This article is typical of reportage on supersonic transports. The explanation of shock waves is terrible (subsonic aircraft compress air in front and reduce density behind as well), and the focus is on the boom, which ignores the cost elephant in the room, which is wave drag, which reduces range below the vital trans-Pacific market, and puts ticket prices through the roof.
Category Archives: Technology and Society
A New Titanium Alloy
Adding gold vastly increases strength and hardness. I’d still prefer just regrowing the standard body parts, though.
I wonder what aerospace applications it might have?
Skinny Fat People
This is an excellent example of how simplistic too many people’s (including medical professionals) view of diet, dietary fat and obesity remain. The simply notion that you are what you eat is stupid.
John Kerry
…is an idiot. No air conditioners are not as big a threat as ISIS, but if you really believe that, turn them off at the State Department.
I Side With…
Gary Johnson, and 74% Donald Trump (13% Hillary).
Of course, the quiz is based on what Trump says, not on what he’s actually likely to do, since no on, probably including him, even knows what that is.
[Update a few minutes later]
A theory of why Thiel supports Trump. Makes as much sense as anything else.
Trump’s Acceptance Speech
I haven’t read it yet, but putatively, this is it.
I should note that I’m living in an empty house in Florida, renovating it for sale, with no access to media, other than over-the-air radio, tethering off my phone for Internet, and leaving garage door open in 90+ weather to hear Sirius on the rental-car radio. I feel like I’m living in the late 20th century.
[Update a while later]
I’m very interested in what Thiel says. I’m listening on NPR.
The High Frontier
The Space Studies Institute is offering it free on Kindle this week, to celebrate the Apollo anniversary. If you haven’t read it, it’s a classic. Actually, it is even if you have read it.
[Update a few minutes later]
Sort of related: Our discussion of Evoloterra last night on The Space Show is now archived.
Happy Moon Day
A reminder that I and Bill Simon will be on The Space Show tonight at 7 PM PDT to discuss our ceremony to commemorate the anniversary. My cell phone allowing…
Settling Space
During the anniversary week of the first human moon landing, Eric Hedman reminds is that we know practically nothing about the effects of partial gravity on human (or any animal) health. This is a sign of how unserious we remain about human spaceflight.
Forty-Seven Years Ago
The first launch on the way to the surface of the moon. 
It’s also the 71st anniversary of the first nuclear explosion at Trinity test site.
[Update a couple minutes later]
The anniversary of the landing is Wednesday. Bill Simon and I will be on The Space Show at 7 PM PDT to talk about the ceremony we came up with to commemorate it.