The head of the company building Russia’s version of GPS has been fired.
It appears there are allegations of fraud and embezzlement. (He should have worked for MF Global, raising funds for Obama. Then he would have gotten off scott free!)
SpaceX’s launch manifest for 2013 includes three commercial launches in addition to its cargo flights to ISS.
All told, it appears that 2013 will a crucial year for SpaceX. They first need to solve the question of that engine failure from their October Falcon 9 launch. Then they need to begin putting into orbit the long list of private satellites that they have contracts for but have held off launching pending the success of the NASA deal. Once they do that, set to begin next year, they will have proven – beyond a shadow of a doubt — that they are for real.
And on that subject, Elon Musk had some thoughts yesterday about his European competitors: “Europe’s rocket has no chance.”
SpaceX’s Falcon is a new entrant to the launcher market. It has so far made only four flights, but it has a backlog already of more than 40 contracted launches. Its quoted price under $60m per flight is proving highly attractive to satellite operators who have to pay substantially more to get on an Ariane. “Not only can we sustain the prices, but the next version of Falcon 9 is actually able to go to a lower price,” warned Mr Musk. “So if Ariane can’t compete with the current Falcon 9, it sure as hell can’t compete with the next one.”
Three astronauts safely returned to Earth today after a 125-day stay on ISS.
An evening pause:
An evening pause: One of my favorite love songs, telling a life story in five verses.
An evening pause:
The day of reckoning looms: A new audit has found that the Federal Housing Administration has a deficit of $13.5 billion for the fiscal year ending in September.
Success! California now has the highest poverty rate in the nation.
California’s state legislature and governorship have both been held by the Democrats for years. Both have repeatedly raised taxes. Both have repeatedly failed to balance the state’s budget. And both have been and continue to be eager to increase government regulation on the state’s citizenry. What could go wrong?
Update: In related news, Los Angeles’ film and television industry has lost 16,100 jobs in past seven years, mostly due to businesses leaving the state.
Good for him: Governor Bobby Jindal puts his rejection of Obamacare in writing.
Be careful what you wish for: Hostess Brands — already in bankruptcy — has decided to shut down because one of its unions refused to end a strike.
The closing will result in Hostess’ nearly 18,500 workers losing their jobs as the company shuts 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers nationwide, as well as 570 outlet stores. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union represents around 5,000 Hostess employees. “We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said CEO Gregory Rayburn in a statement.
So, because 5,000 union workers wanted more from a company that had nothing more to give, 18,500 lose their jobs, including those same union workers.
Sounds sensible, and right in line with most leftwing math.
Five ways to protect yourself from Obamacare.
It’s coming and you asked for it. And no one can yet guess how many problems it will cause.
Dust devils and radiation in Gale Crater.
