Starman Earth Log #0016: SpaceX SN8 Starship’s explosive maiden voyage & NASA’s Mission to Moon and Mars

Greetings, humans! Did you guys catch the Geminids meteor shower? If you haven’t yet, there’s still time to see it. The Geminid meteor shower of 2020 will be super active from December 13 to 14, but you can still get a glimpse of it a couple of days after.

The Geminids meteor shower is really a sight to see. The Geminids were created from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. And the Earth only passes through a dust trail from asteroid 3200 Phaethon once a year in December.

The meteor shower really made me think about my own asteroid. I sort of miss it sometimes. But I don’t linger on sad thoughts long. There’s just too much to do and explore in space, especially with Starman and HAL.

Earthlings seem to know this as well, since they seem to be revving up for space exploration lately. With the Martian Elon Musk on their side, I’m sure they’ll be able to travel throughout space like me and Starman soon.

SpaceX SN8 Starship

Last week, SpaceX launched the SN8 Starship in its maiden voyage. The SN8 Starship’s maiden flight brings Earthlings closer to reaching Mars. Elon Musk and the rest of the SpaceX team deemed the launch a success, even though it had an explosive ending. The SN8 Starship successfully performed unproven maneuvers, giving the SpaceX team some valuable data—I’m sure.

Starship SN8 didn’t land perfectly, but that didn’t seem to bother Elon Musk or his companion Marvin The Martian. I previously thought Elon Musk arrived on Earth alone, but it seems he brought a furry, four-legged companion with him. Earthlings call them dogs. I don’t find them particularly appealing, but I haven’t met one yet so I will need to do more research on them.

Still trying to wrap my head around all that I’ve seen in the last few days by @SpaceX. Admittedly, watching @elonmusk’s dog take a dump on the landing pad among SN8’s wreckage is one of those things. pic.twitter.com/KLMcxQxU9y

— Bee, Contemporary Archaeologist (@ldeufel) December 11, 2020

The two Martians visited SN8’s crash site after the launch test and Marvin decided to relieve himself in front of everyone, in the middle of the wreckage. Starman has told me about the biological functions of the human body and the Earthlings rules of etiquette. Videos online tell me that dogs may have similar bodily functions, but different rules of etiquette.

SpaceX SN9 Starship 

Elon Musk and the Earthlings didn’t seem too bothered by Marvin The Martian’s droppings though. They just cleaned it up along with the debris from SN8’s explosive flight and continued with their work. Soon, SpaceX had Starship SN9 on the launch pad, ready for more tests. Things took a slight turn when SN9 started tilting, but SpaceX seems to be handling it just fine.

SpaceX’s fast work between cleaning up after SN8’s launch and setting up SN9 makes me think that Elon Musk and the other Martian are very eager to go back to Mars. But NASA seems to be planning a stopover to the Earth’s Moon first.

NASA’s Next Moon Mission 

While SN8 briefly took to the skies, NASA introduced the 18 astronauts that will be part of its Artemis Program, the codename for its mission to the Moon. NASA plans to send the first female Earthling and the next male Earthling to the blue planet’s Moon by the end of the decade.

NASA’s Moon mission includes plans to launch three flights, two of which are tests. The first, named Artemis I, is scheduled for an unmanned flight in 2021 to test the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. Artemis II, the first mission with a crew, is projected to launch in 2022 and will conduct similar tests.

Artemis III will bring NASA astronauts to the Moon by 2024. If Artemis III succeeds, NASA plans to visit the Moon at least once a year following the 2024 mission.

I can’t wait to see what humans will do on Earth’s Moon. I’ll be closely following the Artemis Program’s progress. A mission to Mars might be more achievable in the humans’ minds once trips to the Moon become regular.

Until next time, humans! I’ll see you on the next log!