A couple of user experiences, here and here.
[Update a few minutes later]
Slightly related: SpaceX is going to attempt a second-stage entry with a giant party balloon.
Category Archives: Space
Son Of Ansari X-Prize
Doug Messier is less than impressed with Peter’s latest announcement. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time (the 1990s).
The BFR Factory
An interesting story, with bonus fairing halves. I should drive down there some time and check it out myself.
[Update a few minutes later]
Also, a new hangar facility, control tower and rocket garden at KSC.
Methane On Mars
Tanya Harrison has the story. As always, a reminder that people who want to settle Mars should hope that we don’t find life there.
A To-Do List For Bridenstine
Some advice from Scott Hubbard. But here is the problem:
…the new administrator must provide NASA and the rest of the world much more clarity on the brief statement issued by Vice President Pence and the newly revived Space Council that the United States will “lead the return of humans to the Moon.” Studies of the future of human space exploration have for decades emphasized that Mars is the target of greatest interest for reasons of science and exploration.1–4 The last initiative that attempted to include both human landings on the Moon and eventually Mars, the so-called Constellation program, collapsed from its own budgetary (over) weight.
Two points: First, the assumption that human spaceflight is about “science and exploration.” I’ve written about this error at length. Second is the notion that Constellation collapsed because it was attempting to do both the Mars and moon. It wasn’t seriously trying to do either. NASA wasn’t seriously trying to do either.
End Of An Era
Georg von Tiesenhausen died on Sunday, at the age of 104. He was the last of von Braun’s rocket team. Amazing that he lived so long after what he went through in his youth.
Boeing’s Imaginary Space Program
Keith Cowing is a cruel man, but fair.
Ted Cruz And Space
Politico has an interview with him.
LOP-G
I agree that it’s probably the best we can do under current political circumstances, but if that’s the case, we should stop wasting taxpayer money on human spaceflight.
Star Wars
Stephen Green has some thoughts on how to save it.
I’ve never been enough of a Star Wars fan to care whether it lives or dies. I would note, though, that $40M went a lot farther four decades ago than it would today.