TJ Cizadlo
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tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
TJ Cizadlo
@tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
69 followers 58 following 120 posts
Arnie Holmes - Editor American Rocket News
He/Him
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tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
Looking back, I should have used my Loewy livery on the Boeing 2707-300
An FD Scale render of the Boeing 2707 with a paint scheme that is based on the Loewy livery used on the VC-137s after 1962 and the VC-25As
November 19, 2025 at 7:22 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
🌏 If you see this, quote your blue artwork! 🔵
A heavily modified ALASKA Class large cruiser in shipbucket style marked as "Kingdom of Hawai'i BB-3 Chiefess-Apostle Kapi'olani
November 18, 2025 at 4:44 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
A movie you've seen more than seven times with a gif
November 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
Sometimes people share with you some of the most awe inspiring concepts imaginable. HT to @eofpi.bsky.social for biblically accurate reusable rocket tankage.
ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19...
A stitched together image of a partially reusable rocket with a stretched S-IVB upper stage with an aerospike J-2, and blended body first stage made of multi-lobe RP-1 tank, two multi-lobe expendable LOX tanks, and powered by two F-1 engines. Stitched together from pages 9 and 10 of https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19680002466
October 30, 2025 at 5:44 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
By the time the FY78 testimony is being made however, NASA had decided gather the needed data from the firing tests using the main-propulsion test article with all three engines in real use rather than simulating the conditions at JSC. 12/
books.google.com/books?id=8ji...
An important test objective was added to the MPT program this past year, that is to obtain vibro-acoustic data during engine firings. Previously, response data was to have been obtained on an aft fuselage test article subjected to an acoustic noise environment in a Johnson Space Center (JSC) test facility. This test was deleted in favor of obtaining the data on the MPT article. Instrumentation is being added to the orbiter MPT article to measure the acoustic and vibration levels. The data will be used to verify analytical predictions of the dynamic response characteristics of the structure and the internal equipment vibration levels.
July 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
If we keep searching, we find that this remains the case through the FY77 testimony. 11/
books.google.com/books?id=iOy...
5. Vibroacoustic Testing - Vibroacoustic ground testing will be conducted to verify the analytical predictions of the dynamic response characteristics of the aft fuselage structure and its internal equipment when subjected to the vibration and acoustic noise environment produced by launch , lift -off and in- flight acoustic sources . An orbiter aft fuselage structural assembly will be utilized in the build up of the test article which will be essentially of flight configuration . A partial mid- fuselage section will also be attached to the aft section to complete the configura- tion of the test article . Following completion of the test program , the aft fuselage portion of the test article will be refurbished and utilized in the build up of a flight vehicle . This testing will be accomplished in the vibroacoustic test facility at JSC during the latter part of 1978 .
July 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
We also have, in the same testimony an actual designation for what the test article was called - AFTA "Aft Fuselage Test Article". This fits with none of designations being reused between articles. 9/ books.google.com/books?id=5U4...
Chart from page 420 of congressional testimony in 1974 entitled "Orbiter Project Schedule - OPS 03, REV 2 SUMMARY showing entries for OV1, STA, MPTA, OV2, AFTA, OV3, OV4, & OV5.
July 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
By 1974, we have the first notation that NASA is not going to manufacture forward or aft fuselage test articles for vibro-acoustic and thermal vacuum tests, and will instead use the components made for "Orbiter 3" [OV-103, later DISCOVERY] 8/

books.google.com/books?id=5U4...
Page 577 from Congressional testimony from 1974, showing a gantt chart, and a slide noting the deletion of certain major ground test articles from the program, and that instead NASA planed to use components from Orbiter 3 to perform the tests.
July 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
We also have Jenkins listing an entry for 096, but it does not call it an STA (that is reserved for 099, later OV-099 CHALLENGER). It does however reference it as "Aft Fuselage Static Load Test Article", with a cancellation in 1977. 5/
A GIF of Amy Pond saying "Ok Kids, this, is where it gets complicated" from the 2011 Dr. Who Comic Relief Special "Space"
July 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
I am only going to address 097 in that the sources that wikipedia cites (or rather, that wikipedia's sources cite) imply that it was a mid fuselage test article. Other references agree, as does congressional testimony. 3/ books.google.com/books?id=5U4...
Page 659 from congressional testimony shows the location on an orbiter that was selected as a representative structure of the mid fuselage, and a picture of said structure after completion.
July 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
If you look up Wikipedia, the entry for that designation is "ECLSS Structural Test Article", and that the NASA history office has no official record of it or "STA-097" (a "vibro-acoustic structural test article"). 2/ web.archive.org/web/20090320...
A Table reading: Test Articles Designation Vehicle OV-095 Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) mockup STA-096 ECLSS Structural Test Article STA-097 Vibro Acoustic Structural Test Article OV-098[b] Pathfinder MPTA-098 Main Propulsion Test Article The data on this table is WRONG for 095, 096, and 097. 095 should be SAIL-095, and the others are to be addressed in this thread. STA-096: Research revealed no records of an OV-096 non-flight ready orbiter. A mock-up of the orbiter was built at NASA’s Downey Plant, California. However, this was not part of the OV nomenclature. A Boeing Shuttle manager believes STA-096 was an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) test article that was cancelled prior to delivery. The NASA History Office has no record of STA-096, and its current state and disposition are unknown. STA-097: This structural test article is listed in NASA records as a Vibro Acoustic (Mid Fuselage) Test Article. However, like STA-096, the NASA History Office has no record of STA-097, and its current state and disposition are unknown.
July 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
Sometimes, you find slide decks that tell you internal studies were being made, and you want so much to be able to read those studies, but you know it is unlikely you ever will:
commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcont...
Image shows a slide with a title of "OV106?". Slide contains an image of a shuttle gliding in a cloudy sky, with the text: "-Current Boeing internal R&D effort evaluating schedule and cost to produce a "built to print" replacement using 21st century manufacturing capabilities"
July 2, 2025 at 12:39 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
Gif from Apollo 13 with the text "You, sir, are a steely-eyed missile man"
June 29, 2025 at 3:16 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
HT to a friend who wishes to remain anonymous
A galaxy brain image series with the first panel reading: "Trying to deport one million immigrants in a year by raiding Home Depot parking lots". The second panel reads: "Trying to deport one million immigrants in a year by raiding Home Depot parking lots and violating Posse Comitatus when it doesn't work". The third panel reads: "Trying to deport one million immigrants in a year by raiding Home Depot parking lots and violating Posse Comitatus when it doesn't work, with troops who know the people they're supposed to oppress". The fourth panel reads: "Trying to deport one million immigrants in a year by raiding Home Depot parking lots and violating Posse Comitatus when it doesn't work, with troops who know the people they're supposed to oppress and stiffing those troops out of their pay."
June 8, 2025 at 11:44 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
How much did a shuttle flight cost?

The marginal cost in FY02 to non-Shuttle NASA programs was just $70 Million.
www.everycrsreport.com/files/200204...
The IMCE (“Young”) Task Force. At the urging of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NASA created the ISS Management and Cost Evaluation (IMCE) Task Force in July 2001. Headed by retired Lockheed Martin executive Tom Young, the task force was chartered to evaluate ISS program management and cost estimates. IMCE was a subunit of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). The task force released its report on November 2, 2001 [http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/youngrep.pdf], concluding that NASA’s estimate for FY2002-2006 of $8.3 billion to finish the “U.S. core complete” stage was not credible. The task force called on NASA to make significant management and cost estimating changes by June 2002. IMCE viewed the next two years as a period for NASA to demonstrate credibility. If it does, a decision could be made to restore the CRV and Habitation Module (or something similar, perhaps contributed by another partner under a barter agreement) as “enhancements.” See CRS Report RL31216 for more on IMCE. NASA has not released a formal response to the IMCE report yet, although it is implementing some of its recommendations. In one area, the result is not exactly what IMCE had in mind. IMCE recommended that the number of shuttle flights per year in support of ISS be cut to four. IMCE estimated that would generate $668 million in savings over 5 years that could be applied to ISS. NASA followed the recommendation to reduce the shuttle flight rate to ISS to four per year, but allocated all of the savings to the shuttle program itself. Additional shuttle flights can be purchased by other NASA program offices at $70 million per launch (the marginal shuttle launch cost). If the ISS program needs more than four flights per year, therefore, it could pay for additional flights. In essence, instead of adding money to the ISS budget, the flight rate change could increase ISS costs is more than four flights per year are necessary.
April 14, 2025 at 3:19 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
"Mom, can we have Soyuz?"
"We have Soyuz at home."
Soyuz at home:
(JSC 74-FM-80)
Image shows to rockets, one of which with a five-SRB first stage, and the other with a four-SRB first stage. The caption reads Figure 1. - Representative layout of four-and-five-SRB-first-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle. Image is from NASA JSC Internal Note 74-FM-80 "Space Shuttle Derived Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle"
November 23, 2024 at 8:42 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to save you. Who is coming to save you?

How saved I am is dependent on if the old man thinks of me as family...
The Battlestar Galactica season 4 promotional image referenced as "The Last Supper" for the layout being shared with the DaVinci work of the same name. From left to right we have President Laura Roslin, Natalie Six, Col. Saul Tigh, Quorum Member Lee Adams, Gaius Baltar, Caprica Six, Kara Thrace, Sam Anders, Galen Tyrol, Lt. Sharon Agathon, Captain Karl Agathon, and Admiral Bill Adama, with a background of the hangar deck aboard Galactica.
November 12, 2024 at 2:00 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
If you see this, share a vehicle!

Sailing Yacht 𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 (in 1936 rigging).
October 31, 2024 at 9:46 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
I was #139,131. Not quite in the first 1% of the first ten million, but well in the first 2%.
Image reads "Celebrating 10M users #139,131 TJ Cizadlo @tj-cizadlo.bsky.social Joined Jun 21, 2023
September 17, 2024 at 2:51 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
The second (story) post in The Dream Survives is now up! www.alternatehistory.com/forum/thread...
April 1, 2024 at 9:11 AM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
T-32 Hours.
www.alternatehistory.com/forum/thread...
A Spaceship Has Landed On Earth. It Came From Rockwell.
March 30, 2024 at 8:01 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
We Are GO For Auto Sequence Start
[April 1st, 2024, 0000EDT]
Image contains the test "Space Transportation System Cargo Element (Shuttle-C)" with the Rockwell stylized "C" Device, and a render of a Shuttle-C Launch
March 28, 2024 at 8:36 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
From the Creative Team that brought you Rockwell Flyer, Morning of the Mapleleaf, Last of the Clippers, Black Gemini, & Boldly Going comes an all new Alternate History Adventure.

Launching April 1st, 2024
A report titled "Pricing Options for the Space Shuttle, March 1991" from the US Congressional Budget Office, with a picture of Space Shuttle Challenger in black and white.
March 25, 2024 at 8:46 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
Looks like the Hudson one is called "Egress" per page 114 of NASA CR-2018-220445 (NTRS 20190023004):
Image shows a lander on the surface of Mars with the Caption "Egress By Paul Hudson." A page number of 114 is located at the bottom of the image. The image is from NASA NTRS Document #20190023004.
December 24, 2023 at 9:42 PM
tj-cizadlo.bsky.social
Most good timeline ideas, and many terrible ones, result in a Gantt Chart being made.

This is probably the latter, and I can't even blame it on anyone else.
Image shows a Gantt Chart running from 1993 through 2023, with 16 different entities moving over time.
July 15, 2023 at 2:29 AM