Thoughts from Michael Barone.
I’m encouraged that he wants to emphasize science and technology. This could create some useful Anglospheric alliances in space, particularly if he sets up a Royal Space Force.
[Update a few minutes later]
He’s going after the Beeb. That would be amazing if he could get rid of that pack of leftist hacks.
[Wednesday-morning update]
An interesting article on General Kwast (who reportedly has people read my book), but isn’t it obvious that he’s talking about things like Starship? Nothing magical or secret here.
An interesting look at the delays for Commercial Crew.
Coming in on chutes is such a 20th-century concept. At some point we will land rockets just as we do airplanes. And if Elon has his way, that point will be within half a decade, at which point, Crew Dragon capsules may come back inside a Starship.
British space lawyer Joanne Wheeler has collected the thoughts of many current space leaders.
I think there are more false lessons from Apollo than valid ones. It really did create a damaging mindset for the next half century, from which we’re only starting to recover.
(Note, the format is a little confusing; the quotes come before, not after the names.)
Thoughts from Laura Montgomery on the constitutionality of it.
So, I just found out that I have until January 31st to submit it for the IISL (International Institute of Space Law) Proceedings. There is apparently a word limit of 5000 words. I just checked, and it’s exactly 4997…
Must be living right.
I’m on a layover in Charlotte, on my way to DC for a few space events and a meeting with my lawyers to prepare for trial. Be good in comments.
[Thursday-afternoon update]
Just got back from DC. Was too busy to blog, but hopefully back to a regular schedule now. I think/hope that was my last business trip of the year.
[Bumped]
Greg Autry and George Nield write that it cannot afford congressional inaction.
It was scrubbed yesterday for weather, but it’s set to launch in a few minutes. It’s an unflown booster, but the cargo Dragon has flown before.
[Update a few minutes later]
Everything looking good through Max Q.
[Update a couple minutes later]
Clean MECO and stage separation. About to do boostback of the booster. Grid fins are deployed.
[Update a few more minutes later]
Another successful landing. I don’t think they’ve had a failure for Falcon 9 since the first success, though they have lost them on Falcon Heavy.
[Update a few more minutes later]
Solar arrays deployed, and Dragon on its way to ISS.
[Late-morning update]
With this launch, SpaceX has hit another milestone.
It won’t change everything.
I’m wondering how and if it will compete with the satellite constellations.