Where’s the boom?

Was that it? You think that was it? Think it’s over?(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

We were promised a boom. 

A BIG one. 

They warned us for days.

(“Thundershirt the dogs! Stuff cotton in kids’ ears! Prepare now. It’s coming!”)

First predictions were it would happen between 8 -12 noon. Then the windowed narrowed: 11:00a.m.- 12:00

(“It’s gonna be a BIG one. Will reverberate throughout the area. Warning! Warning!”)

(“Secure the china cabinet! Tie down small potted plants! Crate the cat! It will be explosive!”)

They even took great pains to especially warn the neighborhoods where most of the former/current astronauts have/had homes.

Seriously, I know many those guys are elderly now, but they have seen and put up with so much out of this world weirdness, this will shake them?

(“Beware. Traffic will be disrupted! It’s coming. And it’s gonna be BIG”)

I got busy and forgot.

Wait. It’s 2:00pm on Saturday.

The boom! Where’s the boom?

Molly Malamute with the hyper-hearing didn’t even turn over – or run to the door barking “‘Fight or flee. Let’s make a break for it” as she does for the smoke alarm.

Even the afternoon news anchors were disappointed.

Where’s the boom? Burst into another dimension?

Here’s the deal.  Out of this world things do occur around here.

NASA is pretty much directly across the lake from us.

If you were a star MLB pitcher, you could probably hit the complex with a rock.

NASA’s space engineers are working on living/working quarters for the moon and colonies beyond:

• There’s a giant water tank for practice working without gravity (Sometimes leased out for music videos/movies. NASA has to look around for cash once in a while. Not sure if it’s available for oligarchs/the elites’ kid’s parties yet… )
• Mars Rovers constructed here practice in deserts
• The Energy Systems Test Activity area is where the Engineering Directive decided run an internal pressure test with their inflatable lunar habitat module prototype…”weather permitting”.

Basically the habitat is a giant bouncy house or balloon.

They really need to know how much pressure it takes to blow it up – “Burst tests” are crucial for making decisions about material selection, component geometry, and other design elements – Looking for ones that are the weak and leak points when under pressure. 

Think of it like a controlled prairie fire done to prevent future disasters. As exploring space is hazardous, sensible to limit what risks you can.

Looks like there was a pressure leak here. Probably due to a low bid testing contractor during the design phase…(USPD/Commins.wikimedia.org)

So a huge explosive BOOM sound was expected as the engineers planned on totally pressuring it up until “That she blows!”.

We were warned “louder than a jackhammer or a rock concert” (? Really? Those require such a warning?….Anyone told rock performers and their lawyers?)

Only, nope. Nada. Nunca.

Not having much luck finding out what rings true abut what happened.

Was there just a sputter and a slow whistling balloon-style leak?

Has the area noise level gotten so loud with development that no one noticed one little addition? 

Was the test canceled?  And if so why? (I mean, after all the warning drama…)

This would distract anyone. Warnings probably needed.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Maybe it was the dear factor. The specially designed, noise canceling headsets hadn’t arrived.

No doubt the NASA game warden deer whisperer had to negotiate with PETA representing the NASA indigenous deer herd who “share” the grassy campus with spaced out humans.

The potential of species disturbing, ear shattering, hoof startling news of a BIG BOOM might have set all them all to vibrating. (Think of the fawns and pregnant deer moms birthing animals!)

If NASA can put a human in space, they can surely develop sound protection for deer…. 

Actually it was probably that “weather permitting”: the excessive heat factor. 

The plan was probably a low pressure test:  slowly increasing pressure and looking for the “breaking point(s)”.

Excessive heat like we are having (100+ F. Temps) produces its’ own pressure increases at an unknown/uncontrolled rate – like hot tires increase tire pressure/inflate more in summer. Added/uncontrolled variables interfere with accuracy.

Hotties always create problems.

See what I mean. Exploring new heights is always risky. (1898. USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Anyway, boom or bust, only big bang theories here

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Here’s a couple of articles: 

“NASA expects July 9 Pressure Test to be loud” (JSC/NASA.gov)

And for those who just want to crawl under a rock during this heat wave (Broke a 1919 record yesterday), here’s something / some place cool. Video, so you can watch it go! “Lone Star Flight Museum receives NASA Shuttle Mission Simulator Motion Base”  They walked it over like a giant dog. A bit of unassuming history that’s quietly been around since 1970. “The Motion base, displayed here, included the forward portion of the cockpit mounted on a hydraulically powered full motion system. It was used mostly for ascent and entry/landing training.”

NASA’s instructions on “How to Build a Satellite”. Hey, it’s summer. Best time for sky high dreams. (includes 2 Videos that are fair game for this challenge)

Well, you start like this. Hey, you got the rest of the summer to figure it out. Be the first on your block. Amaze your friends. (NASA/JPL Edu/USPD. gov product)

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