Chris Davenport has an in-depth story on the coming age of American human spaceflight. I’d note that in the future, one will not need to learn to speak Russian to go into space. That will be a relic of a happily bygone era.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
Jack Schmitt
As one of the few remaining moon walkers, I admire him, which is why it saddens me to see him regurgitating pro-SLS propaganda. I’m in the last throes of a proposal, or I’d take it apart, but maybe someone else will.
More Junk Nutrition “Science”
The “Mediterranean Diet” has been discredited.
Leaving This “Wretched” Planet
That’s quite a hed and URL of this NYT story about private space facilities. I don’t know why it would require fifteen weeks of training, though. I think that’s more likely to put wealthy people off than the price tag.
[Wednesday update]
Alan Boyle (unsurprisingly) has a better story about it.
[Bumped]
The Climate Debate
Judith Curry lays out her luke-warmist case.
Elon’s Not-A Flamethrower
A couple of user experiences, here and here.
[Update a few minutes later]
Slightly related: SpaceX is going to attempt a second-stage entry with a giant party balloon.
The FBI’s Fractured Fairy Tale
Sharyl Atkisson (who was herself surveilled by the Obama administration) explains.
Seems like Fractured Fairy Tales were funnier when I was a kid.
The Climate Wars
The (rare) voices of reason:
10. Can we put the polarization genie back in the bottle, on climate or anything else? I really don’t know. But I do wonder how those advocating further radicalization of climate advocacy imagine any of this ends.
11. Making ever more radical demands might be a fine strategy were there someone to negotiate with. But by the reckoning of most prominent climate hawks, there isn’t.
12. Nor does it appear that a more inclusive climate coalition is likely to bring larger congressional majorities. Any Democrat-only climate strategy has to be predicated on not only winning but holding purple/red districts over multiple elections.
13. These are precisely the districts that radicalized climate rhetoric alienates culturally and the green policy agenda punishes economically. Since the failure of cap and trade in 2010, climate activists have taken rhetoric to 11, and what it got them was Trump.
And it will continue to.
Son Of Ansari X-Prize
Doug Messier is less than impressed with Peter’s latest announcement. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time (the 1990s).
The BFR Factory
An interesting story, with bonus fairing halves. I should drive down there some time and check it out myself.
[Update a few minutes later]
Also, a new hangar facility, control tower and rocket garden at KSC.