How the elusive dream finally became reality.
We can be sure they’ll be used in space, because lasers in general are extremely useful in space.
Category Archives: Space
The Second World Wars
A review of what appears to be a new insightful book.
Yes, the resources poured by Hitler into the V weapons would have been of more use strategically if they’d gone instead into long-range bombers. And clearly, the Final Solution was an overall part of the plan, not just collateral damage from the war.
A Petition For Freedom In Space
It appears that Rick Tumlinson has started this.
Yesterday’s Launch
We drove up to Lompoc yesterday to watch not just the launch, but the landing. We had clear skies for both events. When I saw the boosters land from the Falcon Heavy flight in Florida, I didn’t see them until they were almost down, but yesterday, we could see the deorbit burn, and then follow it all the way down to the pad. After entry, it dropped like a rock until it arrived near the pad, then rapidly decelerated and set down. We weren’t as close as we wanted to be, but it was on a hill by Vandenberg Village that gave us an unobstructed view. Despite the distance, the sonic boom of the booster coming in was impressive but, unlike the ones in Florida, where I was much closer and heard a pair of triple booms, I only heard a single one. I suspect the other two were too weak to carry as far.
[Update a while later]
Interestingly, this story doesn’t even mention the landing, even though it was historic. I think it was the first time they’ve landed there in the day time.
[Friday-afternoon update]
Here’s video of the landing.
[Bumped]
A Wrench In The Spokes?
Will regulators slow progress of Starship/Superheavy?
SpaceX
…broke several records yesterday, including some of its own. It’s worth noting that the Falcon 9 now has demonstrated reliability of 99%.
Socialists In Space
I linked to this essay when it was first published early this year, but it’s worth revisiting it in light of the Thanksgiving holiday.
[Update a while later]
A New Space History Book
…from Lori Garver (for whom it is first hand) and Michael Sheetz. Here‘s a sample chapter.
Static Fire
Elon
…has passed Bill Gates to become the world’s second-richest person.
That’s good, because I think that Elon is doing much more good with his money than Gates is. And it’s kind of amazing that the two richest men in the world are both intelligently investing in space technology.