Category Archives: Business

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

Reusable Rockets

January 6, 2015 Rand Simberg 25 Comments

Eymard was asked whether CNES is not in the position of having spent two years to catch up to SpaceX with a lower-cost expendable rocket in Ariane 6, only to find that SpaceX has moved to a partially reusable model that cuts costs even further.

“We don’t want to be in the position of appearing to follow in their footsteps all the time,” Eymard said. “But we admire what they are doing and we think it helps put pressure on all of us to do better.”

SpaceX, Blue, ULA, now the Europeans. But NASA insists on building a giant throw-away vehicle.

It's funny (or sad) that everyone is getting the reusable rocket religion except for NASA, who irrationally gave up on it after X-33 fiasco.

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 5, 2015

J. R. Thompson said that "X-33 proved that reusability doesn't work." Which was, of course, totally illogical. It just proved X-33 wouldn't.

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 5, 2015

SpaceX is attempting to land a stage, ULA and CNES looking into reusability. NASA continues to build unneeded giant expendable rocket.

— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 5, 2015

Business, Economics, Mathematics, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Science And Society, Technology and Society

“97% Agree”

January 6, 2015 Rand Simberg 8 Comments

…is 100% wrong.

Whenever I see anyone use the 97% number, I ignore whatever else they have to say, because they are either clueless, or shameless liars.

Business, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Space, Technology and Society

Conservative Commentary On Space Policy

January 6, 2015 Rand Simberg 6 Comments

My commentary on that stupid misfire at The American Spectator last week.

[Tuesday-morning update]

I have more thoughts over at Ricochet.

[Bumped]

Business, Space, Technology and Society

How Deep Can A Space Patent Suit Go?

January 5, 2015 Rand Simberg 28 Comments

On the eve of SpaceX’s first barge landing attempt, some thoughts from an IP attorney on the status of Blue Origin’s fly-back patent.

Business, Media Criticism, Popular Culture

The Detroit Lions

January 4, 2015 Rand Simberg 12 Comments

…get hosed.

It almost looks like the fix was in.

[Monday-morning update]

Here’s a detailed analysis from ESPN. It’s really hard to see how anyone could consider being knocked down “minimal contact.”

Business, Technology and Society

Your Router

January 4, 2015 Rand Simberg 4 Comments

How to supercharge it.

I might try this, on both the router and the extender.

Business, Economics, Media Criticism, Political Commentary

Gridlock

January 3, 2015 Rand Simberg 33 Comments

Why aren’t we thanking it for the economic recovery?

Because it doesn’t fit the narrative. But as Jefferson said, it’s a good demonstration that that government that governs least, governs best. If only we could roll back a lot of this crap.

It’s worth noting that things started to go to hell after the Democrats took over Congress in 2006, and didn’t really start to recover until the Republicans took the House back in 2010.

Transterrestrial Musings