…is old America. That’s exactly right.
Category Archives: Space
The Continuing Space Policy Failure
John Logsdon is concerned about Congress’s seeming lack of urgency about Commercial Crew:
“We on the Columbia board in 2003 called the lack of a replacement for the shuttle a failure of national leadership, and that failure continues, as exemplified by the congressional unwillingness to adequately fund commercial crew,” he explained. “Congress seems to view it not as an urgent issue, which is very puzzling to me.”
Really? It’s “puzzling” to you? It puzzles me not at all. It just says that pork is more important than success in space, as has been the case for four decades.
Gerry O’Neill
Today would have been his eighty-fifth birthday. Many of his dreams may have been unrealistic, in retrospect (they were based on the assumption that the Shuttle really would reduce the cost of space access, among other things), but he inspired, and reinspired a generation jaded by the letdown of Apollo.
On a related note, Alexis Madrigal has an interesting bit of space (and California) history, over at the Atlantic.
Why Star Wars And SF Don’t Actually Suck
Brian Preston rebuts Kathy Shaidle.
Space Debris Mediation
An article on the law. That’s a space-law blog of which I was previously unaware.
A Cheaper Lunar Mission
Charles Miller, no longer with NASA, has a piece at Florida Today about how to get back to the moon for less money. He also has one at the Journal, but it’s for subscribers only (though it may become available in a few days). Mitt should fire Mike Griffin, and hire Charles.
Why Star Wars Sux
Almost Into Space
Wow. Armadillo’s most recent flight went to 82 kilometers. Not without a hitch, but they got it back, probably able to fly again.
Dana On Newt
Whoa:
“I think that it is unrealistic to think that we could establish a moon base by 2020, even if we spent all the money in the world,” Rohrabacher said. “[It’s] just going to bankrupt every other program.”
Rohrabacher said Gingrich is a visionary thinker “who can paint pictures for people of what a bright future we could have. But he doesn’t have the management and leadership abilities to lead those to fruition.”
I actually disagree. I think that we could easily get back to the moon by 2020, for less money than NASA is currently spending, but only if it is important, and Congress doesn’t dictate how to do it. In other words, we can’t do it.
Teachers In Space
…is now Citizens In Space:
“The development of low-cost reusable suborbital spacecraft will be the next great enabler, allowing citizens to participate in space exploration and space science.
“Citizens have told us that education is not just a process that occurs within the public schools. Science fairs, hackerspaces, museums; private, religious, and home schools — all have a role to play. Today, we are listening to those citizens.
“We want to put a thousand astronaut teachers into American schools . We want to engage America’s students and reach out to the public through museums, science centers, and other venues. We want to make space research and space exploration part of the mainstream, not treasures locked away in the ivory tower.
“When Apollo 12 commander Pete Conrad was asked what it was like to fly in space, he said, ‘Everyone should go!’ We agree.
I agree, too. At least those who want to. It’s too bad the people in charge of the government space program don’t agree.
[Update a few minutes later]
Here’s the new web site.