Another with five stars, from Homer Hickam.
Thanks, Homer!
Category Archives: Technology and Society
A Trip To Mars
Is it a suicide mission?
Even if it’s extremely dangerous, with a very high probability of not surviving it, I think that’s a gross mischaracterization. A suicide implies a plan to do something that will intrinsically result in death, not take high risks for some other goal.
Who Owns The Moon?
Yet another space property rights piece, at The New Republic. My take is here and here.
Nice to see that the latter is what you get if you’re feeling lucky on Google with “space property rights.”
Virgin Galactic
Jeff Foust has the latest on their prospects for getting to space this year.
Vampire Rejuvenation
More thoughts on young blood, from Derek Lowe.
Soylent
A New Yorker reporter gives it a try.
I haven’t read the whole thing yet.
[A while later]
OK, I did read it. I was amused to learn that he was hawking it at my own local Whole Foods. One concern I have is his use of seed oils. Canola has too much omega 6 for my health. I’d use olive instead, though it costs more. If you don’t use virgin, though, it doesn’t have to cost that much.
Hilton’s Lunar Hotel
It got derailed by the space industrial complex.
Tomorrow’s Falcon Launch
…has been scrubbed, due to a failed static-fire test today. Seems to be an umbilical problem.
Maybe next week.
[Update late morning]
Here‘s the full story. As as often the case, it’s a range constraint. I’m sure that’s one of the big motivations to go to Texas. I recall seeing Gwynne wandering the hall at an AIAA conference about eight years ago (when they were getting screwed over at Vandenberg) muttering, “I hate ranges, I hate ranges.”
Apollo And The Pyramids
An analysis from Randall Munroe.
Launching A Space Start Up
Is now the time?
It seems like a very promising future, with a lot of converging technologies and trends.