I can’t even start to describe how insane this is.
How do they propose to do two SLS launches for a mission when they are only planning one every couple years? And why in the world would they need one to launch crew?
Category Archives: Business
How Science Goes Wrong
A good survey from The Economist why we can’t blindly accept the “authority” of “science” or scientists:
Too many of the findings that fill the academic ether are the result of shoddy experiments or poor analysis (see article). A rule of thumb among biotechnology venture-capitalists is that half of published research cannot be replicated. Even that may be optimistic. Last year researchers at one biotech firm, Amgen, found they could reproduce just six of 53 “landmark” studies in cancer research. Earlier, a group at Bayer, a drug company, managed to repeat just a quarter of 67 similarly important papers. A leading computer scientist frets that three-quarters of papers in his subfield are bunk. In 2000-10 roughly 80,000 patients took part in clinical trials based on research that was later retracted because of mistakes or improprieties.
It’s a mess.
Doug Mohney Attempts To Educate Colebatch
The American Spectator has published a response, but Colebatch remains clueless.
It's a strange world in which we have to explain the advantages of private enterprise over Chinese communism to "conservatives" at @AmSpec.
— US Rocket Academy (@RocketAcademy) January 7, 2015
Reusable Rockets
CNES is getting in on the action:
Eymard was asked whether CNES is not in the position of having spent two years to catch up to SpaceX with a lower-cost expendable rocket in Ariane 6, only to find that SpaceX has moved to a partially reusable model that cuts costs even further.
“We don’t want to be in the position of appearing to follow in their footsteps all the time,” Eymard said. “But we admire what they are doing and we think it helps put pressure on all of us to do better.”
SpaceX, Blue, ULA, now the Europeans. But NASA insists on building a giant throw-away vehicle.
It's funny (or sad) that everyone is getting the reusable rocket religion except for NASA, who irrationally gave up on it after X-33 fiasco.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 5, 2015
J. R. Thompson said that "X-33 proved that reusability doesn't work." Which was, of course, totally illogical. It just proved X-33 wouldn't.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 5, 2015
SpaceX is attempting to land a stage, ULA and CNES looking into reusability. NASA continues to build unneeded giant expendable rocket.
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 5, 2015
“97% Agree”
…is 100% wrong.
Whenever I see anyone use the 97% number, I ignore whatever else they have to say, because they are either clueless, or shameless liars.
Conservative Commentary On Space Policy
My commentary on that stupid misfire at The American Spectator last week.
[Tuesday-morning update]
I have more thoughts over at Ricochet.
[Bumped]
Whiny Harvard Professors
It’s a brave new world.
[Update a few minutes later]
We need transparency in health care (and government in general), just as we do with fast food.
How Deep Can A Space Patent Suit Go?
On the eve of SpaceX’s first barge landing attempt, some thoughts from an IP attorney on the status of Blue Origin’s fly-back patent.
A New Amazon Review
Robert Graboyes, of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, notes the similarities between spaceflight and health care.
Progressivism
Will this year be the year that history finally turns against totalitarianism?
I hope so, but fear it won’t.