We got back from the funeral in Michigan yesterday morning, and I’m slowly getting my computer functional again. I had to reinstall the OS, and I’m still not sure I’ve solved the problem that I installed a new graphics card for. I’m slowly/painfully restoring the functionality in terms of software, and configuration of things like Thunderbird, Brave, Chrome, which lost all their settings after I reinstalled the OS, despite the fact that /home is on a separate drive that I mount after boot. Anyway, I’ll start posting again soon. There’ve been a lot of interesting developments in space policy…
Category Archives: Technology and Society
Great Space Policy News
I don’t have time to comment, but it looks like Jared is winning over the Senate.
Agree this is a significant & extremely positive development. Looks like the combo of @NASAAdmin's credibility, willingness to go public with existing program's shortcomings & crafting a plan giving SLS a chance to improve, while allowing competition worked! Promising indeed! https://t.co/xm9ecQaO8e
— Lori Garver (@Lori_Garver) March 4, 2026
The First Day Of The War
The Mullahs (I’m not going to call them “Iran”) are impotent, and just made enemies of everyone in the region.
Iran just fired missiles at five countries simultaneously. Here is what actually happened to each of them.
— Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ (@shanaka86) February 28, 2026
Bahrain. Confirmed hit on the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters. Bahrain’s own state news agency reported the strike. No casualty figures released yet. This is the command… pic.twitter.com/UiWXsGfm4K
[Monday-morning update]
Still trying to get my computer straightened out (having issues with X and the new graphics card) but here’s a good recap of the war so far, from Roger Kimball.
[Afternoon update]
Thoughts on Trumps strategy:
"I’m asking you to hold the line. Not because the President is infallible… he’s not, nobody is… but because the logic is sound. You cannot build a fortress of peace on a foundation of unresolved threats. You have to clear the ground first. That’s what’s happening."
— Apple Lamps (@lamps_apple) March 2, 2026
The… pic.twitter.com/Hxrj6FCbb0
[Wednesday-morning update]
When the can finally stops getting kicked down the road.
It’s been far too long.
A Good First Step
Not as good as a cancellation of SLS, but it’s a redirection toward some semblance of programmatic sanity.
NASA just announced a MAJOR overhaul of the Artemis program. Here’s what’s changed, according to @NASAAdmin @rookisaacman:
— Kristin Fisher (@KristinFisher) February 27, 2026
NEW MISSIONS:
Artemis 3 is no longer a moon landing 🤯 It's now a crewed test mission in Low Earth Orbit in 2027 – docking with SpaceX's Starship and/or…
[Update a couple minutes later]
Eric Berger has the story.
And, of course, Boeing continues the lies: ” “The SLS core stage remains the world’s most powerful rocket stage, and the only one that can carry American astronauts directly to the moon and beyond in a single launch.”
[Update a while later]
Northrop Grumman watching EUS die while their SRBs keeping losing nozzles https://t.co/lNfxd8qA1K pic.twitter.com/aYm2PFk8PP
— Space Koala (@SpaceKoala) February 27, 2026
Hiatus
Sorry for the light posting, I had to replace the graphics card in my computer, and it turned out to be a more onerous ordeal than I expected. Hopefully the desktop will be back on the air today. Carry on in comments.
Business As Usual
After overnight data showed an interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage, teams are troubleshooting and preparing for a likely rollback of Artemis II to the VAB at @NASAKennedy. This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window. @NASA will…
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) February 21, 2026
Looks like April now (at best). Also looks like Starship 3 before Artemis II.
[Update a few minutes later]
— Petr Kraus (@PetrKraus42) February 21, 2026
[Afternoon update]
Sorry, second X post fixed now.
[Sunday-morning update]
Mark Whittington (!) says commercial space to the rescue.
Brutal
The new NASA administrator’s assessment of both NASA and Boeing’s performance on Commercial Crew:
Below is the note that I sent to the NASA workforce today as we release the report on the Starliner Crew Flight Test Investigation.
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) February 19, 2026
We will achieve success through extreme ownership, immense competence, and decisive action. pic.twitter.com/UoXI25PFOQ
[Late-afternoon update]
I don’t think that “Yikes!” really covers the waterfront here:
A sort of summary page I found in the Starliner PDF. Highlights are my own on things I find the most interesting. pic.twitter.com/rlzEn3J8tx
— Ken Kirtland IV (@KenKirtland17) February 19, 2026
Here‘s Eric Berger’s story.
[Evening update]
Thoughts from Bob Zimmerman.
Making Space Important
A thought experiment, to which I’ve gotten little response so far.
So, there's an argument going on in Space X (as opposed to SpaceX) about why we have to continue to waste money on SLS/Orion if we want to beat the Chinese back to the Moon. When I propose alternatives, I get objections like "Dragon can't come back from the Moon," "Nothing else…
— Not-So-OK Boomer (@Rand_Simberg) February 18, 2026
How Long Can This Go On?
Russian casualties soar as SpaceX cuts off their Starlink terminals.
About That Wet Dress Rehearsal
Jared responds to Eric Berger:
I will just say we are leaning forward with transparency, sharing the blemishes and the successes, because for a program as costly and important to national security as Artemis, the public is entitled to the facts.
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) February 14, 2026
– The confidence test related to the seals we repaired and…
He remains hostage to the politics, until Starship has shown its mettle. Also…