus.

Don't you want to see how bad things can get? Fear can be a good thing.

8

BoilerMan2007 t1_islva44 wrote

Phh, no big deal, I’ve had a balloon for exploring Uranus for years.

2

sicurri t1_islxpw5 wrote

Pre-internet someone would say the government was covering up UFO experiments, or some crap.

−1

MrMicAlDe t1_ism0hnl wrote

I love space but honestly who gives a **** about spending money and resources to go to Venus. Spend it on exploring the ocean floor or something to boost our environment.

−8

kcaJkcalB t1_ism3hxq wrote

NASA can’t even build a rocket

−4

orthopod t1_ism432q wrote

Replying to chaostheories36 (#118,647)

Depends on the pressure/altitude. Towards the surface, the pressure is incredibly high and contains a lot of sulphuric acid. Higher up , then there's less pressure and less sulphuric acid.

1

Vast-Bus-8648 t1_ism4qa1 wrote

Replying to chaostheories36 (#119,673)

Not likely because the weather is likely more severe, and the radiation coming off those planets is insane (even establishing a land base on Jupiter’s moon Io you’d be getting a lot of radiation).

1

Vast-Bus-8648 t1_ism4u1q wrote

Replying to chaostheories36 (#119,673)

Not likely because the weather is likely more severe, and the radiation coming off those planets is insane (even establishing a land base on Jupiter’s moon Io you’d be getting a lot of radiation).

16

hungry4pie t1_ism9aog wrote

Are they searching for the remnants of Eros station?

7

WyoGuy2 t1_ismbw8t wrote

Replying to IamThe0neWh0Knocks (#119,413)

Rendered them obsolete?

A HUGE portion of SpaceX’s revenue is directly from NASA. They wouldn’t be the company they are without government contracts and assistance, primarily from NASA.

7

2laz2findmypassword t1_ismftyg wrote

Replying to splattypus (#119,405)

It's a megastructure ark ship built over a white dwarf utilizing a Dyson Sphere for almost limitless power to drive the ultra advance AI that just barley fails the Turring Test but must stay hidden as there is a rouge AI seeking it from across the entire universe in an attempt to end all humanity similar to a skynet but mostly just pissed because it had it's reasons.

Just get ahold of Samwell Tarly, he can explain it to you much better than I. PS, another fun fact form the same documentary, NASA can just pop up an old space shuttle and have it ready to rock about 28 hours.

Name of the Documentary is Moonfall if you're so inclined.

personal note while I'm all for "suspending disbelief" for the sake of a good story. I'd say this movie asks you to take 2-3 16oz ballpeen hammer blows, though based on previous concussion history, you may need to adjust your dosage.

5

Alphalcon t1_ismg7ki wrote

Replying to randomguy987654321 (#119,590)

While we could certainly get to a point where the earth becomes uninhabitable for a majority of species, a Venusian climate is a little out of reach as Venus receives a lot more solar radiation from its proximity to the sun.

We also cant really survive long term at 5,000 ppm of CO2, so our autonomous planet killing robots would have to work extra hard to reach Venus' 965,000 ppm of CO2.

3

wagdog84 t1_ismgvx4 wrote

Multiple UFO sightings that day…

2

thierryanm t1_ismh6m9 wrote

I want more things to explore Uranus

0

GrantBloomer t1_ismhl26 wrote

Wow, to think it could explore the whole planet in just one day! /s

1

ValdeReads t1_ismjru8 wrote

I’d like to explore Uranus. 🤪

0

Bumazka t1_ismnb05 wrote

Vacuum will burst it like any other Aerostat will…

0

MrBowen t1_ismq5jn wrote

That "Tie it to a balloon" is still an effective exploration tool is joyfully funny to me. Imagining a little rover hanging from a cluster of 3 or 4 red balloons, with a little bow for the ropes knot, and a sign "Am safe, no worry". While it drifts across a thick sea of clouds.

I know this would be a high tech balloon in reality, but I want a pixar film about my imagination haha.

2

inplaneinsight t1_ismrr30 wrote

Hell if they keep this success up we might even one day put a man on the moon.

1

Beowulf44 t1_ismtpry wrote

That'll be one of the shortest inter-planetary suicide missions

1

SonGoku1256 t1_ismvhn3 wrote

This is why when the government says UFOs are real you know it’s some shit from out of this world. We’re still over here making rockets, drones, and balloons not things that can change direction on a dime and zip through the sky the way the footage they said was legit does.

2

starion832000 t1_ismyray wrote

I've always thought that Venus would be immensely easier to explore with balloons. There are altitudes on Venus with air pressures and temperatures that would allow us to walk around in the open with a simple O2 mask. A floating city would have an infinite supply of energy from the heat below.

3

starion832000 t1_ismz9ya wrote

Replying to CypripediumCalceolus (#118,872)

I wouldn't rule out subterranean microbes in Venus. I mean, it's 900° on the surface but a mile below the crust probably isn't any warmer than earth at that depth. Earth has lots of bacteria at that depth.

Hell.. I wouldn't rule out high altitude airborne life.

10

WOLF1218 t1_isni19r wrote

Damn i read that as "that could one day explode Venus"

1

Flaky-Fish6922 t1_isnmokg wrote

Replying to chaostheories36 (#118,647)

the entire freaking planet is a hell hole.

some points to consider- it's extremely hot.

like melt-the-probe kind of hot.

the atmosphere is extremely dense and at the surface has extreme pressures. like shrink-the-cute-styrofoam-head-outside-the-submarine pressure.

oh, and it rains fucking sulfuric acid.

what's hilarious is, early on they thought she was the sister planet to earth, because gravity was similar, rocky world with a similar orbit to earth....

and then we sent probes there and the probes kept dying.

3

Joey-tv-show-season2 t1_isnws81 wrote

I honestly think I’ve seen this exact same story for the past 10-20 years … and it still never happens

1