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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 successfully tests core stage for June Falcon Heavy launch

Capitalism in space: SpaceX has successfully completed a static fire test of the core stage that it will use in its next Falcon Heavy commercial launch, now set for June.

This launch will be for the Air Force, and will place 23 satellites into a variety of different orbits. It will also help the Air Force certify the Falcon Heavy for future military launches.

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

4 comments

  • David

    Tom, is there a good reason for posting that old news here, as opposed to the actual capsule explosion thread, where it already is? Or are you just one if those people who can’t resist a chance to spread anti SpaceX fud?

  • Irv

    Dear Bob,

    It’s a genuine pleasure to listen to you and John. I particularly like the way John tries to “guide you”. But we both know he can’t do that.

    A couple questions if you ever get the time.

    1. I understand that the data is coming back at 1 kbs but is that the best picture they have? Perhaps Ultimaus really looks like the photo but it seems blurry to me. Is it my impatience or is that a poor photo.

    2. Jaxa photos are nothing to phone home about but are they being very cautious moving forward or are they concerned about overtime?

    Constructive criticism: I listen to you very closely because you have excellent insight but a the end your comments your voice fades away or drops off. Right as you are making your point. Fortunately I can replay it but even with the volume up the sound isn’t there. My point is I really really want to hear your words but they aren’t there.

    Nevertheless keep up the good work. Perhaps you get John to loosen up.

    Regards,

    Irv

  • Tom

    David,

    Why, yes, there was a good reason to post that “old news” as it was the first video I’d seen that, reportedly, showed the actual event. If that was posted earlier on BtB, I missed it completely and apologize for offending your obviously keen sensibilities. We all know that SpaceX and NASA have not exactly been the font of information regarding this event. I did see the original thread but couldn’t locate it at the time I found the video. Being a huge fan of SpaceX, and Behind the Black, I don’t shy away from transparency regarding honest mishaps as they are truly lessons learned; especially when no one gets hurt. And, Yes! I can resist those chances to “spread anti SpaceX fud?”. In fact, I can assure you that I’ve never spread a fud in my entire life.

    Tom

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