Another article about the medical and ethical issues. Too bad it doesn’t point out the need for a gravity lab.
A Pressing Question
Thought Exercise: Dinosaurs never went extinct, became dominant species. How expensive would it be to send dino Neil Armstrong to the moon?
— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Have to specify species. They come in different sizes. Also, do we have to bring him back?
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@Rand_Simberg OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO BRING HIM BACK! YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE A DINOSAUR ON THE MOON!
— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Well, you just made the problem a lot harder.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Who are you to say I can't leave a dinosaur on the moon? There's nothing about it in the Outer Space Treaty
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Anyway, the answer is "yes," but you couldn't do it in a single launch. Dinosaur to orbit first, then propellant separately.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Do you want to know total program cost, average cost, or marginal cost? How many lunar dinosaur missions are we talking here?
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
@Rand_Simberg I'm assuming a single mission, no research costs. Cost of materials / life support based on modern day human-based prices.
— Political Math (@politicalmath) April 3, 2015
@politicalmath Life-support costs would depend on whether or not you think dinosaurs are warm blooded.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) April 3, 2015
Anyone want to take a WAG at it?
SpaceX
…is starting to get busy.
The Paleo Diet
The results of a controlled metabolic study:
Even short-term consumption of a Paleolithic-type diet improved glucose control and lipid profiles in people with type 2 diabetes compared with a conventional diet containing moderate salt intake, low-fat dairy, whole grains and legumes.
Color me unsurprised.
Claire Berlinski On The Iran Deal
Me, neither.
The simplest explanation is that the president has sustained his delusions on this issue from at least 2008.
Democrats And Israel
They’re taking Obama’s lead, and turning on it.
There has to be a point at which, at long last, they lose the Jewish vote.
Obama
Though to be fair, he’s actually screwing over the Arabs, too, favoring Persia.
[Update a few minutes later]
Sorry, broken link is fixed now.
The Sore Winners In Indiana
Matt Welch, on the lynch mob against the pizzeria. Also, Scott Ott.
I’ll have my own thoughts on the anti-Christian fascists in Indiana later, at PJMedia.
[Update a while later]
[Update later morning]
Tim Cook’s hypocrisy on Indiana.
[Update early afternoon]
Ace takes on Bill Quick in an epic rant.
[Mid-afternoon update]
Libertarians must stand up for religious liberty.
Absolutely.
Integrated Vehicle Fluids
A nice video, from Frank Zegler at ULA.
[Update a few minutes later]
Why SLS is insane.
Fake Meat
An interesting story on the state of the art. It’s still terrible.
I think he’s too pessimistic, though, and ignores the technology that will probably create the breakthrough: 3-D printing.