Heading to Florida in the morning for the mundane, non-landing Falcon 9 launch on Tuesday (though recent wind forecasts make me suspect it will slip to Wednesday), then down to south Florida to deal with another house we want to sell. Then back up to the Cape on Monday for what I hope is a Tuesday Falcon Heavy launch (which will be historic). From there, to DC on Tuesday night. I’ll be checking in from the road, but be good in comments.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
The Lancet
It’s catching up on the nutrition science:
High carbohydrate intake was associated with higher risk of total mortality, whereas total fat and individual types of fat were related to lower total mortality. Total fat and types of fat were not associated with cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular disease mortality, whereas saturated fat had an inverse association with stroke. Global dietary guidelines should be reconsidered in light of these findings.
It’s a epidemiological study, but it matches most recent research.
The Challenger Anniversary
It’s been thirty-two years now.
What I wrote about the Challenger loss in 2002: https://t.co/824SNJrUb2
And 2008: https://t.co/kl1Vv3D8Pihttps://t.co/TyeTJz6EVj
It was my birthday.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 28, 2018
Comments open for peoples’ memories.
Hillary Couldn’t Be Proven Guilty
…without showing that Obama was guilty as well.
The fix was in from the very beginning.
The Latest On SpaceX
Chris Bergin has the story. As he notes, the company is clearing out its inventory of previous-block boosters.
[Update a while later]
Hearing that they’re targeting 13:30 on February 6th for the launch attempt. That’s cutting it close to when I have to fly up to DC.
This is why I don’t use it much, and have multiple Twitter accounts. Because I interact with multiple communities.
The Memo
A Virus
A synthetic, anti-bacterial virus.
Faster, please, except I’m concerned that this could be weaponized.
Falcon Heavy Static Fire
Chris Gebhart is live streaming it.
[Update a couple minutes later]
Also Florida Today.
[Update a few minutes later]
They fired, right at the opening of the window. Probably have Youtube later today.
[Update a while later]
The fact that it happened right at the beginning of the window is a good sign, indicating that there were no issues with the wet dress rehearsal. I’m curious to know if all twenty-seven engines lit. If they did, they must be very close to being ready for a first flight. Also, they’re past Elon’s initial concern that the pad wouldn’t be able to handle the thrust, or the plume interactions. There should be no proble with lift off, and now probably the biggest uncertainty will be the ability to stage the side cores in flight (and perhaps fly and land three cores simultaneously).
[Update a couple minutes later]
Here’s Robin Seemangal’s raw video.
My raw video of the #SpaceX Falcon Heavy static-fire at Kennedy Space Center. Come for the cloud plumes, stay for the sound.
A French space reporter just yelled "It's like the 4th of July!" pic.twitter.com/vJssukqgIz
— Robin Seemangal (@nova_road) January 24, 2018
[Update a few minutes later]
Falcon Heavy hold-down firing this morning was good. Generated quite a thunderhead of steam. Launching in a week or so. pic.twitter.com/npaqatbNir
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 24, 2018
Looking at tickets for Florida.
[Update a few minutes later]
Here’s the view from SpaceX’s camera.
First static fire test of Falcon Heavy complete—one step closer to first test flight! pic.twitter.com/EZF4JOT8e4
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 24, 2018
If I fly in on Monday, I might see two launches. There’s a Falcon 9 flight scheduled for Tuesday.
“Mr. Steven”
SpaceX has a new boat.
No, I don’t know what the story is on the name. I’m asking Sandy.