Category Archives: Technology and Society
Light Posting
Sorry, I’ve been slammed with getting corporate taxes done, and I’m going down to Chapman University this afternoon to talk to Joel Kotkin’s class on tech and reindustrialization issues.
Data Centers
Why they will be built in space:
Here's an argument why data centers will be built in space instead of on the ground. Projected by 2040, $700B/year of costs due to environmental, regulatory, and delay costs for building data centers on Earth. Compare this to decreasing launch costs (not shown here) to predict…
— Phil Metzger (@DrPhiltill) September 10, 2025
A Compromise On SLS?
Eric Berger has the latest. Killing EUS would also eliminate the need for ML-2. It could be that we’ll have to continue wasting money on the SLS core and Orion for a while, but it would free up some funds to actually get back to the Moon soon.
A Book Recommendation
Though written by a woman (and a friend), and recommended by another woman (and another friend) this looks like a good book to get boys back to reading.
[Tuesday-morning update]
Laura returns the favor.
Commercial Space History
James Bennett is raising funds to write an important book.
Starship Thoughts
I've been reflecting on the Starship program the last week and one thing has become obvious to me. SpaceX is enjoying the freedom to try and fail in a way they couldn't with Falcon 9.
— Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) September 5, 2025
Doing anything "experimental" on the Falcon 9 was risky because it was SpaceX's only source of…
A Poor Choice For NASA
This is exactly the wrong person to chart a needed new course:
- Kshatriya worked within JSC’s mission operations directorate, climbing the ladder from robotics staff to robotics operations lead working on ISS systems.
- He then served a stint as a Mission Control flight director, where he oversaw cargo and crew missions to the ISS, before becoming deputy manager of the ISS vehicle office.
- In 2021, Kshatriya moved to Washington, DC, as assistant deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development for the SLS, Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems programs.
- In 2023, he became deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars program.
In other words, despite concerns expressed yesterday about China in the Senate clown show, business as usual.
[Afternoon update]
Sorry, first link was wrong, fixed now.
[Update a few minutes later]
(Depressing) thoughts from Bob Zimmerman.
On The Vaccines
None of these things are logically incompatible or (in my opinion) untrue:
— Not-So-OK Boomer (@Rand_Simberg) September 3, 2025
The vaccine announcement was delayed for political reasons to help Biden win the election.
The vaccines were beneficial for people at high risk.
The vaccines were unnecessary for young people at low… https://t.co/QDy6OvLPh1
Related: How the CDC’s double standards cost it our trust, and how hard it will (and should) be to win it back.
Starship Test Flights
What comes next?