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ilovemilestellersmoustache · 19 days ago

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Country Boy’s Dream Girl

Jake Seresin x Reader

WC: 2K

Summary: Jake meets an old friend at the bar while visiting his family in Texas

Jake "Hangman" Seresin sat back in his worn leather chair, the cool breeze from the open window brushing against his skin as he stared at the familiar yet distant skyline of San Diego. The golden hour light filtered through the palm trees outside, casting long shadows over the simple furnishings of his rental home. The city’s endless sunshine and soft waves, which had once seemed idyllic, now felt like a constant reminder of something missing. The rhythmic crash of the ocean against the shore, the warm breeze carrying the scent of salt, all of it should have been comforting, but lately, it only amplified the restlessness simmering within him.

His gaze drifted over the distant horizon, but his thoughts were elsewhere—somewhere filled with rolling hills and wide-open skies. Austin, Texas. That’s where his heart kept pulling him. San Diego, with its picture-perfect beaches, had served him well, but it never felt like home. Home was where the dusty trails stretched out beneath his boots, where the heat wrapped around you like a blanket, and the sound of cicadas filled the evening air. It was where the people knew you, really knew you, not just your call sign. It had been months since the Dagger Squad's last mission, and though the Navy had served as a distraction something in him felt restless. San Diego was nice but it wasn’t home. Home was Texas.

His phone buzzed on the wooden table beside him, pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced down, the screen lighting up with a message from his sister: "Can’t wait to see you! The kids have been asking about Uncle Jake nonstop."

Jake’s lips curled into a smile, soft but genuine. He loved his sisters and their families, loved the rowdy chaos of his nieces and nephews whenever he visited. They always made him feel grounded, like no matter how high he flew or how fast he lived, they would always be his soft landing. And now, after months of jet-setting and the endless pace of military life, he was more than ready to touch down for a while.

The Navy had given him the excitement and adrenaline he craved, flying high above the clouds, pushing the limits of speed and skill. But even in the thrill of flight, there was always the need for a safe landing—a place to return to. For Jake, that place had always been Austin. After months of deployments and the constant go-go-go of military life, the thought of heading home to his roots felt like a breath of fresh air.

Jake’s flight touched down at Austin-Bergstrom Airport late in the afternoon. The moment he stepped off the plane, the thick humidity greeted him like an old friend. The heat clung to his skin, not oppressively, but with a warmth that felt familiar, grounding. As he made his way through the terminal, the sounds of Austin wrapped around him—the twang of country music playing softly in the background, the faint drawl in people’s voices. It all felt like slipping into a favorite pair of boots, worn in and perfectly molded to fit.

His parents were waiting for him just past security, their faces lighting up as soon as they saw him. His mother wrapped him in a tight hug, the smell of her familiar perfume tugging at memories of childhood, while his father clapped him on the shoulder, his grip firm, reassuring.

As they drove home, the landscape of Texas unfolded around them—endless fields of wildflowers, the horizon stretching out beneath a brilliant blue sky. They talked about everything and nothing, the conversation easy, the silence between them filled with the comfort of people who didn’t need to fill every space with words.

"Y’all planning on going out tonight?" his dad asked, his eyes cutting over from the driver’s seat with a knowing smirk.

Jake’s mother chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with the same mischief she had always had. "You know his old friends won’t let him stay in on a Friday night."

Jake grinned, a flood of memories rushing back—nights spent at the local bar, a spot they’d practically lived in during their teenage years. The steady beat of country music in the background, the clink of beer bottles, and the easy banter between friends. His high school buddies, the ones who had stayed in Austin and the ones who had left but always came back, were more than just friends—they were family, just like Austin was more than a place; it was home.

"You know me," Jake said, his grin widening. "Can’t say no to a good ol’ night out with the guys."

By the time he arrived at the bar that evening, the sky had darkened into a deep, inky blue, the stars twinkling above like old friends. The neon lights outside the bar flickered, casting a colorful glow over the parking lot filled with trucks. The familiar hum of country music drifted out from inside, mixing with the scent of barbecue from the joint next door. As Jake stepped inside, the sights and sounds hit him all at once—the twang of a guitar, the hum of voices, the scent of spilled beer and whiskey mingling with worn leather and sweat.

The bar was filled with familiar faces, people he hadn’t seen in years but who greeted him like no time had passed at all. But amidst the laughter and catching up, his eyes landed on one person who made the world around him seem to slow down.

Y/N stood near the bar, her laughter carrying over the crowd as she tossed her head back, the kind of laugh that turned heads. She looked every bit like the girl he remembered but with something more, something that drew him in like a magnet. Her long, sun-kissed hair cascaded down her back, her low-rise denim shorts showing off tanned, toned legs. She wore worn-in cowboy boots and a tank top that fit her perfectly, effortlessly blending casual with a kind of understated allure.

Jake couldn’t look away.

Jake had always remembered her as the wild, untamed spirit from high school—the girl who could be the life of the party one moment and disappear into the Texas wilderness the next. She was known as the princess of the school coming from a prim and proper family, the epitome of a southern belle Y/N was. Till her family looked away then Y/N wasn’t just a pretty face anymore; She wasn’t like the other girls who strutted around in heels and short skirts, playing the part of arm candy for boys who didn’t care about anything but looks. She was the kind of girl who could drive a four-wheeler through an old red road, cranking Curtis Loew, line dance until the sun came up, bonfires out in the fields and tailgates. If that was what anyone was looking for they wouldn’t have too look any further. She’d always had a wild side that set her apart, a fire that made her untouchable to anyone who couldnt match her energy. One that attracted attention but also scared off anyone who wasn’t up for the ride.

And Jake? Jake was up for it.

As he watched her now, twirling on the dance floor with her friends, her cowboy boots scuffing the wooden floor as she moved to the beat. She was all energy. Jake felt something stir deep in his chest. She was untamed, all energy and movement, a force of nature that was impossible to ignore. When she grabbed the mic for karaoke and belted out an old country tune, the crowd cheered her on, her voice unpolished but full of heart. She commanded the room without even trying. She wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t need to be. She was magnetic.

Jake realized he’d been staring at her all night, and for the first time he felt nervous. He’d flown high-speed jets, faced impossible odds, but this—walking up to Y/N after all these years—felt like a leap into the unknown.

Finally, after another round of drinks and a deep breath, he stood, squaring his shoulders. Come on, Seresin. He told himself. It’s just Y/N.

her eyes met his, that slow, easy smile spreading across her lips, Jake knew this wasn’t just a casual encounter. This was something more.

As he approached her, she caught his eye and smiled, the kind of smile that could stop traffic. “Well, if it isn’t Jake Seresin,” she said, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement. “Been a while, hasn’t it?”

Jake grinned. “Yeah, it has. You look good, Y/N. Still stealing the spotlight, I see.”

She laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Oh, you know me. Can’t help it. What brings you back to Austin? Thought you were too busy saving the world these days.”

Jake shrugged. “Home’s always home. Figured I’d come back for a few weeks, see the family. And it’s good to see you too.”

Jake chuckled, trying to play it cool as he leaned in closer, resting his elbow on the bar beside her. “Can’t stay away from Texas too long. It’s in my blood, you know that.” His eyes lingered on her a moment longer than necessary. “Besides, I had to see if Austin was still the same.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, tilting her head just slightly. “Still the same? You think Austin’s the only thing that’s changed, Jake?”

Her words hung between them, the weight of their shared history filling the space. Back in high school, Jake had been the golden boy—the one who everyone thought would soar higher than anyone. He had, of course. But in doing so, he’d left everything behind, including the people who knew him before he was “Hangman.” And Y/N, with her rebellious streak and free spirit, had been the one he never quite figured out how to speak to.

“Guess I’m here to find out,” he said, his voice softer now, more serious as he met her gaze head-on. “What about you? Still causing trouble wherever you go?”

Y/N laughed, the sound rich and full of life. “Trouble follows me, Jake. You should know that by now.”

The banter was easy, familiar, but beneath it all was an undercurrent of something deeper. They’d always had that between them—an unspoken connection that neither had fully explored. Back then, life had been all about fast cars, late nights, and chasing whatever adventure they could find. But now, as adults, the stakes felt different.

Y/N’s eyes sparkled. “Well, it’s good to see you too, Jake.” She took a sip of her drink, then set it down. “You wanna dance? Or are you just gonna stand there looking pretty?”

Jake laughed, feeling the last of his nerves dissolve. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Y/N hesitated for only a split second before placing her hand in his. “Alright, Seresin,” she said, a teasing edge in her voice, “but don’t think you can keep up just because you can fly a jet.”

The two of them moved out onto the dance floor, the familiar beat of a George Strait song playing in the background. Jake hadn’t danced in ages, but it came back to him quickly. And Y/N? She moved like she was born on the dance floor, guiding him through the steps, her body close to his. It was easy, comfortable, and for a moment, everything else faded away—the noise, the crowd, the years between them.

“So,” Y/N said, her voice light but her eyes searching his. “How’s life been treating you, Mr. Navy Pilot? Saving the world one flight at a time?”

Jake smirked, spinning her effortlessly before pulling her back into his arms. “Something like that. The flying’s great, but it’s not all action movies and glory like people think.”

She nodded, her expression softening. “I bet. It’s gotta be hard being up there all the time, away from everything.”

Jake didn’t answer right away. There was something in the way she said “away from everything” that hit him harder than he expected. Because it wasn’t just about flying; it was about what he’d left behind—who he’d left behind. Austin, his family, his friends… Y/N. For years, he’d been chasing the thrill of the skies, but now that he was grounded, here with her, he realized how much he’d missed what was right in front of him.

“Yeah,” he said quietly, looking down at her. “It is.”

For a moment, they just moved together, the music carrying them as the world around them blurred. It felt natural, like they’d been here a hundred times before, even though they hadn’t. And maybe that’s what made it feel so right.

As the song came to an end, Jake reluctantly let her go, but not before he caught the flicker of something in her eyes—something that mirrored the way he was feeling. This wasn’t just a casual reunion, and they both knew it.

Y/N’s eyes flickered with something he couldn’t quite read, but before she could respond, the song ended, and the moment was interrupted. The crowd cheered as another round of karaoke started up, and Y/N’s friends called her over.

“Looks like they need me,” she said with a smile. “But hey, don’t be a stranger, Jake. It’s been nice catching up.”

Jake watched her walk away, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn’t ready to let her go, not yet. So, in a burst of confidence, he called out to her.

“Wait! How about a duet?”

Y/N turned around, surprised. “A duet? You sing now?”

Jake smirked. “No, but I figure you could make me look good.”

She laughed, walking back over to him. “Alright, Seresin. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Later that night, after they’d belted out a slightly off-key version of a Kenny Chesney song and shared a few more dances, Jake couldn’t stop thinking about Y/N. She was like a sky full of stars, lighting up everything around her, making him feel like maybe—just maybe—he could have something real with her.

Before he could overthink it, Jake spoke. “What do you say we get out of here? Maybe take a drive? Catch up somewhere quieter.”

Y/N’s smile widened, that familiar glint of mischief in her eyes. “You sure you can handle that, Seresin? I don’t wanna be responsible for getting you into trouble on your first night back.”

Jake grinned, already reaching for his keys. “Trust me, Y/N. I’ve been in plenty of trouble, but I think I can handle whatever you’ve got in mind.”

The two of them ended up in Jake’s truck, windows down, the warm Texas night air rushing in as they cruised down a familiar country road. The radio played softly, but neither of them paid much attention to it. Instead, they talked—really talked. About everything and nothing, about what they’d been up to, the paths their lives had taken, and all the things that had changed since high school. The cool Texas night air wrapping around them, Jake felt the urge to pull her close, to kiss her under the stars like some kind of old country song in his old tee and faded jeans. But he held back, not wanting to rush things.

Y/N told him about her life in Austin, about the business she’d started—something Jake never would’ve guessed she’d do, but somehow made perfect sense. She still had that wild streak, but there was a groundedness to her now, too. She had roots, something Jake had always admired from afar but never quite managed to plant himself.

“You seem happy here,” Jake said after a while, glancing over at her as they pulled off the road, parking under a wide-open sky filled with stars.

“I am,” Y/N replied, looking out at the horizon. “It’s not always easy, but I love it here… It’s home.”

Jake nodded, the word “home” settling in his chest like a weight. Home. That’s what he’d been chasing, wasn’t it? Not just a place, but a feeling—a sense of belonging. And sitting here, with Y/N by his side, it was starting to feel like maybe he’d found it.

She was this country boys dream girl.

#jake seresin #glen powell #glen powell x reader #tyler owens #tyler owens x reader #jake seresin x reader #miles teller #bradley bradshaw x reader #top gun maverick #natasha trace #bob floyd #bob floyd x reader #twisters #Spotify

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yourmomsawh0r3 · 5 months ago

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Riley Green X S!nger fem reader

Riley had always loved the road. The hum of the bus wheels, the blur of landscapes passing by, and the energy of performing live for his fans were all parts of the life he adored. But this tour was different. It had a new, exciting edge to it, and the reason was Y/N L/N.

Y/N was an up-and-coming artist with a voice that was both raw and enchanting. Her music had a soulful depth that resonated with audiences, and her lyrics were poignant and heartfelt. Riley had noticed her talent early on and invited her to open for his tour, knowing she would captivate the crowd just as much as he did. What he hadn’t anticipated was how captivated he would become by her.

Rumors had started to spread like wildfire. Fans and industry insiders alike speculated about Riley and Y/N’s relationship. The two of them seemed inseparable, often seen laughing and talking backstage, and the chemistry between them was undeniable. Then came the whispers about a duet a song they had supposedly written together. Fans were buzzing with excitement, and the anticipation was building up to a fever pitch.

Riley and Y/N had been trying to keep things under wraps. They cherished the moments they had in private, away from the prying eyes of the world. They spent late nights writing music, sharing stories, and slowly falling in love. Their song, “You Look Like You Love Me,” was the culmination of their shared experiences and emotions, a melody that told their story.

As the tour progressed, the day of their big reveal grew closer. Tonight, they would perform their song together for the first time, and Riley had something special planned. They had kept their relationship a secret for long enough, and he was ready to share his feelings with the world.

Backstage, just before the show, Riley found Y/N in her dressing room. She was sitting in front of the mirror, her guitar resting on her lap, looking more nervous than he had ever seen her. Riley walked in, his presence immediately calming her.

“Hey,” he said softly, sitting down beside her. “You ready for this?”

Y/N looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. “I think so. Are you?”

Riley took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “We’ve got this. The fans are going to love the song, and they’re going to love us together. I promise.”

They spent a few more minutes together, going over the song one last time before it was time to take the stage. The venue was packed, the crowd buzzing with anticipation. Y/N performed her set flawlessly, her voice captivating everyone in the room. Then it was Riley’s turn. He took the stage with his usual charisma, performing his hits and thrilling the audience.

Finally, the moment arrived. Riley paused his set and addressed the crowd. “I’ve got a special treat for y’all tonight,” he announced, his voice echoing through the arena. “There’s a new artist I want to introduce to you, someone incredibly talented and very special to me. Please welcome Y/N L/N!”

The crowd erupted in applause as Y/N walked back on stage, her guitar slung over her shoulder. Riley joined her, his guitar in hand, and they began to play “You Look Like You Love Me.” Their voices blended perfectly, the chemistry between them palpable. The audience was mesmerized, completely drawn into the intimate performance.

As they reached the chorus, Riley stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Y/N’s. The lyrics spoke of a love that couldn’t be hidden, a connection that was undeniable. And then, as the final notes of the song echoed through the venue, Riley made his move.

He gently set his guitar down and walked over to Y/N, pulling her close. The crowd held its breath, sensing something monumental was about to happen. Riley looked deep into Y/N’s eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her.

The arena erupted into cheers and applause, the fans going wild. Flashbulbs popped, capturing the moment for eternity. Riley and Y/N stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around them fading away. In that instant, everything felt right.

As they pulled away, Riley took the microphone once more. “I guess the rumors are true,” he said with a grin, looking at Y/N with pure adoration. “We wrote that song together, and it means a lot to both of us. And yes, we’re together. She’s not just an incredible artist; she’s the love of my life.”

The crowd roared in approval, their cheers echoing through the night. Y/N, blushing and beaming, took the microphone from Riley. “Thank you all so much,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “This tour has been an amazing journey, and sharing this moment with you all is something we’ll never forget.”

The rest of the concert was a blur of energy and excitement. Riley and Y/N performed with a newfound intensity, their love fueling their music. As the night came to a close, they stood together on stage, hand in hand, basking in the adoration of their fans.

Backstage, as the adrenaline began to fade, Riley and Y/N found a quiet moment alone. “We did it,” Riley said, his voice filled with awe and gratitude.

Y/N smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. “Yeah, we did. And it was perfect.”

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, they knew that this was just the beginning. Their love and music would continue to grow, and together, they would face whatever came their way. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: they would travel it together, hand in hand, their hearts forever intertwined. The concert was over, and the crowd had slowly trickled out of the venue, leaving behind an empty but still electrified space. Riley and Y/N had basked in the afterglow of their performance, enjoying the lingering cheers and applause that had filled the arena. But now, as the night deepened and the lights dimmed, it was just the two of them again.

The tour bus was parked out back, away from the commotion of the fans and crew. It was their sanctuary, a place where they could be themselves without the prying eyes of the world. As they climbed aboard, the hum of the engine and the gentle swaying motion provided a comforting backdrop.

Riley closed the door behind them, the click of the latch signaling the start of their private time. The interior of the bus was cozy, with plush seating and warm lighting that cast a soft glow over everything. Y/N was still buzzing from the performance, her heart racing from the adrenaline and the kiss they had shared on stage.

Riley turned to her, his eyes dark with a mix of desire and affection. "You were amazing tonight," he said, his voice low and husky.

Y/N smiled, her cheeks still flushed from the excitement. "So were you," she replied, stepping closer to him. The air between them was charged with an electric tension, a palpable heat that seemed to grow with each passing second.

Riley reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. His touch sent a shiver down her spine, and she leaned into him, craving more of his closeness his lips inches from hers.

Before she could respond, Riley closed the distance, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. It was as if all the pent-up emotions of the evening were pouring out, a fiery mix of love and desire that consumed them both. Y/N wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.

Riley's hands roamed over her back, exploring the curves of her body through the thin fabric of her dress. The intensity of his touch sent waves of heat through her, and she responded in kind, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed against him.

They moved together, a tangle of limbs and heated breaths, until they reached the back of the bus. Riley guided her to the bed, gently laying her down on the soft sheets. He hovered over her for a moment, his eyes locking onto hers with a look of pure adoration and desire.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N nodded, her heart pounding with anticipation. "I've never been more sure," she replied, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach.

With a deep, rumbling groan, Riley captured her lips again, his hands beginning to explore her body with more urgency. He slid the straps of her dress off her shoulders, revealing more of her soft skin. He kissed a trail down her neck, savoring the taste of her, the warmth of her skin beneath his lips.

Y/N's hands found the hem of his shirt, tugging it upwards until he pulled back just long enough to strip it off. She marveled at the sight of him, his toned muscles illuminated by the soft light. She traced her fingers over his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart under her touch.

Riley's hands found the zipper of her dress, slowly pulling it down until the fabric pooled around her waist. He kissed his way down her collarbone, his lips leaving a trail of fire in their wake. When he reached the swell of her breasts, he paused, looking up at her with a smoldering gaze.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice filled with awe.

Y/N blushed under his intense gaze, her body aching for more of his touch. "Riley, please," she murmured, her voice breathless with need.

He didn't need any further encouragement. With a swift, fluid motion, he removed the rest of her dress, leaving her in just her underwear. His hands roamed over her exposed skin, eliciting a moan from her as he kissed and caressed every inch of her.

Y/N's fingers fumbled with the button of his jeans, her urgency mirroring his. Riley helped her, quickly shedding the rest of his clothes until they were both bare, their bodies pressed together in a heated embrace. The sensation of skin against skin was almost overwhelming, the intensity of their connection taking her breath away.

Riley's hands were everywhere, exploring, teasing, and driving her wild with need. He kissed her deeply, his tongue tangling with hers in a dance of passion. When he finally moved lower, his mouth trailing kisses down her stomach, Y/N could barely contain her desire.

"Riley," she gasped, her fingers gripping the sheets as his lips found the sensitive spot between her thighs. The sensation was almost too much to bear, and she cried out, her body arching towards him.

Riley took his time, savoring every moment, every sound she made. When he finally moved back up, positioning himself above her.

“I love you,” he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

“I love you too,” she replied, her voice shaking with the intensity of her feelings.

With a gentle, yet insistent motion, Riley entered her, the sensation sending a shockwave of pleasure through both of them. They moved together in perfect harmony, their bodies finding a rhythm that was both urgent and tender. Each thrust, each touch, each kiss brought them closer to the edge, their connection deepening with every moment.

The world outside ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, lost in their own world of passion and love. As the intensity built, their movements became more frantic, driven by an overwhelming need to be as close as possible.

When they finally reached the peak, it was a wave of pure ecstasy that crashed over them, leaving them breathless and spent. Riley collapsed beside her, pulling her into his arms as they lay there, their bodies still entwined.

For what felt like ages, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the steady beat of Riley’s heart a comforting rhythm against her cheek. The world outside could wait. For now, it was just the two of them, lost in each others eyes.

#riley green #riley green x reader #riley green smut #riley green fanfiction #riley green imagine #riley green x female reader #Spotify

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 3 months ago

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Here's how Curiosity's sky crane changed the way NASA explores Mars

Twelve years ago, NASA landed its six-wheeled science lab using a daring new technology that lowers the rover using a robotic jetpack.

NASA's Curiosity rover mission is celebrating a dozen years on the red planet, where the six-wheeled scientist continues to make big discoveries as it inches up the foothills of a Martian mountain. Just landing successfully on Mars is a feat, but the Curiosity mission went several steps further on Aug. 5, 2012, touching down with a bold new technique: the sky crane maneuver.

A swooping robotic jetpack delivered Curiosity to its landing area and lowered it to the surface with nylon ropes, then cut the ropes and flew off to conduct a controlled crash landing safely out of range of the rover.

Of course, all of this was out of view for Curiosity's engineering team, which sat in mission control at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, waiting for seven agonizing minutes before erupting in joy when they got the signal that the rover landed successfully.

The sky crane maneuver was born of necessity: Curiosity was too big and heavy to land as its predecessors had—encased in airbags that bounced across the Martian surface. The technique also added more precision, leading to a smaller landing ellipse.

During the February 2021 landing of Perseverance, NASA's newest Mars rover, the sky crane technology was even more precise: The addition of something called terrain relative navigation enabled the SUV-size rover to touch down safely in an ancient lake bed riddled with rocks and craters.

Evolution of a Mars landing

JPL has been involved in NASA's Mars landings since 1976, when the lab worked with the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, on the two stationary Viking landers, which touched down using expensive, throttled descent engines.

For the 1997 landing of the Mars Pathfinder mission, JPL proposed something new: As the lander dangled from a parachute, a cluster of giant airbags would inflate around it. Then three retrorockets halfway between the airbags and the parachute would bring the spacecraft to a halt above the surface, and the airbag-encased spacecraft would drop roughly 66 feet (20 meters) down to Mars, bouncing numerous times—sometimes as high as 50 feet (15 meters)—before coming to rest.

It worked so well that NASA used the same technique to land the Spirit and Opportunity rovers in 2004. But that time, there were only a few locations on Mars where engineers felt confident the spacecraft wouldn't encounter a landscape feature that could puncture the airbags or send the bundle rolling uncontrollably downhill.

"We barely found three places on Mars that we could safely consider," said JPL's Al Chen, who had critical roles on the entry, descent, and landing teams for both Curiosity and Perseverance.

It also became clear that airbags simply weren't feasible for a rover as big and heavy as Curiosity. If NASA wanted to land bigger spacecraft in more scientifically exciting locations, better technology was needed.

Rover on a rope

In early 2000, engineers began playing with the concept of a "smart" landing system. New kinds of radars had become available to provide real-time velocity readings—information that could help spacecraft control their descent. A new type of engine could be used to nudge the spacecraft toward specific locations or even provide some lift, directing it away from a hazard. The sky crane maneuver was taking shape.

JPL Fellow Rob Manning worked on the initial concept in February 2000, and he remembers the reception it got when people saw that it put the jetpack above the rover rather than below it.

"People were confused by that," he said. "They assumed propulsion would always be below you, like you see in old science fiction with a rocket touching down on a planet."

Manning and colleagues wanted to put as much distance as possible between the ground and those thrusters. Besides stirring up debris, a lander's thrusters could dig a hole that a rover wouldn't be able to drive out of. And while past missions had used a lander that housed the rovers and extended a ramp for them to roll down, putting thrusters above the rover meant its wheels could touch down directly on the surface, effectively acting as landing gear and saving the extra weight of bringing along a landing platform.

But engineers were unsure how to suspend a large rover from ropes without it swinging uncontrollably. Looking at how the problem had been solved for huge cargo helicopters on Earth (called sky cranes), they realized Curiosity's jetpack needed to be able to sense the swinging and control it.

"All of that new technology gives you a fighting chance to get to the right place on the surface," said Chen.

Best of all, the concept could be repurposed for larger spacecraft—not only on Mars, but elsewhere in the solar system. "In the future, if you wanted a payload delivery service, you could easily use that architecture to lower to the surface of the moon or elsewhere without ever touching the ground," said Manning.

TOP IMAGE: This artist’s concept shows how NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover was lowered to the planet’s surface using the sky crane maneuver. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

LOWER IMAGE: The rocket-powered descent stage that lowered NASA’s Curiosity onto the Martian surface is guided over the rover by technicians at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in September 2011, two months before the mission’s launch. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics #nasa

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demospectator · 2 years ago

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“Entrance to Joss House, Oneida Place” c. 1901 -1902. Painting by Charles Albert Rogers (from the collection of the Bancroft Library).

Oneida Place: Lord Tam’s Home in Old Chinatown

About 15 years ago, The Bancroft Library acquired thirteen paintings of San Francisco's Chinatown by Charles Albert Rogers, dating from 1901-1902. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1848, Rogers studied art in New York and pursued further training in Munich, Paris, and Rome. “By 1877 he was in San Francisco,” according to the Bancroft’s Western Americana Curator Theresa Salazar, “where he painted oil and watercolor portraits, landscapes, and coastal scenes.”

The Bishop directory of 1877 shows a listing for “Rogers Chas., artist, r. cor Washington and Dupont” – residing in the heart of Chinatown. By 1895, the Langley directory shows that he had moved his studio as a “Landscape and portrait painter” to 628 Montgomery Street and residence to 834 Sutter Street. In 1905, the Langley directory shows Rogers living at 509 Van Ness Avenue and a listing among “Artists – Landscape” at the same address. Unfortunately for Rogers, the San Francisco earthquake and fire of April 18, 1906, apparently destroyed his studio and his work which was stored there. After the earthquake, the artist moved to Los Angeles. He would continue to paint, and he died in Alameda, California, in 1918.

In 2008, Salazar wrote for the Bancroft Library’s special edition of reproductions of “The Chinese Experience through Western Eyes” about Rogers’ Chinatown work as follows:

“Rogers' depiction of Chinatown before its destruction in 1906 was fortuitous. Capturing the people and places of this city within a city, he records Chinatown before the earthquake, rendering the typical dress of its inhabitants and the flavor of the humdrum and humble activities of its back alleys. Its ramshackle wooden buildings and tenement houses were far from important architectural structures, as Rogers' paintings attest; but they also attest to the existence of a vibrant community and culture. Each painting bears the artist's original annotation as to location and date, with the time of day also noted on some works. Rogers captures the overlay of Chinese artifacts on the nondescript 19th century brick building — . . . and other objects all create the distinctive characteristics of the neighborhood.”

Unlike many of his contemporaries who painted subjects in old Chinatown, Rogers’ painting of the joss house on Oneida [sic] “alley” remains startlingly faithful to the Chinese signage over the doorway. The first three characters, read right to left in the old style, are 譚公廟 (canto: “Tom Gung miu”) or the “General (or duke or lord) Tam temple.” The painting, thus, confirms Lord Tam, patron saint of seafarers, as the principal icon for this temple and its location on Oneida Place off of Sacramento Street in old San Francisco Chinatown.

According to legend, Tam Gung could forecast the weather. The Lord Tam of historical record was born in Huizhou prefecture where he could cure patients in his childhood. His powers and good acts earned him a place in heaven as an immortal by the age of 20 in the Nine-dragon Mountain in Huizhou and deification during the Qing dynasty. Chinese whose ancestral homes are located in Huizhou or Chaoshan of Guangdong province venerate Tam Gung. In Hong Kong and Macau, Tam Gung or Tam Tai Sin (譚大仙; canto: “Tom daih seen”) is worshiped as a sea deity.

Images of the interior of the Lord Tam and Tam clan association temple are practically nonexistent. If Rogers ever gained admission to sketch the temple’s sanctuary, no such renderings survived.

Oneida Place as shown on the July 1885 map commissioned by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (from the Cooper Chow collection at the Chinese Historical Society of America).

The best literary description of the Tam temple may be found in Frederic J. Masters’ article “Can a Chinaman Become a Christian?” published in the June – November 1892 issue of The Californian Illustrated Magazine (p. 622). Masters wrote as follows:

“Another temple worth visiting is the small but elegant Joss-house of the Tam Clan. It is one of the oldest in San Francisco, and is found on Oneida place, a dirty, narrow alley branching from Sacramento street. The patriarch Tam is represented with a bald head and a fine, intelligent face. Beautifully gilded and tasseled mottoes hang from the walls and roof. There is one motto that is very appropriate for a temple where kinsmen meet, of which the following is a rude translation: ‘That family with fragrance blooms, whose brethren, like flower calyxes, each to the other bound and all to parent stem, in undivided love abide.’' Another tablet in purple may be rendered in English, thus: ‘Upon us like the rain and dew, thy grace descends forever new.’ Another tablet inscribed by forty-eight names says: ‘The vastness of his mercy is boundless as the sea.’

“The altar service is of very chaste design, the center piece artistically enameled, surmounted with a brass lion with two dragons rampant, each with a projecting red tongue that moves at the least jar or breath of wind. On either side are two huge enameled metal candlesticks in the shape of towers, surmounted by two Caucasian figures dressed in the English costume of a century ago, each wearing stovepipe hats and holding a torch-like candlestick. Worship was being offered by two Chinamen at this temple at the time of our visit.

“333. Shrine -- Joss House” no date. Photographer unknown. This as-yet un-identified altar setup (particularly the lion surmounting the central vessel) approximates the altar furnishings described by Frederic Masters survey of San Francisco Chinatown’s various temples in 1892.

“A Chinese temple has no fixed time for religious service; no congregation meets together for united praise and prayer, or sits to listen to some exposition of doctrine and duty. The worshipper comes when he has something to pray about. Family sick-ness, adverse fortune or some risky business undertaking drives him to the oracle. As lie enters the temple he makes his bow to the gods with clasped hands, he lights his candles and incense, kneels upon a mat and calls upon the god by name three times. He then takes up two semi-oval blocks of wood called Yum Yeung Puey, bows toward the idol, prays for good luck and then tosses them up. The success of his supplication depends upon the position in which these blocks fall. If they both fall in the same position the omen is unfavorable; the god has left his office or does not wish to be disturbed. If the blocks fall one with the flat side turned up and the other with the flat surface turned down, the god is supposed to be taking some interest in his business. The worshipper now knocks his head three times three upon the floor, and offers up his petition. This done, he takes a cylindrical bamboo pot containing bam I wo slips about fifteen inches in length, each marked with a number. These are called sticks of fate, and are shaken together with the ends turned to the idol, till one is jostled out. The priest or temple keeper looks at the number, consults his book and hunts up the answer given to the man's prayer. The drum beats and the bell tolls. Offerings of paper money, consisting of beaten tinfoil, a whole armful of which can be bought for half a dollar, are burnt in the furnace and are changed by fire into the currency of the gods. It has taken only ten minutes to burn candles, incense and gilt paper, say his prayers, cast his lot, and get his answer and be on his way home.

“Some happy morning he may be seen repairing to the same, temple to return thanks for some profitable answer to his venture in trade, for a relative restored to health, or for some good fortune believed to have come in prayers. An express wagon drives up to the temple door, containing roast pigs and the choicest vegetables and fruits laid out in trays, which he offers to the god with libations of wine and tea. The god is supposed to feed upon the fumes of the meat and food, after which utilitarian John carts them back home to the family pantry.”

Unlike other better-known temples, such as the Tin How or Lung Kong temples, the Lord Tam temple, and even the small streets comprising Oneida Place, apparently attracted little interest from the photographers of the day. Aside from its temple, Oneida Place’s only other claim to prominence was its listing as an overcrowded residential warren in Samuel Gompers’ notorious pamphlet published in 1902 by the American Federal of Labor “Some Reasons for Chinese Exclusion -- Meat vs. Rice – American Manhood Against Asiatic Coolieism [etc.].”

As this clipping from the Sacramento Daily Union of October 17, indicates, the many lodgings for the Chinese laborers on Oneida Place were generally unsound.

In spite of its lower profile when compared to Chinatown’s other alleyways and small streets, Oneida would occasionally serve as a location for newsworthy events, as this June 30, 1892, report in the Sacramento Daily Union about an opium processing house attests:

The outbreak of bubonic plague cases in San Francisco Chinatown beginning in 1900 would bring drastic change to Oneida Place. Based on the pretext of abating disease spread, the City’s Board of Health acted to demolish selected buildings in Chinatown, which also conveniently served a broad political objective of removing Chinatown and the Chinese altogether from the heart of downtown San Francisco. The demolition program is recounted by local historian Woody LaBounty here: https://www.sanfranciscostory.com/chinatown-demolition/?ref=san-francisco-story-newsletter

“People with axes on top of wooden building during demolition,” 1903 (J. M. Williamson M.D. Board of Health Photograph Album of Chinatown, San Francisco Public Library, SFP83-90). Men with badges and axes pause in their demolition of mid-block rooming houses on Oneida Place off of the south side of the 700 block of Sacramento Street. The remaining framing is consistent with the east-west line of the mid-block “Chinese Lodging” units noted on the 1885 “vice” map commissioned by the SF Board of Supervisors as no. 1 to 15 or no. 17 to 37 Oneida Place.

Three years after the Board of Health’s demolition of the workers housing in Oneida Place, the earthquake and fire of 1906 would completely scour the small street and smaller alleyway for the buildings fronting along the south side of Sacramento Street.

Research about this colorful small street of old Chinatown continues.

[updated: 2024-8-17]

#Lord Tam temple #Oneida Place #Charles Albert Rogers #Tam Gung #Tam Tai Sin #Frederic Masters #Samuel Gompers #Meat vs. Rice #Woody LaBounty #J.M. Williamson

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