Administrative, Business, Space, Technology and Society

On The Road Again

6 Comments

We’re driving to Colorado for Thanksgiving, so not much posting before Wednesday. Meanwhile, if you have a subscription, I’m quoted in the Sunday edition of the Times of London. The subject is the race between Jeff’s tortoise and Elon’s hare.

[Update a while later, before hitting the road]

This is the quote from me: “‘It appears Bezos is finally getting serious,’ said Rand Simberg, a space industry consultant. ‘To this point, Blue Origin has looked more like a hobby. Jeff saw himself as the turtle to Elon’s hare — never realising that Elon was really the Duracell Bunny.'”

I actually said “Energizer,” but whatev.

Business, Political Commentary, Space, Technology and Society

Tomorrow’s Test Flight

68 Comments

What NASA wants to see.

[Saturday-morning update]

From my X feed:

Successes today: 1) Successful hot-stage separation 2) Got second stage close to planned suborbital trajectory 3) (And really important for next flight) water-deluge system seems to have protected the pad, so nothing preventing next attempt except fixing whatever caused failures

OK, a fourth success today: There seemed to be no engine failures on either stage right up until both were lost, so they’ve gotten over that hump, especially with the 33 Raptors on the booster. Huge success in terms of data gathered for further improvements in hardware/ops.

Question: Why would an FTS be triggered at that altitude/range? What’s the hazard to the ground? This is in fact the first I’d heard that the second stage even had an FTS.4551

Maybe because it was designed to enter intact, and they were concerned it would be an uncontrolled entry and hit someone downrange. I sure hope they’ll take that FTS off for operational flights with valuable cargo (including humans). Aircraft don’t have one.

Education, History, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Social Commentary, War Commentary

Bari Weiss

10 Comments

…gave a speech for the ages at the Federalist Society.

[Update a few minutes later]

Could the war in Gaza sink Biden? I hope it tears the Democrat Party apart. There should be no doubt at this point from what part of the political spectrum the anti-Semitism emanates. The frightening thing to me is how generational it is. Thanks to the Marxist takeover of our educational system, we’ve managed to raise young people to hate Jews, and to hate America.

[Update a while later]

It is time for us to all be Jews.

Biting Commentary about Infinity…and Beyond!