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Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 

The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
 

"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News


Boom completes second flight test of one-third-scale prototype supersonic jet

The airplane startup Boom Supersonic on August 26, 2024 successfully completed the second test flight of its one-third-scale prototype XB-1 supersonic jet, taking off from the Mojave Air & Space Port in California.

The flight was manned by the company’s chief test pilot Tristan Brandenburg, and had as its primary engineering goal to test the retraction and deployment of the jet’s landing gear. During the fifteen minute flight the plane climbed to 10,400 feet and a maximum speed of 277 miles per hour.

The test checklist included retracting and extending the undercarriage for the first time, checking the plane’s handling, and the activation of a new digital stability augmentation system for roll damping to help maintain control in stall conditions. In addition, the right wing of the XB-1 was fitted with tufting to monitor the direction and strength of airflow over the wing.

The company plans a 10-flight test program with this prototype, eventually leading to flights exceeding the speed of sound. Boom also claims that its design will reduce the sound of the sonic boom, thus allowing its commercial supersonic jet to fly over land and increasing its commercial value. At the moment it has orders to sell as many as 96 of its full-scale plane to various airlines, including United and Japan.

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3 comments

  • David Reid Ross

    10,400 feet is… not high. I don’t even think that clears Loveland Pass in Colorado. Are they intending this for overseas and low deserts only?

  • Dave in Denver

    They plan to put in a flyable tunnel for the Colorado Rockies, about 1600′ below Loveland pass.

    But I imagine they have in their test plan to fly at higher altitudes in future flights.

  • BLSinSC

    So should all the results be MULTIPLIED by THREE?? If this was a 1/3 prototype then you’d think the BIG BOY could easily go 30,000 ft and at least 821 mph?? BUT, they used a FULL SIZE Test Pilot – was there no “Peter Dinklage” test pilot available?

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