Category Archives: Business
The SpaceX Webcast
Gwynne Shotwell explains.
SpaceX And Orbcomm
The launch delays are costing money. Note this, though:
Commercial satellite fleet operators have said that with a price differential so large — more than 50 percent in this case — they can absorb the cost of even lengthy SpaceX delays without much trouble.
They’re changing the rules.
“When You Raise Taxes And Roll Out Burdensome Regulations”
“…a contracting economy is only a surprise if you’re an idiot. Or a member of this Administration and the press. But I repeat myself.”
Based on Megan McArdle’s assessment that the economy is bad news for Democrats (but, again, good news for liberty in the long run).
Here Be Dragons
Stewart Money has a book out on the history of SpaceX.
Deunionize The IRS
This proposal doesn’t go far enough. We need to do it to the entire federal government. Roosevelt recognized the dangers of public-employee unions. They’ve been destroying the country for decades, though.
The Apollo Model
It’s long past time to abandon it.
It’s hard to do, though. Many just can’t imagine any other way to do human spaceflight. And of course, those in Congress don’t want to lose all their opportunities for graft.
Just How Dumb Is Our Government?
There is no end of examples.
Sadly, it’s dumb because we’ve dumbed down the electorate.
Still Waiting For The Suborbital Future
Jeff Foust has an up-to-date status on the industry, ten years after SpaceShipOne’s first flight. Note also Doug Messier’s status on Virgin Galactic in comments, which sounds about right to me.
Congressional Hobbling Of Spaceflight
Michael Lopez-Alegria weighs in at the Huffpo:
Flying our astronauts should be a national strategic priority, and NASA should be free to continue expanding its use of public-private partnerships and building on its successes. NASA will always lead our nation’s exploration of space, but it must empower all the members of the team that makes that happen, including commercial companies. If Congress can ensure that NASA is cutting bureaucracy and getting the most value for its money, our nation will have a bright future of space exploration ahead of it. If not, our human spaceflight program may be a disappointment for years to come.
Instead, “safety is the highest priority.”
I may have missed it, but I’ve seen no support in the media for the Shelby shenanigans.