All posts by Rand Simberg

Space History

The First Space Pioneer

I hadn’t noticed, or noted it last week, due to my travel schedule and poor internet connectivity, but last Monday was the sesquicentennial anniversary of the birth of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. He was the first, even before Goddard, to lay out the mathematical and physical foundations of spaceflight.

But unlike Goddard, he was a theoretician only, and never built any hardware. So I don’t think he ever said “Hold my vodka, and watch this…”

General

Fame, If Not Fortune

I had a first on Friday night–a Lileks-like moment. I’m often recognized by my name badge at space conferences, but when I checked in at the American counter at LAX on Friday night, the agent recognized my name on my driver’s license, and asked if I was the space blogger. He told me that space was supposed to be about exploration, not a jobs program. I told him that it actually was a jobs program, but that it should be about space settlement.

Anyway, thanks for the service–usually I have to schlep my bag over to the X-ray myself, but he told me that for Fort Lauderdale, he could put it on the conveyor behind him.

Popular Culture

The Jinx Is Broken

Until yesterday, Michigan hadn’t won a game since Bo Schembechler died, last November. Let’s hope that the rest of the season will go much better. Mallett actually looks like a better natural quarterback than Henne ever has. It’s not obvious who should start next week, even if Henne is healthy.

Administrative

Back To FL

Blogging continues to be light. I’ve been working on a piece for Popular Mechanics. I’ve got a red eye tonight, but I need to make a Fry’s run, and meet someone for dinner. Back later, for those of you who have inexplicably been on the edge of their seats.