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Readers! A November fund-raising drive!

 

It is unfortunately time for another November fund-raising campaign to support my work here at Behind the Black. I really dislike doing these, but 2025 is so far turning out to be a very poor year for donations and subscriptions, the worst since 2020. I very much need your support for this webpage to survive.

 

And I think I provide real value. Fifteen years ago I said SLS was garbage and should be cancelled. Almost a decade ago I said Orion was a lie and a bad idea. As early as 1998, long before almost anyone else, I predicted in my first book, Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, that private enterprise and freedom would conquer the solar system, not government. Very early in the COVID panic and continuing throughout I noted that every policy put forth by the government (masks, social distancing, lockdowns, jab mandates) was wrong, misguided, and did more harm than good. In planetary science, while everyone else in the media still thinks Mars has no water, I have been reporting the real results from the orbiters now for more than five years, that Mars is in fact a planet largely covered with ice.

 

I could continue with numerous other examples. If you want to know what others will discover a decade hence, read what I write here at Behind the Black. And if you read my most recent book, Conscious Choice, you will find out what is going to happen in space in the next century.

 

 

This last claim might sound like hubris on my part, but I base it on my overall track record.

 

So please consider donating or subscribing to Behind the Black, either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. I could really use the support at this time. There are five 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. Takes about a 10% cut.
 

3. A Paypal Donation or subscription, which takes about a 15% cut:

 

4. Donate by check. I get whatever you donate. Make the check payable to Robert Zimmerman and mail it 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.


SpaceX launches 5 Iridium and 16 OneWeb satellites

SpaceX early today successfully used its Falcon 9 rocket to put five Iridium and sixteen OneWeb satellites into orbit, lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The first stage successfully completed its eleventh flight, landing on a drone ship in the Pacific. The two fairings completed their third and sixth flights respectively.

The leaders in the 2023 launch race:

33 SpaceX (with a launch scheduled for tomorrow)
18 China
6 Russia
4 Rocket Lab (with a launch scheduled for tomorrow)

American private enterprise now leads China 37 to 18 in the national rankings, and the entire world combined 37 to 30. SpaceX now trails the entire world combined, including American companies, by only 33 to 34.

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 or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. 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

8 comments

  • Dick Eagleson

    16 OneWeb satellites in total.

  • Dick Eagleson: Ugh. I even wrote down the correct number on my scratchpad. Typing it correctly however into my computer was apparently a struggle. Now fixed. Thank you.

  • Willi

    The Rocket Lab launch has been moved to Monday night/Tuesday morning. One AM EDT, to be specific.

  • GaryMike

    Knowing that there is more open space in LEO space, I was always concerned about collisions between orbital launchers and constellation satellites.

    As more constellations and constellation satellites proliferate, I’m getting the sense that our predicative computing power abilities were already good enough in the beginning.

    As more constellations are added, the later companies have to accept the extra costs of increasing collision insurance liabilities which will eventually limit the number of satellite constellations.

    SpaceX got there first, lowest risk. The follow on constellation companies have somewhat different financial calculations to make.

    .National/Regional space agencies/their pseudo companies have noncompetitive business models because of their political choices.

    I was going to say “certain national agencies” but no government-based space employment system agency is being able to compete.

    I would assume any government project to establish bases on the moon and Mars would automatically assume Embassy statuses.

    Embassies don’t have local citizens

    Sovereignty of the free citizens of Luna and of Mars require self reliance and no Earth government largess.

    The sovereigns of Luna and Mars can democratically legislate the methods of creating private corporations and other legal entities free form the politicized encumbrances of Terrestrial predators. It should be done ahead of time. Creating such documents in the U.S.are protected free speech. Until you allow them to not be.

    Immigrants to the US have certain limited Rights. Same for immigrants to Luna and Mars. Which Terrestrial court has actual standing on the moon, or Mar’s.

    You stand there first, you get to decide.

    As long as you can keep it. 2nd Amendment, anyone?

    Man, what a rambling rant.

    RZ, I really want to swear, but I’m not going to because it isn’t necessary for this audience, just for the listening overlords.

    I’m not paranoid, I’m simply untrusting.

    It’s a free country. They don’t have to like me, I don’t have to like me.

    Makes for an interesting court transcript.

  • GaryMike

    http://www.transterrestrial.com/2023/05/21/human-missions-to-mars/

    I’m now feeling somewhat more comfortable in my positions. That shouldn’t imply that I didn’t accept some discomfort for having opinions about important stuff.

    Misery loves company, I guess.

  • GaryMike

    ” . . . the whole point of swearin’ is that it ain’t appropriate.”

    Kaylee

    ‘Jaynestown’ Firefly 2002

  • GaryMike

    The date difference of the quoted posts being what they are means you’ve actually followed me.

    I’m not discounting that it wasn’t just another mind fart passed out into the either.

    If i said it in the past (link please),I will own it.

    I understand that changing my mind is a personal act of contrition. If i were so inclined.

    I consider swearing to be a situational tool. Some people don’t like it, I do. They, in public places, can’t decide for me.

    Rolling Stones: “You don’t always get what you want….”

    1st Amendment

    I’ve learned that some people have a far narrower definition of appropriate.

    (Pardon me if this becomes a double post. I’m going to offer that it was all my fault.).

    The website is telling me I can’t post because my email is invalid.

    How can I able to log on and post?

  • James Street

    “Ugh. I even wrote down the correct number on my scratchpad.”

    4 out of 3 people struggle with math.

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