Because India depends on the American Deep Space communications network — mostly unavailable due to the government shutdown — the launch of its first Mars probe, set for October 28, might have to be delayed for two years.
Because India depends on the American Deep Space communications network — mostly unavailable due to the government shutdown — the launch of its first Mars probe, set for October 28, might have to be delayed for two years.
This is unfortunate news indeed. However, if I was India (as well as other countries) I would consider this a call to develop their own deep space network.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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Because India depends on the American Deep Space communications network — mostly unavailable due to the government shutdown — the launch of its first Mars probe, set for October 28, might have to be delayed for two years.
This is unfortunate news indeed. However, if I was India (as well as other countries) I would consider this a call to develop their own deep space network.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
“However, if I was India (as well as other countries) I would consider this a call to develop their own deep space network.”
This is how the US went from 80% of the world’s commercial communications satellite business to 25% in 15 years. The federal ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) regulations were so onerous on foreign customers that Europe now makes totally non-US satellites. Even our satellite part manufacturers have been replaced by overseas manufacturers. And all because they wanted to keep the Chinese, Koreans, and Iranians from developing their own reliable rockets.
The hypothesis was that with such draconian restrictions, we would be able to control what information our space partners would give to these countries. Instead, the restrictions made doing business with the US so difficult or impossible, they drove our former partners away from the US markets and to make their own satellites and parts. There is no longer any control over what they tell these three restricted countries about making reliable launch rockets.
Now we don’t have the satellite market, and all three of those countries can launch their own rockets. Of course, now that the horse is out of the barn, the government has relaxed these restrictions. With a government like this one, who needs enemies?
Each time we prove ourselves to be an unreliable space partner we drive our friends right into the hands of our enemies. Who knows who they may partner with, should they choose to create their own deep space network, but it is clear that the US government — including NASA — is an unreliable partner.
Government can sure do some stupid things. I have a visual joke: “how does the federal government shoot itself in the foot?” Then I stick out my foot, make a gun out of my hand, and point my hand at my foot – via the back of my neck. (Note to zero-tolerance police: disregard the previous two sentences.)