Sometimes less is more. This also applies to data. Too long ago to say when without sounding ancient, I came upon a holy grail of launch price data. Many Bothans died to bring us this information. The more extensive, second spreadsheet, not the first one. We had known about the existence of the data, shown … Continue reading When less is more
Month: September 2021
The unreliable narrator
There is the movie “The Sixth Sense,” and there are NASA cost estimates. I am not sure which is a better example of the unreliable narrator. “Call me Ishmael.” Why should I call you Ishmael? Most people would say, “My name is Ishmael.” What are you hiding? Of course, the first version sounds more intriguing. … Continue reading The unreliable narrator
NASA – TNG
The award said it was amazing what I could accomplish, "with an endless supply of NASA interns." This much was true, as they did great work. I mentored many students in their summers at the Kennedy Space Center. They always amazed me with a refreshing perspective on what might otherwise be a daily grind of … Continue reading NASA – TNG
NIAC September 21-23, 2021 – Virtual Event
Passing the word around. This years NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) symposium is open to the public. You can register here. "All are invited to attend this Symposium which will introduce NIAC Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III Fellows’ multidisciplinary research. NIAC concepts cover a wide range of innovations in a diverse range of … Continue reading NIAC September 21-23, 2021 – Virtual Event
The valley of death
We knew the valley of death was up ahead, as we had been there many times before. Most wouldn’t make it. Well, to be truthful, we knew nearly none would make it. The valley of death was not a place though, so much as a phase. Wild ideas, new technology and all those exciting, innovative … Continue reading The valley of death