I was thinking exactly the same thing when I heard this story on Fox last night. This is just (typical) classic projection from the Left, accusing normal people of what both what they are doing and plan to do. There is much to dislike about Trump, but accusations coming against him from the TDS sufferers are…well, deranged.
In Golden
We got in this afternoon. Stayed in Richfield, UT, which is a nice halfway point if one is taking the most direct route, up I-15 from SoCal, then I-70 to Denver.
Meanwhile, Galaxy Quest is the best Star Trek movie, bar none. We should watch it again over this holiday period.
On The Road Again
We’re driving to Colorado for Thanksgiving, so not much posting before Wednesday. Meanwhile, if you have a subscription, I’m quoted in the Sunday edition of the Times of London. The subject is the race between Jeff’s tortoise and Elon’s hare.
[Update a while later, before hitting the road]
This is the quote from me: “‘It appears Bezos is finally getting serious,’ said Rand Simberg, a space industry consultant. ‘To this point, Blue Origin has looked more like a hobby. Jeff saw himself as the turtle to Elon’s hare — never realising that Elon was really the Duracell Bunny.'”
I actually said “Energizer,” but whatev.
Tomorrow’s Test Flight
[Saturday-morning update]
From my X feed:
Successes today: 1) Successful hot-stage separation 2) Got second stage close to planned suborbital trajectory 3) (And really important for next flight) water-deluge system seems to have protected the pad, so nothing preventing next attempt except fixing whatever caused failures
OK, a fourth success today: There seemed to be no engine failures on either stage right up until both were lost, so they’ve gotten over that hump, especially with the 33 Raptors on the booster. Huge success in terms of data gathered for further improvements in hardware/ops.
Question: Why would an FTS be triggered at that altitude/range? What’s the hazard to the ground? This is in fact the first I’d heard that the second stage even had an FTS.4551
Maybe because it was designed to enter intact, and they were concerned it would be an uncontrolled entry and hit someone downrange. I sure hope they’ll take that FTS off for operational flights with valuable cargo (including humans). Aircraft don’t have one.
The White House’s Space-Policy Proposal
Bob Zimmerman isn’t happy with it.
Against Safetyism
Is it a bigger threat than the ones it’s supposed to prevent?
They don’t mention space, but I think that safetyism lies at the heart of Kelly’s and Zach’s concerns.
Starship On Friday?
FAA has issued a NOTAM.
I’ll be at New Worlds in Austin, but they may show it on a big screen there.
ULA
It seems to be definitely for sale. It would make sense for Bezos to buy it.
Bari Weiss
…gave a speech for the ages at the Federalist Society.
[Update a few minutes later]
Could the war in Gaza sink Biden? I hope it tears the Democrat Party apart. There should be no doubt at this point from what part of the political spectrum the anti-Semitism emanates. The frightening thing to me is how generational it is. Thanks to the Marxist takeover of our educational system, we’ve managed to raise young people to hate Jews, and to hate America.
[Update a while later]
It is time for us to all be Jews.
Violent Students
Why didn’t MIT expel them?
We know why.
[Update a while later]
More details from the College Fix.
This is appalling.
[Mid-morning update]
On the lack of clarity and courage in higher ed.
[Update a while later]
The absolution of Hamas.