A quick update on the news, followed by a story of the first commercial spacecraft to fly to the moon. In 1997 a communications satellite was left in a useless geostationary transfer orbit. Using the small stationkeeping thrusters it was pushed into an orbit that would fly past the moon, correcting the inclination and raising the perigee. So while it wasn't intended to go there HGS-1 became the first commercial spacecraft to visit the moon. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpFem4pZyiI

I've been using these parts without really showing them off, so I figured I'd make a video just showing the Firespitter aircraft parts. It's a really nice set with properly implemented IVA models. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNTNtb9AJcg

NASA's new rocket has been in development for over a decade, arguably it's a soft continuation from the Constellation program using the 5 segment boosters and Orion capsule that began development in 2005. It's been a slow, expensive ride with the contractors milking their cost plus contracts for their one benefit. But now, it's on the pad, closed out and ready to launch as early as Monday morning on a trip around the moon that will test the rocket during launch and the spacecraft in space for 6 weeks before returning to earth with a make or break test of the heat shield and other recovery systems. Follow me on Twitter for more updates: https://twitter.com/DJSnM I have a discord server where I regularly turn up: https://discord.gg/zStmKbM If you really like what I do you can support me directly through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/scottmanley ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H93KDxYKeKU

I went flying in the back seat of a Yak-52 to find out all about flying in formation with a group of pilots calling themselves Dragon flight. This was specifically a practice session for a memorial flight for a recently deceased pilot featuring a missing man formation. This wasn't a military performance, just a bunch of experienced pilots with the required training doing flying close patterns in the sky, like they used to with their friend. There's a lot of specialized techniques and terminology involved, a lot of understanding and management of your position, orientation, velocity and of course energy. I flew with Hoagy, I brought the cameras, he flew the plane, narrated the process, and I filled in the gaps. Music: The Whole Other - 'Between The Drops' Unicorn Heads - 'Vital Whales' TrackTribe - 'Coastline' Quincas Moreira - 'Airborne' Jeremy Blake - 'Sunspots' TrackTribe - 'Monument' Follow me on Twitter for more updates: https://twitter.com/DJSnM I have a discord server where I regularly turn up: https://discord.gg/zStmKbM If you really like what I do you can support me directly through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/scottmanley ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPgY8uunYMo