Scroll down to read this post.

 

Without the support of my readers I could not keep doing this, not so much because of the need for income to pay the bills, but because it tells me that there are people out there who want me to do this work. If you wish to add your vote of support to Behind the Black, by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, you can do so in any one of the following ways:

 

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:

4. A Paypal subscription:


5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
 
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652


Northrop Grumman successfully test solid rocket booster for ULA’s Vulcan

Capitalism in space: Northrop Grumman today announced that it has successfully test fired the strap-on solid rocket booster, qualifying it for flight, for use on ULA’s new Vulcan rocket.

In the Jan. 21 static test, the motor fired for approximately 90 seconds, producing nearly 449,000 pounds of thrust to validate the performance capability of the motor, the company said. The firing also verified the motor’s internal insulation, propellant grain ballistics and nozzle in high temperatures.

If all goes right Vulcan will make its inaugural flight later this year.

Conscious Choice cover

Now available in hardback and paperback as well as ebook!

 

From the press release: In this ground-breaking new history of early America, historian Robert Zimmerman not only exposes the lie behind The New York Times 1619 Project that falsely claims slavery is central to the history of the United States, he also provides profound lessons about the nature of human societies, lessons important for Americans today as well as for all future settlers on Mars and elsewhere in space.

 
Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space, is a riveting page-turning story that documents how slavery slowly became pervasive in the southern British colonies of North America, colonies founded by a people and culture that not only did not allow slavery but in every way were hostile to the practice.  
Conscious Choice does more however. In telling the tragic history of the Virginia colony and the rise of slavery there, Zimmerman lays out the proper path for creating healthy societies in places like the Moon and Mars.

 

“Zimmerman’s ground-breaking history provides every future generation the basic framework for establishing new societies on other worlds. We would be wise to heed what he says.” —Robert Zubrin, founder of founder of the Mars Society.

 

All editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all book vendors, with the ebook priced at $5.99 before discount. All editions can also be purchased direct from the ebook publisher, ebookit, in which case you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.

 

Autographed printed copies are also available at discount directly from me (hardback $24.95; paperback $14.95; Shipping cost for either: $5.00). Just email me at zimmerman @ nasw dot org.

7 comments

  • pawn

    I thought Vulcan was canceled? I know NG shut down a bunch of development work after a Stop Work from the AF. Maybe this is the AF giving them some crumbs.

    The Vulcan was a disaster in every phase of it’s existence.

  • pawn: I don’t think you are referring to the Vulcan rocket that ULA is developing. While there are aspects of Vulcan’s design that I think are a mistake, it has so far not been “a disaster.”

  • David Eastman

    It was Omega that was cancelled. And it probably should have been, there is no need for a rocket of that class, specifically tailored to govt launches, anymore.

  • Jay

    Pawn,
    I thought the same thing a while back on a Vulcan article that was posted in August: https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/air-force-terminates-development-contracts-to-ula-blue-origin-northrop-grumman/#comments

    You are probably thinking of the Liberty or OmegA SRB rockets that were cancelled. Vulcan will use SRBs, but it is still waiting for the BE-4 engines.

  • Jay

    David beat me to the post!

  • pawn

    You folks are correct. I had a major brain fart and confused the Omega with the Vulcan.

    The Omega was doomed for a variety of reasons. One of them I always brought to the table was that there was no way the AF was going to pay to keep the Omega launch infrastructure in place if the SLS was canceled.

    Is anybody talking about what could possibly happen to KSC when they finally pull the plug on their white elephant? I know the tourism is big but you only need so many bus drivers.

  • pawn: KSC is doing quite well, and that is without SLS, which remember still has not launched. The many private launch companies are bringing the cape far more business than it ever saw when NASA was its only launch customer.

Readers: the rules for commenting!

 

No registration is required. I welcome all opinions, even those that strongly criticize my commentary.

 

However, name-calling and obscenities will not be tolerated. First time offenders who are new to the site will be warned. Second time offenders or first time offenders who have been here awhile will be suspended for a week. After that, I will ban you. Period.

 

Note also that first time commenters as well as any comment with more than one link will be placed in moderation for my approval. Be patient, I will get to it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *