October 27, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Blue Origin unveils what looks like a full scale model of its lunar cargo demonstrator
All we have so far is this tweet, but its vagueness suggests this is not even a prototype but a model for show. Jay also noted that it looks completely different than an earlier version from 2019.
- Space Force issues small development contacts to two software startups from India
These are the first Space Force contracts with non-U.S. companies. While wonderful news for the companies, one wonders why the U.S. military is not favoring American companies.
- Military struggling to take advantage of private enterprise to maintain and augment its satellite tracking system
This ground system of antennas is what is used to track all objects in orbit, including space junk, and is aging and also needs upgrade. The Pentagon apparently can’t get organized to contract private companies to do the work, so it isn’t getting done.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. 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:
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Blue Origin unveils what looks like a full scale model of its lunar cargo demonstrator
All we have so far is this tweet, but its vagueness suggests this is not even a prototype but a model for show. Jay also noted that it looks completely different than an earlier version from 2019.
- Space Force issues small development contacts to two software startups from India
These are the first Space Force contracts with non-U.S. companies. While wonderful news for the companies, one wonders why the U.S. military is not favoring American companies.
- Military struggling to take advantage of private enterprise to maintain and augment its satellite tracking system
This ground system of antennas is what is used to track all objects in orbit, including space junk, and is aging and also needs upgrade. The Pentagon apparently can’t get organized to contract private companies to do the work, so it isn’t getting done.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. 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.
Nice CO2 eater
https://newatlas.com/science/green-living-paint-produces-oxygen-captures-carbon-dioxide/
On conical sections
https://phys.org/news/2023-10-formula-strength-thin-conical.html
A message from Andrew Wong to Jeff Bezos, Oct 28
(taken from X – @ayankeeoriginal):
https://x.com/ayankeeoriginal/status/1718092599519826005?s=20
“Nice to see the latest in your paper rocket models. Since we know you don’t make any real hardware that goes into orbit, much less the Moon, can you at least sell these models on Amazon? At least the kids will have a kick out of them!”