He’s posted a brief but complimentary review of the book (it’s buried deep in the post, after his lengthy discussion of his computer tech upgrades):
Safe Is Not An Option, by Rand Simberg is a reliability expert’s look at the space program. The book is discussed at length on its own web site. Those interested in the space program should read it: the book is quite critical of current space policies. It has endorsements from both astronauts and space policy analysts.
His general thesis is that NASA’s obsession, born of the days when “ours always blow up” and brought back with a vengeance by the Challenger disaster, is eliminating all human risk from spaceflight. That doesn’t work and the obsession is a huge obstacle to progress. There will always be risks, and we will always have heroes.
Simberg is an aerospace engineer with considerable experience and his analyses of various space incidents such as the Challenger Disaster are spot on, which is to say, I agree with them. Recommended.
Thanks!
Imagine if Amelia Earhart’s disappearance had had the same effect on air travel that Challenger has had on spaceflight.
I don’t think there has been any comment here about this: FAA Recommended Practices Human Space Flight Occupancy at NASA Watch.
It seems to me to be high level with few details. It leaves a lot open to FAA interpretation.
It struck me that in the early days, a US spacecraft was just a ballistic missiles with a man in it – and that a jihadist would think that was a stroke of genius. “Achmed! I figured out how to make our suicide bombers strike anywhere!”
We had a thriving and competitive space plane program from 1959 – 1968. It was one of the other competitive things that pushed NASA a bit during the 1960s. Things went south when they started trying to figure out how to put them on rockets. Cheers –
I better get my congrats in now before you get a fat head and forget all us little people! 😉
Ken – that’s for sure!
Praise for Rand from Jerry is high praise indeed. I have the book waiting for me in my Kindle account. Now just to get the time to read it.
The target audience for this book isn’t space enthusiasts, it’s really for members of Congress. So, any luck getting 435 copies in staffers’ hands?