Well, this should be the final nail in the coffin of Avenatti’s presidential ambitions. How could he ever win without this great woman standing behind him?
Space Traffic Management
Also, an excellent piece by @brianweeden on dealing with Space Traffic Management. Primary quibble: Should be "re-elevating AST out of FAA." For its first few years, it reported directly to the SecDOT.https://t.co/d46wOC1ikG https://t.co/6I6JKIMcAX
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) March 12, 2019
China’s Space Program
Dwayne Day dumps cold water on all the hysteria about it. I agree.
The 2020 Trump Budget Request
NASA starts at page 97.
It’s the beginning of the end for SLS. NASA wants to do Europa on a “commercial vehicle,” plans for Block 1B are “deferred,” and they propose commercial providers for getting to and from the moon itself, which means that SLS has nothing to do except the Gateway, and it can’t do the Gateway without the new upper stage planned for Block 1B.
It will be interesting to see the Congressional response. One thing it does do is continue to flow the wasteful funding for Block 1 to the right zip codes, so Congress may not care. Culberson is gone now, and if this budget passes with that wording, it would end the legislative requirement to use SLS for Europa.
[Update a few minutes later]
This budget is basically an implicit admission that SLS serves no purpose other than to ship taxpayer funds to the right zip codes. Even Gateway doesn't need it. Which means that the need for the Gateway itself goes away, since its primary mission was to give SLS something to do. https://t.co/oohwiukMwS
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) March 11, 2019
This is an OMB proposal. Bridenstine had to provide lip service to SLS to get confirmed. I wonder what he’ll say when he gets called on the carpet by Congress?
[Tuesday noon update]
Yes, Dr. Stofan, NASA could get to Mars sooner, but it doesn’t need more money, it just needs to spend the money it gets more sensibly. They could get to Mars in five years if they could use the SLS/Orion budget for something useful.
[Bumped]
[Update a while later]
Space Launch System recap over the last two years:
* Delayed from 2018 to 2021
* A single flight in Block 1 configuration to indefinite amount
* All upgrades deferred
* Europa mission moved because of delays
* Gateway moved to private rockets— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) March 11, 2019
But other than that, it’s had a great two years.
The Farmer’s Walk
This is the first time I’ve heard of this. When I had my physical last week, the doctor commented that I seemed pretty strong (for my age, anyway), but to the degree I am, it’s from normal physical activity (I carried a lot of heavy loads last year renovating the house in Florida: cement, flooring, etc.), not deliberate workouts. I should try this.
The CDC
Its gun data is getting even moreless reliable.
That’s pretty bad, since it’s never been reliable, or trustworthy as a basis for policy.
Statin-Induced Diabetes
What is the scope of the problem?
I had my first real physical in years last week. My cholesterol was normal (for me): 140+, with a good ratio and very low tri-glycerides. But per the guidelines he wanted to put me on statins. I not only refused, but told him that not only would they not help with my situation (per the Pfizer web site, which he’s probably never actually read) but that I also thought they are vastly overprescribed, when diet is much more effective. He was surprised on both counts.
Free-Market Meat
Some thoughts on the tradeoffs with animal cruelty. I would love to get pork in a cruelty-free way, and I’d vastly prefer factory-manufactured steak and bacon, if it was indistinguishable in every way from that obtained by killing cattle and pigs.
[Update a while later]
This seems related, somehow: Vegan “pork” rinds.
I disagree with this, though:
Apparently, the gourmands have discovered pork rinds. Yes, the deep-fried, not at all good for you, salt-laden, very high fat, treat found rarely if ever outside the US South or (as chicharones) where there is a sizeable Mexican consumer pool.
They’re actually quite keto, because low carb (close to zero). There’s nothing wrong with high fat, as long as it’s not seed oils.
Campus Hooliganism
It’s past time to punish it with donor strikes, if conservatives can. But at least under Trump, the Justice Department may start to address it.
Space Force HQ
Greg Abbott wants it in Houston.
Of course he does. Let’s put the HQ of one of the services in a place that gets slammed by hurricanes and floods on a semi-regular basis.
Vandenberg would be a good location, other than earthquakes, but Colorado Springs, the current home of Space Command, is probably best, both in terms of centrality and low risk of natural disasters (other than fire). It could even share the service academy with the Air Force.