Space News has the story. Some have said that this proves that Fragola was right, but that’s nonsense. He tried to create a rumor that the stage blew up. SpaceX had never denied that there was an engine problem, and they apparently provided the information quickly to everyone that needed to know (i.e., NASA and the FAA). They aren’t under any obligation to air all their laundry publicly.
Category Archives: Space
More On Apollo Nostalgia
I have a post over at Open Market on my interviews yesterday, and the continuing porkfest.
My Talk With Alan Boyle
For those people who foolishly thought that the Republican debate was more important than my conversation with Alan Boyle tonight, the podcast is up now.
[Update]
It’s all ME, ME, ME, over at Cosmic Log tonight.
So if you’ve had enough of me, don’t go there.
[Thursday morning update]
Related thoughts from Rick Tumlinson.
[Update a few minutes later]
Man, many of the comments over at Cosmic Log are typical, in their rampant ignorance and straw men.
Space Interview Tonight
Alan Boyle of MSNBC will be interviewing me in Second Life tonight on Virtually Speaking Science at 6 PM SL time (PDT). Here’s the SLURL for SLers: http://slurl.com/secondlife/StellaNova/228/226/38
This is the promo:
Alan Boyle talks with Rand Simberg
As MSNBC.com’s science editor, Alan runs a virtual curiosity shop of the physical sciences and space exploration, paleontology, archaeology and other ologies that strike his fancy. Alan is the author of “The Case for Pluto,” a contributor to “A Field Guide for Science Writers,” and the blogger behind Cosmic Log, the 2008 recipient of the National Academies
Communication Award.Rand Simberg describes himself as ‘just a recovering aerospace engineer.’ The Competitive Enterprise Institute describes him as ‘an expert on space technology and policy, particularly with regard to NASA and commercial human spaceflight.’ He writes widely about the politics and economics of space exploration. Read him in Popular Mechanics and Transterrestrial Musings – Biting Commentary about Infinity and Beyond! Watch him on YouTube. | Listen live and later on BTR
And yes, it will probably conflict with the Republican debate.
NASA’s Costly Risk Aversion
I have some further thoughts on the ISS situation today over at Open Market.
Will NASA Abandon Ship?
My latest space policy piece is up at Pajamas Media.
Mike Griffin’s Credibility
Will McLean wonders why he has any.
Opening The Texas Kimono
There was some buzz in the space blogosphere a few days ago when there was an FAA notice issued that Blue Origin would be doing a test flight, and then we heard nothing else. Well, here’s what happened, apparently. It’s nice to see them being a little more open (actually, a lot more — this is almost Armadillo-like in their letting it hang out). Hope we’ll get more details on what went wrong.
Lunar Pizza
Maybe they can make it with green cheese.
My Space Thoughts
The folks at Moon’n’Back did a video interview with me at the Space Frontier Conference. It’s not working for me, but here’s Part 1. I don’t remember what I said. I was probably huffing rocket fuel.