17 thoughts on “Off The Air Again”

  2. Editorial Comment
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    Rand, when you load up this blog with a lot of cross links to X and other multi-media links, it seems to take your server quite a long time to process and display. Even when the links aren’t being followed.

    This appears to cause somewhat odd behavior. Like for example a comment to a thread getting misplaced because WP loses place as to where you are reading as multi-media links get updated on the page and it shifts around prior to processing one’s mouse click.

    I’d recommend reducing the amount of multi-media links to maybe one or two “per page”. I know this sucks but it may make your blog behavior a little more consistent and not take nearly a minute for it to load into my browser.

    I appreciate all that you do and certainly aren’t expecting you to shell out 5 to 6 digit dollar signs on a server farm just as a matter of convenience for me.

    1. David, in case it might help, I’ll mention that I have no such problems with Rand’s site.

      I don’t allow Multi-media (video, sound, etc) to autoload on this browser, nor do I allow Javascripts to run. So, I see just links, not the media content itself, in posts here and elsewhere. If I wish to see the content, I just click it.

      As I recall, I had to change some hidden settings in Firefox (about:config) to accomplish this, but it blocks almost all popup or inline videos, even on sites where they’re both massively annoying and immune to most blocking (such as Fox News).

      1. Hi Arizona CJ thanks for the tips. However, I’ve done such things in the past but usually disabling things in the browser such as Javascript, much as I detest it, prevents a lot of websites from working properly. So much so that I gave up trying such shortcuts.

        1. You’re right, it does disable a few sites. That’s why I keep one of my browsers pretty much fully enabled; for the rare cases when I need a site that’s a mess like that.

          It’s a hassle, but, I’ve got a massive aversion to pop up or embeded video that autoplays, so for me, it’s more than worth it to disable it all.

    2. I haven’t had any issues like that. The site loads pretty fast, not instantaneous but fast. I run with minimal ad blockers these days as people keep complaining about not getting ad revenue.

    3. I’ve noticed that it doesn’t present a problem on my smart phone either, which is interesting. I have a feeling that it is more of a problem when I try to view this site from my machines at work. There is a lot of filtering of web links going on via third party security software there. That is probably the root cause of the delays I suspect.

  3. Apropos of nothing, there’s an easy solution to Artemis. Make a stack of reusable SuperHeavy topped by Starkicker (basically a tanker with the recovery hardware removed), responsible for lift to orbit and TLI), topped by a stubby version of the Starship lunar lander, responsible for Gateway rendezvous, lunar landing and ascent (expendable or reusable depending on budget), topped by lunar Dragon, consisting of an upgraded crew Dragon with 7 crew and the under development USDV service module.

    Older comment:

    The Dragon-based ISS US Deorbit Vehicle (USDV) on order has enough delta-v to serve as a lunar transport, launched on an expendable Falcon Heavy. FH would deliver the Lunar Dragon to HEEO where it would make one orbit, then use the USDV service module propulsion to proceed to Gateway in NRHO. It would augment the planned Orion-based Artemis missions, with 5 or more additional crewed missions, supporting either orbital research or enlarged surface crews. Lunar Starship could easily support up to 8 crew on the surface. Blue Moon maybe not. These would be end of life missions for the Dragons.

    1. I worry that NASA’s Artemis Program is the flypaper of New Space. Trapping private companies into an unfeasible lunar architecture that is ripe for delay and cost overruns. Sure it’s good money up front but what if things start to slip? Then there are the inevitable Congressional hearings and sanctions that go along when taxpayer money is involved and “wasted”. I wonder if when there will be a reckoning over SLS. Wondering if the New Space players would be better off going it alone.

      2. Any company that doesn’t use this opportunity to fund “what’s next” on their entrepreneurial roadmap likely doesn’t have a what’s next beyond more government contracts.

        Everything SpaceX has done is with what’s next for them in mind rather than just meeting contractual obligations and getting NASA and other customers to pay for a big chunk of it.

        1. The money is awfully tempting, esp. if you’re not at SpaceX scale. Heck even when SpaceX wasn’t at SpaceX scale they were desperate for DoD money.

          I don’t disagree with your premise. But what was that old saw? Money is the root of all evil…

  4. Off topic: the Democratic party candidate for Vice President was arrested a couple decades ago for drunk driving and later had his campaign staff lie about it. A few days ago he released an advertisement that used his car as a metaphor for competence.

  5. I’d love it if the site was set up as an https site rather than http. I can get to it under Linux as is, but my dual boot Win 11 partition coughs up a lung when trying to get here.

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