Why is SpaceX really ending those flights?
I agree that Elon wants to see more competition in the industry, and it’s time for the other companies to step up. A prevailing theme of Smallsat this week was the seeming dearth of launch opportunities. If I get my new venture off the ground, it will be a personal concern to me as well.
“Waiting periods” have been ruled unconstitutional. They’ve always obviously seemed that way to me. Heller continues to reap dividends.
The slow-motion trainwreck that anyone paying attention saw coming.
We rode it last year from Miami to Orlando. It was fine, but hardly high speed. Driving through Vegas yesterday on our way back home from Park City, we saw no signs of construction of the planned HSR from there to Victorville, let alone Rancho Cucamunga. They clearly don’t have the money.
And yes, this:
High-speed rail is catnip to politicians. Except it doesn’t work in America. Not only do we drive, but we take airplanes. As I said in March, much better to build more lanes on an expressway.
I’ve been saying for years that widening I-5 between the Grapevine and i-680 (as Pat Brown always intended) would be a vastly better investment for ground transportation between LA and SF than rail. The two new lanes could be charging lanes for fast electric FSD cars.
[Update a few minutes later]
California’s HSR boondoggle meets another justifiable roadblock.
RIP, Dolly Parton.
Hard to think of anyone more universally beloved–and deserving of it. RIP Dolly, and woe is we. https://t.co/k5FLH4Bsio
— Joel Engel (@joelengel) August 25, 2026
[Update a while later]
Apocalypse Draws Near As Last Remaining Universally Beloved Human Being Passes Away https://t.co/FNeIqbDq6p
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) August 25, 2026
More details and reactions.
A brief history of their misbegotten use in spaceflight, by frequent-commenter Mike Puckett.
[Update late afternoon Mountain time]
I want to share my own condolences to Mike on the loss of his beloved cat. But it sounds like she had a good run.
We’re driving up to Salt Lake City for the Smallsat Conference. Staying in Mesquite, NV tonight, then Park City for the first half of the week. I’ll have laptop, but not sure how much posting I’ll be doing. Comments are open.
Is it making us and our culture sick?
The president has issued a memorandum. I’m skimming it right now, but new policy was definitely needed with the upcoming planned cadence of launch, landing, and entry.
The Michigan city has become one of the front lines for the war of Islam against the West. We’ll see how this plays out in the Senate race.
I’ve known Eric for almost half a century, and Chris for forty years. My colleague Jim Bennett, another founder, is also briefly shown.