Category Archives: Space
Martian Water
They may be able to dig wells. I wonder how much purification it will require, given the permanganchlorates. Also, the well will have to have a heater to melt the ice, I suspect.
[For some reason I always write “permanganates” when I mean perchlorates]
The U.S. Space Guard
The National Space Society has come out with a policy paper on it. I haven’t read it yet, but it should be a useful reference for those who continue to confuse it and the Space Corps/Force.
A Third Of A Century
Today is my birthday, which also means that it’s the anniversary of the loss of the Challenger and its crew (and the beginning of the long drawn-out end of the Shuttle program). Hard to believe it’s been that long.
Light And Scattered Blogging
We’re closing on the house (just signed yesterday, and should get funds next week) and Monday’s my birthday (and the 33rd anniversary of the Challenger loss), so we’re splurging on a trip to Vegas this weekend. Be good in comments.
Space Policy
This anti-business piece is sort of a mess:
Indeed, legislation has been proposed in Congress since the UAG was formed that promotes the Council’s professed goals of expedition, streamlining, and commercial dominance, and it enjoys bipartisan support from lawmakers representing “states and districts where aerospace technology plays a significant role in the local economy,” according to an analysis from Daily Kos. This shared financial interest has brought together far-right, anti-science legislators like Ted Cruz and Lamar Smith in co-sponsorship with Democrats from states with aerospace-heavy economies. [Emphasis mine]
The premise is that space is supposed to be about science, but that has never been true. And as Mark Whittington pointed out on Twitter, it wasn’t Ted Cruz or Lamar Smith who were running ads blasting their opponents for supporting a mission to Europa.
Jeff’s Space Colonies
The impending divorce doesn’t seem to have dampened his vision. Speaking of Blue Origin, apparently this morning’s New Shepard flight was a complete success.
Rover Update
Bob Zimmerman has the latest in activity on both the moon and Mars. Looks like we’ve lost an Opportunity, so to speak.
The Stainless-Steel Starship
I would note, though, that the idea of transpiration cooling has been around for a long time. It’s just never been implemented. But I guess what he’s saying has never been proposed before is the structure also serving as heat shield.
[Update a while later]
New Glenn has been redesigned. Looks like the upper stage is expendable.
Looks like they were inspired in part by Falcon 9. It’s interesting that we’re starting to see spacecraft designs converging, as aircraft designs did in the thirties.
Star Trek Discovery
I haven’t seen it, but it looks like the first season was dreadful, because it had to be woke.