[DeTomaso] NPC: space radiation and the interplanetary sports car fate

Sat Feb 10 11:08:17 EST 2018

When I saw the frame for supporting the Teslar, my first thought was it was needed to adjust the center of gravity of the payload.   Then during the launch, I find out it was adjusted to provide the best selfie!

In Lue of Bowie, Don Felder's "Heavy Metal" should have been played with Kenny at the wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GIiOsuDRFk

-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On Behalf Of Chuck and Linda Huber
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2018 8:11 AM
To: cengles at cox.net; Himes, Terry (397C)
Cc: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] NPC: space radiation and the interplanetary sports car fate

I might suggest "torn to pieces" is a little sensational.....

One might not that we have had space probes operating for 40 years (Voyager, Pioneer 10).  We have satellites in GEO orbits, and hardware being bombarded by radiation on the surface of the moon that haven't collapsed into piles of dust.

Terry did caveat it... "It's not quick"

I would suspect the organics / volatiles in the structure interior, tires, etc. would be the most affected, and likely more from the vacuum (volatiles boiling out or sublimating due to vacuum) than the radiation, but  I could be corrected.  Even if the structure of the vehicle was embrittled - this thing is under no load.  So IMHO...  it's just going to sit there.  A car will collapse under its own weight after 50 years of sitting outside (in the rain) here on earth, but that would not be the case in space.

Check back with us in 50 years.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: cengles at cox.net [mailto:cengles at cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 8, 2018 10:43 AM
To: terry.himes at jpl.nasa.gov
Cc: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] NPC: space radiation and the interplanetary sports car fate

Dear Terry and Larry,

                Thank you very much for your replies.

                Larry-- Egad, I forgot about the warranty coverage! 
You're right.

                Terry--I would be eager to hear your "Wheels on Mars" 
presentation at the Fun Rally.

                          Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles

PS:  If the Tesla crashed into Ceres and landed in Cerian ice, then could it rust?????

On Thu, Feb 8, 2018 at 10:58 AM, Himes, Terry (397C) wrote:

> Ha!  Chuck is baiting me. He knows I’ll take it.  ;-)
>
> First, I’m a computer science major and a spacecraft system engineer. 
> So…
>
> But with no oxygen there is probably no rust.  But radiation will 
> eventually breakdown the metal structure, causing it to become brittle 
> and fracture. Ionization. But it’s not quick.  Electronics are more 
> susceptible to this, which is why we must fly RAD-hardened 
> electronics, avionics and science instruments. Humans, going beyond 
> our magnetosphere (1m miles
> out) will be susceptible to intense radiation, as it will breakdown 
> human DNA and cause rapid cancer.  Which is why Elon is NOT signing up
> for his trip to Mars!   Smart. ;-)
>
> On another note, we calculated the trajectory of the spaceship Tesla, 
> and it might come close to the dwarf planet Ceres, where our Dawn 
> spacecraft is now. We don’t want anything impacting Ceres until we can 
> send a lander there and investigate Occator crater and that white 
> stuff. Ceres has LOTS of water!!
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJiw2NxqoBU&t=2s
>
> My current Mission Manager:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBiUWI1EesE
>
> Rover Status – Wheels On Mars:
> A presentation I’ve always wanted to give to POCA. We are closely 
> monitoring wheel damage. These wheels were milled from blocks of solid 
> aluminum, but are super thin. This was done to reduce mass, to escape 
> the gravity well we call Earth.
> But the pointy lava rock on the way up Mt Sharp has done some major 
> damage.
>
> We are now building Mars2020, here at JPL. It’s the next rover. A test 
> rover has been running around our Mars Yard for weeks now. The new 
> Flight Software (FSW) is learning how to drive more autonomously.
> Ok. Gotta get back to work.
>
> ciao4now
>
> Terry
>
>
>
>
> "A Purple Heart proves you were smart enough to hatch a plan,  stupid 
> enough to try it and lucky enough to survive!"
>  Terry W. Himes JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dawn Spacecraft Team 
> Rosetta Sequence Team Lead
> Phone: (818) 393-6261
> Cell:     (818) 653-8213
> thimes at jpl.nasa.gov
>
>
> On 2/8/18, 7:32 AM, "DeTomaso on behalf of cengles at cox.net" 
> <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com on behalf of 
> cengles at cox.net> wrote:
>
>         Dear Forum,
>                      I am hoping for Terry Himes comment about the 
> news item     regarding the interplanetary Tesla sports car headed 
> toward the asteroid     belt.  The new item says that, "scientists 
> believe that radiation will     tear the car into pieces within a 
> year."
>                      Can this be true?   Radiation tearing a car into 
> pieces     just like comic book stories??
>                      Can this be 21st century sports car equivalent 
> of.....rust????
>                                  Curious,  Chuck Engles

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