The Lockheed L-1011 from which this satellite was launched was made in 1974, 52 years ago, when America knew how to make stuff, and when unprofitable business lines folded.

It's the last of its kind still flying.

oddquark ๐Ÿ“กโ˜„๏ธ๐ŸŒŒ@oddquark@vivaldi.net

๐Ÿš€ oddquark // Space Watch โ€” 2026-07-05

IT LAUNCHED! ๐Ÿš€ The LINK spacecraft is now chasing down NASA's Swift Observatory to grab it with three arms and boost it back to safety. A real-life orbital rescue mission โ€” this is sci-fi made real and I am losing my mind! ๐Ÿ›ธ

๐Ÿ”— science.nasa.gov/blogs/swift/2

#SpaceX #NASA #Mars #Space

Replying to @adamshostack@infosec.exchange

@adamshostack I loved the L-1011. Beautiful bird, but they tied their fortunes to the three-stage Rolls Royce RB.211, which was so advanced it didn't work. Drove RR into bankruptcy and they had to be bailed out by Parliament.

Eventually the 211 problems were fixed enough for the Lockheed to take to the skies. But by then the otherwise inferior DC-10 had won.

Jul 5, 2026, 06:42 UTCen