Space exploration and development – more than numbers
With the first Shuttle launch around the corner, well, about four years away, in 1977, NASA described its soon-to-be capabilities in its “NASA Facts” series. “It takes off like a rocket, maneuvers in Earth orbit like a spacecraft, and lands like an airplane.” The “space telescope” – describing the far away yet-to-be-named Hubble telescope, including … Continue reading Flashback Friday – Dreams of a Space Shuttle 1977
At their best, graphs are pictures worth a thousand words, or better yet, art communicating only a few words but with deep meaning. But in a world of infographics, we also get visuals causing confusion and stirring debates well past that aspirational word count. In the spirit of trying to be more of the former … Continue reading Three graphs and a truck
Recently, NASA lost contact with the Voyager probe, a mistaken command signaling its antenna to turn away from Earth, and what tiny tickle of a communication connection remains. This was cause for concern, naturally, though in the grand scheme of things, after a long and productive career, Voyager already did everything it set out to … Continue reading Voyager – Earth’s blog, a playlist, and an invitation
“Rescue Party” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke written in 1946, but it is also the first time I read, at age eleven, about NASA and SpaceX (or “new space,” generally.) That seems impossible, and off by about four decades, but it’s true. Metaphorically speaking. The story is about time, the different speeds … Continue reading “Rescue Party,” a short story about NASA and SpaceX – written in 1946
Context is everything. We easily commiserate with others when in similar poor straits or celebrate an achievement all the more in a backdrop of difficulties overcome. Either way, the best stories have scars in the scenery. Recently, NASA canceled another X-plane project, the electric X-57 aircraft. The usual NASA news with pictures from the James … Continue reading Canceled X-planes, context, and NASA
I’ve been busy running experiments, well, the algorithms have been busy that is, once I set them running. Years ago, I wrote about using a genetic algorithm to evolve reusable launch vehicle designs, including the best way to pull it off. I called this “what” meets “how.” So, this wasn’t only about a power supply, … Continue reading “Trust the director”
I might go a few years, unfortunately, between reading a book I am strongly compelled to think and talk about. Think of that song that takes up residence for a week spinning in your head, like it or not. Only here the rent-free visit is a pleasure. The drought breaker this time is “There is … Continue reading A book review – “There is No Antimemetics Division,” by qntm (Sam Hughes)
Recently, the NASA Inspector General published another one of their periodic reports on the NASA projects that form NASA’s effort to put people on the Moon. These IG reports are always insightful, if difficult reading. More than any other NASA organization, IG auditors have access to people and information in vast, complex NASA projects - … Continue reading A NASA IG report, a story, and a question from the audience
No one was buying it. It’s the moment after NASA’s Constellation Moon program awaited someone saying the time of death, but before the same offices circled the wagons to defend something, anything, preserving parts of the soon-to-end Shuttle program. One of our first points noted our work was officially sanctioned. Not that the Secretary wouldn’t … Continue reading NASA, Moon to Mars, and the predictably likely and unlikely
If you follow the space sector, and maybe even if you don’t, the unavoidable impression is there’s so much happening fast. Space stuff and that AI shows up at every party. The days when only an occasional Shuttle mission, Hubble picture, or a Mars rover made headlines are in our rearview mirror. Today, it’s always … Continue reading Space, playing the long game
“My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.” The Red Queen, Alice in Wonderland Taking longer than initially planned or merely advertised is a hallmark of NASA projects, but the US Congress … Continue reading The NASA Budget – running in place or getting ahead?
“Unfortunately, I’m too overextended right now to be useful.” This worked, while not being a lie, getting me out of assisting on the year’s strategic planning document. Or, as the case was – a strategy slash roadmap slash implementation slash plan slash something about technology and what NASA will do to get where it wants … Continue reading A review: “NASA’s Moon to Mars Strategy and Objectives Development”
Two years ago this day, I published my first blog, never surprised I enjoyed writing, and I had more than a few thoughts on my mind. But why? Judging from the papers I wrote during my career, I am not a writer, and I won’t pretend I am. The record will show I wrote about … Continue reading Writing, NASA, the space sector, and a two-year milestone
Space system projects experience all the same phases of life as living organisms, from the cradle to the grave. Uncannily alike, too, even before birth, creators may write down a project’s lifeless but necessary instructions. It’s not hardware yet, it’s your creation’s DNA building blocks made of ideas. Sadly, a seedling may not sprout due … Continue reading About Starships and life cycles, but more too
This map updates a much older version from Kennedy Space Center (available here) for the recent news of the Space Force allocating three historic launch pads to four companies (Relativity, ABL Space Systems, Stoke Space, and Vaya Space.) How time flies. Once long ago NASA looked at Kennedy Space Center and the Cape as a … Continue reading It’s getting awful crowded out there – Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Zapata Talks NASA 