Category Archives: Technology and Society

No First-Stage Landing Today

The weather at the landing site isn’t acceptable. Look like only chance of demo’ing the landing on this mission is if it gets delayed to February 20th or beyond.

[Update shortly after launch]

All seems to be nominal so far, a few minutes after a beautiful sunset launch.

[Update a couple hours after launch]

SpaceX reports that the rocket came down vertical within ten meters of the virtual target. IOW, the landing probably would have worked if not for sea state.

Computer Upgrade

I just went from a 3.8 MGHz to 4.1 MGHz processor (A10-6800K), and doubled memory, from 8 GB of 1366 to 16 GB of 2133. The difference in performance is amazing. Mostly due to memory, I suspect (the only difference in CPU is the slight percentage increase in speed). Now to go put the old CPU and memory in her machine, which will be an upgrade for her Windows system.

[Update a few minutes later]

I’m sure the fact that the OS is on an SSD doesn’t hurt, either.

[Update late afternoon]

Oh, goody. In order to give her computer the new CPU/memory, I have to change the motherboard out, too, but the HP Pavilion case doesn’t seem to have cables marked. Sigh.

Last Week’s Little-Noticed Space Triumph

Thoughts from Instapundit on the FAA’s lunar move.

You know what else wasn’t reported much? The problems with SLS/Orion in the ASAP report. All the focus was on “lack of transparency” in commercial crew.

[Update a while later]

More thoughts from Tom Meyer.

[Early-afternoon update]

Analysis from Matt Schaefer
, of the space law department at Nebraska.