Random thoughts on politics, current events, popular culture, and whatever else interests me.
Monday, August 31, 2020
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Instead of a party platform, the Republicans have deferred to President Donald Trump, who has offered what is in effect a “Contract with America,” similar to the one Newt Gingrich drew up in advance of the 1994 midterm elections. Among the promises Trump has made is the following:
“Launch Space Force, Establish permanent manned presence on the moon and send the first manned mission to Mars.”
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Friday, August 28, 2020
For Space Show listeners, here is some further reading for your pleasure and enlightenment:
Why is it So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?
The Moon, Mars, and Beyond: Two Tales from the Coming Space Age
The Last Moonwalker and Other Stories
Children of Apollo (3 Book Series)
Space articles in The Hill (1)
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
Israel and the UAE are also emerging space powers. The UAE recently launched a probe called Hope to Mars. After a private Israeli group made an unsuccessful attempt to land a robotic probe called the Beresheet on the lunar surface, German company OHB joined forces with Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) to attempt a moon landing in 2022 using Beresheet technology.
Of particular note: "Launch Space Force, Establish Permanent Manned Presence on The Moon and Send the First Manned Mission to Mars'
Human presence on the moon and human mission to Mars, Mr. President. Just saying.
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Contrary to what Tom Hanks said, a lot of people made money during Apollo. In fact, according to Chase Econometrics, Apollo was a net plus to the American economy, remarkable for a government program.
Friday, August 21, 2020
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Monday, August 17, 2020
Sunday, August 16, 2020
The United States Space Force has just published a document entitled “Spacepower” that undertakes to define its doctrine and its role in keeping the peace on the high frontier of space. The document acknowledges the truth that space has moved from being a relatively benign domain, where people and nations peacefully undertake exploration and commerce and avoid conflict, to a potentially war-fighting domain, where nations may attack one another’s space assets and defend their own.
Also: Let the Space Force define its own ranks and The Space Force plots a new course
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Friday, August 14, 2020
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has undertaken a series of measures that have made him the greatest space president since John F. Kennedy.
Monday, August 10, 2020
Sunday, August 09, 2020
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has had an incredible week. It started with the triumphant return of Dragon astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from the International Space Station. The conclusion of their space mission was a curious combination of the modern and the retro. The Crew Dragon is a state-of-the-art spacecraft, yet it splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico dangling from parachutes just as they did during the Apollo program.
Saturday, August 08, 2020
Friday, August 07, 2020
Thursday, August 06, 2020
Wednesday, August 05, 2020
Tuesday, August 04, 2020
Monday, August 03, 2020
NASA Watch has a rundown of the political reactions to the return of the Dragon astronauts. One should note the offputting way that both Joe Biden and Barack Obama pat themselves on the back. I rather prefer the statesmanlike response of Charles Bolden, Obama's NASA Administrator.
"Let’s try to resist the temptation to politicize this achievement and the realization of the dreams of thousands over many decades now. There’s enough credit to go around and success is always possible when no one cares who gets the credit! - Semper Fi! Charlie B."
Words of wisdom.
Sunday, August 02, 2020
Call it a triumph of NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine’s relentless bipartisan approach to space policy. In any case, those who support the space agency’s Artemis back-to-the-moon program have found encouragement in the space plank of the Democratic Party’s draft platform for 2020.