Forty-Five Minutes Till Launch

March 27, 2004 Rand Simberg

You can follow the progress of today’s Hyper-X test here, starting at noon Pacific time.

[Update at 12:23 PST]

Fox News says they’re going to cover it, if you want to see it on television instead of your computer.

[Update about 1 PM]

As Hefty notes in comments, the B-52 is in the air. Listening to Fox is a little irritating. First they have the PR guy from the program on, and he’s talking about how this will enable a five-hour trip to Japan. That’s nonsense. First of all, you don’t need scramjets to do that–supersonic flight will. A scramjet flying at this speed would do the job in an hour and a half. But there’s nothing about this technology that deals with the real issues of supersonic/hypersonic flight–the drag and the sonic boom. This is a military technology, first and foremost, and its first application, if there is one, will almost certainly be in hypersonic cruise missiles. It’s also unlikely that it will be used in launch vehicles for a very long time, for reasons that I explained here, with responses to criticism of that article here.

I’m also irritated that they reflexively go to John Pike as their “expert.”

[Update at 4:45 PM PST]

The test appears to have been successful. Leonard David has the story.

Political Commentary

The Terrorist Connection That Won’t Go Away

March 26, 2004 Rand Simberg

With Terry Nichols’ trial opening up soon, LA Weekly reporter Jim Crogan remains on the case of linkage between OK City and the Middle East.

And I wasn’t aware that Jayna Davis is coming out with a book on the subject in a couple weeks. This could have unpredictable effects on the presidential race this fall. It certainly won’t do anything for Mr. Clinton’s legacy.

Political Commentary

The Terrorist Connection That Won’t Go Away

March 26, 2004 Rand Simberg

With Terry Nichols’ trial opening up soon, LA Weekly reporter Jim Crogan remains on the case of linkage between OK City and the Middle East.

Political Commentary

The Terrorist Connection That Won’t Go Away

March 26, 2004 Rand Simberg

With Terry Nichols’ trial opening up soon, LA Weekly reporter Jim Crogan remains on the case of linkage between OK City and the Middle East.

War Commentary

Nearing A Turning Point?

March 26, 2004 Rand Simberg

The fact that this is a news story is depressing. On the other hand, the story itself offers a glimmer of hope. One would like to think that the basic humanity of the people called “Palestinians” hasn’t been totally quenched by the oppressive conditions and brainwashing that they’ve endured for decades (and no, I’m not referring to the Israeli “occupation”).

Golda Meir once said that the war would end when the Palestinians decided that they loved their children more than they hated the Jews. This may be a sign that this is starting to happen.

General

Back in the USA

March 26, 2004 Andrew Case

I’m back from my travels, which were extended due to the untimely death of my father. I won’t go into detail, since that’s not what you read this blog for. Suffice to say he was a fundamentally good man who lived his faith in every word and deed. If there is an afterlife in which our actions in this life count for anything, then there can be no doubt he is well rewarded. If not, at least he lead a life replete with meaning, filled with life, laughter, and love.

More blogging after I’ve recovered from jet lag.

Space Education

An End To High-Power Model Rocketry?

March 26, 2004 Rand Simberg

I don’t know, but the news isn’t good. Tripoli just lost its suit against ATFE, and the agency will be allowed to classify ammonium perchlorate compound propellant as an explosive, which will be a significant damper on the hobby, since hobbyists will now have to get a federal Low Explosives Users Permit (LEUP).

This kind of bureaucratic stupidity is the reason that I’m not thrilled with the Bush administration, but there’s no reason to think that a Kerry administration would be any better.

The only way this can be fixed now is with legislation, but that’s unlikely to happen in an election year.

[Thanks to emailer Bruce Brazaitis for the heads up.]

General Science