Random thoughts on politics, current events, popular culture, and whatever else interests me.
The Dragon has splashed down, ending an outstanding mission for SpaceX and NASA. Much more anon.
Addendum: Rand Simberg crows about the success of the SpaceX Dragon, as well as anyone should. But then, as the advocates of "New Space" tend to do, he gets carried away:
Sadly, that is untrue. There will be no government subsidized "commercial" crewed spacecraft until 2017. It's just this sort of thing that causes eye rolling among the adults. The flight was a great achievement. But SpaceX is years away from sending people and, in the interim, it still has to prove that it can run a space business as well as a space program.
Addendum: Rand Simberg crows about the success of the SpaceX Dragon, as well as anyone should. But then, as the advocates of "New Space" tend to do, he gets carried away:
Bottom line, in terms of our ability to get the job done if it’s important, America has returned to space. The dreaded “gap” caused by the shuttle retirement didn’t even last a year, thanks to the foresight of the previous administration and the vision of an entrepreneur.
Sadly, that is untrue. There will be no government subsidized "commercial" crewed spacecraft until 2017. It's just this sort of thing that causes eye rolling among the adults. The flight was a great achievement. But SpaceX is years away from sending people and, in the interim, it still has to prove that it can run a space business as well as a space program.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
ISS Astronauts Begin to Unload Dragon After Successful Docking
Meanwhile, Keith Cowing waxes wroth about Scott Pace's impertinence.
Because SpaceX is not proposing to run a space program where loosing an occasional flight could be considered an acceptable loss. It is proposing to run a space business where deliveries are made safe and on time every time.
Besides, Dr. Pace is only suggesting that SpaceX do what it says it is going to do anyway.
Meanwhile, Keith Cowing waxes wroth about Scott Pace's impertinence.
More Griffin era, out-of-date, sour grapes thinking from a Romney campaign advisor. Please tell me, Scott, where are the legal or agency requirements or 6 or 7 cargo flights prior to crew flights on Falcon 9/Dragon? Answer: there are no such requirements. You are just throwing imaginary hurdles in front of SpaceX so as to make their successes look less impressive than they are. And where is a precedent for such hurdles? Certainly not in the historical record of American human spaceflight. Why was the Space Shuttle allowed to fly with a crew on its very first flight? Human crews flew on the third Gemini/Titan II flight, Apollo crews flew on the third Saturn V flight, etc. How many cargo-only Ares 1/Orion flights were you and Mike going to have before you flew crews? Certainly not "six or seven times consecutively". So why are you suddenly calling for SpaceX to meet criteria never levied upon NASA by you or anyone else?
Because SpaceX is not proposing to run a space program where loosing an occasional flight could be considered an acceptable loss. It is proposing to run a space business where deliveries are made safe and on time every time.
Besides, Dr. Pace is only suggesting that SpaceX do what it says it is going to do anyway.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Paul Krugman apparently want to build high speed rail in order to fight space aliens. It is not the first time he has raised the specter of alien invasion to justify spending.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Rand Simberg had a fascinating exchange with Mike Griffin, the former NASA administrator about Rand's favorite subject: how heavy lift is evil. Dr. Griffin gave Rand the brush off, which has made him incandescent with rage.
Of course the reason that Griffin was so dimissive to Rand is that he does not react well to Rand's Dr. House "Because you're an idiot!" mode of making an arguement. Griffin is much too lofty a person in the aerospace pantheon to have to take notice of that sort of thing.
Of course if the case against heavy lift were accompanied by facts and real world numbers, and less in the way of accusations of bad faith, that would be a different story.
Of course the reason that Griffin was so dimissive to Rand is that he does not react well to Rand's Dr. House "Because you're an idiot!" mode of making an arguement. Griffin is much too lofty a person in the aerospace pantheon to have to take notice of that sort of thing.
Of course if the case against heavy lift were accompanied by facts and real world numbers, and less in the way of accusations of bad faith, that would be a different story.
The Obama campaign is making a little hay because Mike Griffin, a Romney space advisor, called for a moon base even though Romney slammed Newt Gingrich wheb he proposed one.
Nice try, but the attempt to distract from Obama's dysfunctional space program is not working. Romney is ahead in Florida by six points.
Nice try, but the attempt to distract from Obama's dysfunctional space program is not working. Romney is ahead in Florida by six points.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I was honored to witness this campaign speech in the guise of a graduation commencement at the Air Force Academy. Suffice to say the One wants to make a new American Century -- his way.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I shall be out of pocket until late Saturday, celebrating the translation of my carefree college student niece into a sober and mature married lady. I will also be witness to a speech by President Barack Obama at the Air Force Academy.
More of that anon.
In any case, limited to no wisdom to be imparted here until then. But enemies of freedom and truth be warned. I shall return.
More of that anon.
In any case, limited to no wisdom to be imparted here until then. But enemies of freedom and truth be warned. I shall return.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Biography: Walter Cronkite was Liberally Biased
Jim Oberg offers some further insights:
March 6, 2006
Cronkite on space: inspiration, not information. Honoring the enthusiasm, overlooking the inaccuracies
May 31, 2007
Walter Cronkite, the NY Times, and the Korean Airliner Massacre. [endorses US to blame for KAL-007 airliner shootdown]
Feb 20, 1996
Open Letter to Walter Cronkite re Michel Brun's Distortions. [asking correction of endorsement of KAL-007 conspiracy theory]
Jim Oberg offers some further insights:
March 6, 2006
Cronkite on space: inspiration, not information. Honoring the enthusiasm, overlooking the inaccuracies
May 31, 2007
Walter Cronkite, the NY Times, and the Korean Airliner Massacre. [endorses US to blame for KAL-007 airliner shootdown]
Feb 20, 1996
Open Letter to Walter Cronkite re Michel Brun's Distortions. [asking correction of endorsement of KAL-007 conspiracy theory]
Mike Griffin's talk tomorrow will likely be the first illumination into what a Romney space policy will be. It is interesting that he is touting a "Space Exploration Policy Goals Which Transcend Partisan Political Concerns," which suggests that the current one is very partisan indeed. Since both parties in Congress have not greeted Obamaspace with very great enthusiasm, that might make a good talking point.
Sadly, I will probably not be able to comment until late Saturday or early Sunday as I will be out of town at a family celebration.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
John Birmingham imagines a remake of 'The Magnificent Seven' starring Timothy Oliphant, Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and -- Daniel Radcliff?
Friday, May 18, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Why Mitt Romney Leads Among Women
Ever since the contraception mandate controversy and continuing through the Rush Limbaugh/Sandra Fluke kerfuffle, the Obama campaign has been trumpeting the idea of a Republican "war on women."
Paul Spudis has some words of wisdom in advance of the hopefully successful flight of the SpaceX Dragon.
My Favorite:
Yeah verily yeah.
My Favorite:
The creation of SpaceX capability is not “commercial” in the sense that we in the capitalist United States of America understand it. Likewise, a government space program is not “socialism.”
Yeah verily yeah.
Chris Matthews Does Worse Than Sarah Palin Would on 'Jeopardy'
Plus, Sarah Palin was right - Noam Chomsky?
Plus, Sarah Palin was right - Noam Chomsky?
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows' Full of Whimsy and Camp
Tim Burton's "Dark Shadows," starring Johnny Depp as the iconic vampire Barnabas Collins, is not so much a retelling of the iconic 1960s gothic soap opera as it is a homage to it, using characters and plot elements from the TV show.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Elizabeth Warren May Have Connection to the Trail of Tears
Elizabeth Warren, the Harvard Law professor and senate candidate, has been mocked relentlessly for her claim of being 1/32nd Cherokee, and hence a Native American. A new report has placed an awful twist on the claim.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Saturday, May 05, 2012
We saw Avengers last night and concur completely with this review.
Does this mean that the long yearned for sequel to "Serenity" can now be made?
As good as the performances are, and as extravagant as the movie’s gleaming art design is, the most rousing aspect of The Avengers is the liberation it surely prefigures for Whedon. Having successfully subordinated himself to the purposes of the Marvel empire, he can now move on to bring his own visions to the screen, with the larger budgets his unique talent warrants. Unlike the pitiful Loki, Whedon would seem to be a man who really is on his way to world conquest.
Does this mean that the long yearned for sequel to "Serenity" can now be made?
Friday, May 04, 2012
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
What's Next for Newt Gingrich?
What is ahead for Newt Gingrich, now that he has taken the well overdue decision to officially withdraw from the race? Rich Galen, an old associate of the former speaker, suggests that he will do just fine, in a piece in the Daily Beast.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Here is a delicious bit of alternate history:
I wonder how McGovern would have responded?
Imagine if President Nixon had decided to base his 1972 re-election campaign on the boast that he landed on the moon. His predecessors tried and failed for eight years. It wasn't an easy decision--what if something went wrong? But that's why you hire a president, to make those gutsy calls. Which path would George McGovern have taken?
That's analogous to President Obama's effort to campaign on the killing of Osama bin Laden. His absurd braggadocio is turning one of the few successes to occur under his leadership into a political liability.
I wonder how McGovern would have responded?