Category Archives: Business

Business, History, Political Commentary, Space, Space History, Space Science, Technology and Society, War Commentary

Ukraine And Space

February 24, 2022 Rand Simberg 32 Comments

Thoughts on the implications of the invasion, from Bob Zimmerman.

NASA should (and should have long ago) issue an RFI to see if industry can functionally replace the crucial Russian segment. https://t.co/00J1UBR6o8
— SafeNotAnOption (@SafeNotAnOption) February 24, 2022

[Friday-morning update]

The repercussions of this for the space industry could be broad and unforeseeable.

There have been reports that Yuzhnoye Design Office in Ukraine has been destroyed. Yuzhnoye is the manufacturer of the 1st stage Antares tank, so if these reports are true, then Antares will never be able to launch again after NG-19. pic.twitter.com/UzfUrMXRoU
— Aerospace At Wallops (@SpaceAtWallops) February 25, 2022

It was always a mistake to make ourselves so reliable on Russian/Ukrainian hardware.

[Afternoon update]

Ukrainian invasions have affected our own space policies in the past.

As Jeff notes, if the Russians pull out of ISS, their human spaceflight program wouldn’t have much to do.

[Mid-afternoon update]

Got in touch with a Ukranian space official Thursday morning who said Yuzhmash had not been damaged.
— Brian Berger (@Brian_J_Berger) February 25, 2022

Yet.

[Saturday-morning update]

Eric Berger runs through the potential implications for space.

Business, Economics, History, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, War Commentary

The Ukraine Debacle

February 24, 2022 Rand Simberg 28 Comments

…showcases Joe Biden’s failures.

[Thursday-afternoon update]

The Ukraine invasion was the result of a quarter century of appeasement.

[Update a couple minutes later]

National University of Kyiv Mohyla-Academy suspended all lectures. My students now are joining Ukrainian army. #Ukraineisunderattack #StandWithUkriane
— Mariia Shuvalova (@mareverborum) February 24, 2022

From June through last month, I had been working with a bunch of young Ukrainians in Kiev (men and women). I suspect that some of them have enlisted. And the Russians are protesting the war in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Business, Economics, Law, Political Commentary, Science And Society

Good News

February 22, 2022 Rand Simberg 8 Comments

Regulatory agencies are barred from considering climate change in their rulemaking.

Business, Economics, Political Commentary, Space, Technology and Society

Getting Their Own Ride

February 21, 2022 Rand Simberg 67 Comments

By the time Europe could develop its own crew launcher, it would be past obsolete (just as Ariane 6 is). They should be focusing on getting around in space with their own vehicles, not getting there.

[Monday-morning update]

Problem solved! Russia is offering to provide them with rocket independence.

[Bumped]

Business, Economics, Education, General Science, Mathematics, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Science And Society

Climate Risk

February 19, 2022 Rand Simberg 16 Comments

How we’ve mischaracterized it.

I’ve noticed that in public-policy areas in which we do a crap job of risk assessment/tradeoffs, it is areas in which there are policy agendas independent of the actual issues.

Business, Education, History, Law, Media Criticism, Political Commentary

Civil Rights Laws

February 18, 2022 Rand Simberg 1 Comment

…are not “undemocratic.”

Business, Economics, Health, Science And Society, Technology and Society

A Promising Life-Extension Drug

February 17, 2022 Rand Simberg 1 Comment

I hope that this is as good as it sounds.

We’re not making enough new people, so we’re going to have to keep the ones we have around longer.

Business, Popular Culture

Sea Cruises

February 17, 2022 Rand Simberg 5 Comments

…in the era of Covid.

Other than a Windjammer Barefoot Cruise on a schooner in the late 90s (the ship went down in Hurricane Mitch a month afterward), I’ve never been on one, and have never felt a strong desire to do so. This tale doesn’t inspire me.

Transterrestrial Musings