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My February birthday fund-raising campaign for Behind the Black it now over. I sincerely and with deep gratitude thank all those who donated. Without your support 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. For those who did not contribute during the campaign, please consider adding your vote of support to Behind the Black, by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, 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. Donate through Gabpay, using my email address zimmerman @ nasw dot org.
 

3. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
 

4. A Paypal Donation:

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5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
 
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Starship launch still stalled by FAA

According to a tweet by Elon Musk today, Starship will be ready for its first orbital test launch in a few weeks.

Musk also noted however that SpaceX is still awaiting the FAA’s launch license, and because of this he now expects the launch in the third week in April.

Why it is taking months for the FAA to issue this license is disturbing, and suggests that under the Biden administration the feds are behaving more and more like the incompetent Civil Aviation Authority in the UK, which stonewalled Virgin Orbit’s launch for months so that the company now sits on the verge of bankruptcy.

Hat tip to BtB’s stringer Jay for this story, who will be gone for the next two weeks on vacation. Have fun Jay.

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. The ebook can also be purchased direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit, in which case you don't support the big tech companies and I get 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.

5 comments

  • Doubting Thomas

    But still.

    Musk and another SpaceX VP are predicting “towards the end of April”

    Hotels are on speed dial and reservations at Rocket Ranch Observation site been in place for 2 years.

    Fingers crossed

  • James Street

    Advantages that Elon Musk, like President Trump have are that they are both really smart, they are 3D chess masters, and they love a good fight.

    The government bureaucrats attacking them are cowardly idiots.

    The rumor is that President Trump is going to get arrested by the Democrats next week on drummed up political charges. Elon Musk tweeted about this “If this happens, Trump will be re-elected in a landslide victory”

    A meme to add a little 3D chess flavoring to the discussion:
    https://bit.ly/40fKkuX

    What an incredible time to be alive.

  • pzatchok

    There was a section of swamp land water shed that was for sale right next to the launch site. I found it one day looking for land in Texas.
    it was something like 500 acres a real cheap, but it came with total building restrictions and had to stay accessible to biologists and boat traffic.
    If I had a boat it would have made a great place to watch launches from.

  • georgec

    pzatchok,
    Some friends own some Maine land that only allows a wooden tent platform and a tent not more than 3 months a year. Very low taxes and no services but nice, if you like being fly food. My son went a couple times to help with construction.

  • Milt

    Here is more on the cumbersome process of launching something into space:

    https://www.floridadaily.com/florida-congressmen-bring-back-bill-cutting-regulations-on-private-companies-wanting-to-launch-rockets/

    Congressman Darren Soto, D-Fla., has sponsored a bill that will, in his words, “will eliminate unnecessary barriers that hamper the ability of private companies to obtain spectrum licenses required to launch rockets from the United States including locally at Cape Canaveral.”

    This would certainly seem helpful, but what can be done about malingering at the FAA?

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