What we’ll lose if we lose them.
We hardly ever went before the virus, though.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
New SF
I haven’t read it, but Mike Combs has a new short story out.
Persecution Is Cool
Bob Zimmerman, on the cancel culture within the space and science community.
Keith has blocked me on Twitter, and I suspect I’m on a lot of blocklists. I follow a lot of space people, like Carolyn, but only engage them on space and science topics. I don’t argue non-space politics with space people, because many of them are leftist loons, which is why I maintain separate accounts for space stuff and the book.
[Update Wednesday morning]
Technology
Which one has accidentally killed the most people?
I agree with the historian who says that the question is ill framed.
Drone Hitchhikers
This is an interesting idea. Having the ability to charge while on the buses would enhance the idea.
It reminds me of some of the concepts for planetary exploration with a “mothership” and flocks of cubesat “birds” (e.g., to send a bunch, or consecutive waves, through the plumes of Enceladus to capture data in both time and position).
Hibernation
Researchers have figured out how to induce it in mice, and it may work for humans as well.
It has obvious implications for space travel, but I wouldn’t have minded sleeping through the past five months, myself.
Spaceflight Regulation
No, it is not yet needed for space tourism to take off. I wonder if she’s read my book? It doesn’t seem like it.
The SpaceX Suits
The astronauts like them.
Developing A Vaccine
Yes, we should be doing challenge trials, and let adults decide what they want to do with their bodies. As I noted in the book, how many potential lives might have been saved by being willing to risk ISS crew for medical research?
Elon To SpaceX Employees
“Starship is the top priority.“
I think he feels pretty confident now that his situation with NASA is secure. And it probably is. They really have no choice going forward, at least until Boeing is flying, and even then they will want to have two systems, because they know that the notion of using Orion for ISS support is farcical.
[Update Monday morning]
[Tuesday-afternoon update]
More thoughts and SpaceX news from Bob Zimmerman.
Yes, NASA’s willingness to accept used rockets and capsules is a huge sea change.
[Bumped]