Delays in prepping the launchpad force Orbital to delay the first test flight of its Taurus 2 rocket
Delays in prepping the launchpad has forced Orbital to delay the first test flight of its Taurus 2 rocket.
Year: 2011
NASA has given its okay to SpaceX’s Dragon abort system design
NASA has given its okay to SpaceX’s Dragon abort system design for manned launches.
Elon Musk and the forgotten word
When Elon Musk gave his speech at the National Press Club on September 29, he was asked one question to which he really did not know the answer. He faked it, but his response illustrated how completely forgotten is one fundamental fact about American society — even though this fact is the very reason the United States became the world’s most wealthy and powerful nation less than two centuries after its founding.
To explain this fundamental fact I think I need to take a step back and talk about the ongoing war taking place right now over how the United States should get its astronauts into space. On one side we have NASA and Congress, who want NASA to build a new heavy-lift rocket to carry its Orion capsule beyond Earth orbit. On the other side we have a host of independent new space companies, all vying for the chance to launch humans and cargo into space for fun and profit.
Which is right? What system should the United State choose?
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First Soyuz rocket launch from South America scrubbed
First Soyuz rocket launch from South America scrubbed.
Astronomers snap a picture of a exoplanet as cool as the Earth
Astronomers snap a picture of an exoplanet six times the mass of Jupiter but as cool as the Earth.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
An evening pause: Having finally arrived in Tucson after four and a half days of driving, this song seemed most appropriate. I had previously posted a version taped live in a radio studio. Here they perform “Home” on television for Letterman. The energy is still infectious.
As they say,
Ah home!
Yes we are home!
Home is wherever there is you!”
Boeing’s private space capsule passes its wind tunnel tests
Boeing’s private space capsule has passed its wind tunnel tests.
How NASA’s bureaucracy intends to maintain control over space exploration
How NASA’s bureaucracy intends to maintain control over space exploration. More here.
GAO and SpaceX blast military’s plans to spend $15 billion for all its launches through 2018 in one purchase
GAO and SpaceX blast the military’s plans to spend $15 billion for all its launches through 2018, in one bulk purchase.
The reason given by the military for buying all these launches up front is to save money. In reality, it is to favor the companies they want to do business with, rather than open up the business to as many competitors as possible.
“After completing this study, we know less about dark matter than we did before.”
The uncertainty of science: “After completing this study, we know less about dark matter than we did before.”
Gerry & The Pacemakers – Ferry Cross The Mersey
An evening pause: From 1965, the Top of the Pops show. I’ve always liked this song, “Ferry Cross the Mersey,” but it is also fun to watch early television, with the band attempting to simulate playing to the original recording, while the kids on the dance fall make believe they’re dancing as they repeatedly sneak peaks at the cameras.
Russians plan to stick with ISS through 2028.
More Russian space news: They plan to stick with ISS through 2028.