Big news. That planet they found last month, some scientists speculate that there are light waves emanating from it as a deliberate means of communication - with us.
Kewl.
Not that we can do much about it anytime soon. It's not like we can get there. Even if we could travel at lightspeed, which we cant, it'd take 2o years.
Maybe they can come to us. Hope they're friendly.
In big news we can do something about, Boeing has entered the commercial space race. Also kewl.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/09/16/space.flights/index.html?hpt=Mid
I'm thrilled to see corporations like Boeing and Virgin Galactic picking up the pieces in the wake of our government's short sightedness. It will undoubtedly have fewer direct benefits to mankind as a whole, as it will be focused on profit, and not exploration. But at least it's something.
Perhaps, as people get excited about commercial space travel, these companies will expand their offerings. trips to the Moon, or Mars for you and me (ok, for our kids) could be a reality. Heck, they could even open that theme park on the moon (minus the whalers of course).
But my goofy Futurama reference aside, this is great stuff. Incredible potential, especially as others enter the fold of this 'space race'. I can see new more exciting 'x-prize' type contests bringing a new crop of the best and brightest engineers to these companies, in much the way grads form MIT and such flocked to NASA in the 1950's and 1960's.
It's a brave new world. And for the first time in a while, It seems like we're trying to get there.
To Boldly Go!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Prepare to make the jump to lightspeed
A couple of headlines from the fellas at NASA this week. One amazing, they other very unfortunate.
Lets start with amazing. An earthlike planet has been found about 20 lightyears away. It's got water, and an atmosphere, making it likely to support some form of life. Pretty awesome. If only we could get there.
This is an incredibly exciting discovery, which ought to light the fires of exploration under us earthlings. Someplace truly exciting to Boldly Go! 20 Lightyears - that's like a 2 hour trip at warp factor 6.
Oh, wait. We haven't figured out lightspeed (which would make it a 20 year trip) let alone Hyperspace. Hyperspace - or subspace for the trekkers out there - is that 'dimension' if you will, where the physical rules of our universe are tweaked. This allows for MUCH faster than light speed travel, without the nasty side effects of a temporal imbalance between you and the folks at home.
Anyhow, the issue is less that we haven't figured it out yet. It's that we're not trying so hard. We're not going anywhere. We need to be.
We should be branching out further and further into the galaxy. Had we kept exploring after the Apollo program, surely we'd be ready to travel beyond Mars, perhaps beyond the reaches of our own Solar system.
We'd have been past Pluto to give it a closer look, and maybe not demoted him into whatever he is now.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. But we didn't.
We stayed in low planetary orbit, putting up satellites, conducting experiments, and building a space station. Good stuff, but it's not getting us anywhere.
And the newest headline. 1,200 NASA employees, part of the soon to be defunct space shuttle program, are losing their jobs.
Thanks Obama. Stimulus money well spent. We've got a few new roads. Harry Reid is getting his train from LA to Vegas (oooh).
Unemployment continues to skyrocket here at home. The terrorists are making threats against Europe. We're sending jobs overseas like crazy. And there's a war brewing on our southern border.
Maybe I'm leaning too far to the political right. But I'm no Glenn Beck. All those things, are true. No spin. Just turn on the news, and both CNN and FOX can confirm it for you.
Its a tough time to be an American.
It doesn't have to be. It shouldn't be.
After 9/11 we bound together with a common purpose. It lasted a few years, until the politicians spoiled it. You see when there's a common purpose for our nation, theres no 'other side' to the issue. It's all or nothing. Like Health-care reform and the Bush tax cuts. It's one way or not at all.
Asinine. Outright bullcrap. It's why we get nowhere, and live with constant government gridlock.
I give you a common purpose. Boldly Go.
Rally around it. Make it happen. It WILL stimulate our economy. It WILL create jobs. It will bring us new technology. It will change our world in ways we can only begin to imagine.
Boldly Go!
To the Moon, then Mars, then beyond. To that amazing world 20 light-years away.
If I had the means, I'd fund it myself at the expense of all else. It's that important.
Boldly Go!!!
Lets start with amazing. An earthlike planet has been found about 20 lightyears away. It's got water, and an atmosphere, making it likely to support some form of life. Pretty awesome. If only we could get there.
This is an incredibly exciting discovery, which ought to light the fires of exploration under us earthlings. Someplace truly exciting to Boldly Go! 20 Lightyears - that's like a 2 hour trip at warp factor 6.
Oh, wait. We haven't figured out lightspeed (which would make it a 20 year trip) let alone Hyperspace. Hyperspace - or subspace for the trekkers out there - is that 'dimension' if you will, where the physical rules of our universe are tweaked. This allows for MUCH faster than light speed travel, without the nasty side effects of a temporal imbalance between you and the folks at home.
Anyhow, the issue is less that we haven't figured it out yet. It's that we're not trying so hard. We're not going anywhere. We need to be.
We should be branching out further and further into the galaxy. Had we kept exploring after the Apollo program, surely we'd be ready to travel beyond Mars, perhaps beyond the reaches of our own Solar system.
We'd have been past Pluto to give it a closer look, and maybe not demoted him into whatever he is now.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. But we didn't.
We stayed in low planetary orbit, putting up satellites, conducting experiments, and building a space station. Good stuff, but it's not getting us anywhere.
And the newest headline. 1,200 NASA employees, part of the soon to be defunct space shuttle program, are losing their jobs.
Thanks Obama. Stimulus money well spent. We've got a few new roads. Harry Reid is getting his train from LA to Vegas (oooh).
Unemployment continues to skyrocket here at home. The terrorists are making threats against Europe. We're sending jobs overseas like crazy. And there's a war brewing on our southern border.
Maybe I'm leaning too far to the political right. But I'm no Glenn Beck. All those things, are true. No spin. Just turn on the news, and both CNN and FOX can confirm it for you.
Its a tough time to be an American.
It doesn't have to be. It shouldn't be.
After 9/11 we bound together with a common purpose. It lasted a few years, until the politicians spoiled it. You see when there's a common purpose for our nation, theres no 'other side' to the issue. It's all or nothing. Like Health-care reform and the Bush tax cuts. It's one way or not at all.
Asinine. Outright bullcrap. It's why we get nowhere, and live with constant government gridlock.
I give you a common purpose. Boldly Go.
Rally around it. Make it happen. It WILL stimulate our economy. It WILL create jobs. It will bring us new technology. It will change our world in ways we can only begin to imagine.
Boldly Go!
To the Moon, then Mars, then beyond. To that amazing world 20 light-years away.
If I had the means, I'd fund it myself at the expense of all else. It's that important.
Boldly Go!!!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Think Big
So today on the drive home it finally hit me. What's wrong with America, and maybe the world. It's been wrong for a long time. Maybe 15 or 20 years now. But here it is.
We don't think BIG. We the people who went to the moon, harnessed the power of the atom, carved our favorite presidents faces in the side of a freaking mountain. We've stopped thinking big.
We just get by.
Think about it. What was the last truly great invention? Personal computer. Ipod. Iphone. GPS.
Nice toys. Sure. Not ground breaking. Just evolution of other gadgets that have been around for a long time.
Not BIG enough.
Our government is no different. They don't think big enough either. It's no wonder we've so many issues. Every peice of legislation they put forth just carries the day. Buys us time until tomorrow. Band-aids on gushing wounds like the economy. Nothing at all for broken bones like social security and immigration. Just enough to survive.
NOT BIG ENOUGH.
Who thinks big these days? The forces of evil.
Al Queda on 9/11/01 thought big. Damn BIG. The acts on that day changed our world forever.
A bunch of guys who unleashed a computer virus yesterday took down email systems world wide. They thought big.
Somali Pirates. Yes them too. A bunch of guys from a horrible place, with guns and nothing to lose. Attacking huge ships, and taking on Navies. Stupid, but big.
The list goes on and on.
Why don't we think big anymore? Easy answer is it's too hard. You can't throw resources at a single BIG thing without some of the small things - the things that serve as the worlds band-aids losing resources. That's where the politicians get involved, and cause stagnation.
Sometimes we try to think big. Remember when we invaded Iraq, with a theme of 'Shock and Awe'. Big start to that. But it fizzled out and went to pot for a number of reasons.
Its time for America, for the world to think big again. Go big or go nowhere. Extremists and Terrorists wreaking havoc from third world countries? Go Big. As a people we've all got to say enough. No more terrorists. No more lawless nations. No more living in fear of someone who thinks bigger.
Think BIG!
You want alternate fuels? Great. Lets get them developed, for real. Go 'All in' and say after 2030 all new commuter vehicles must be fueled by something other than gas. Oh, and they cannot cost the consumers more than a gas powered vehicle. Get it right, and make it affordable.
BIGGER!
Go back to the moon. Go to Mars. Start now. Come on! If you've read other entries in this blog, you already know about the benefits this will have in new tech that will be developed. In jobs for hundreds of thousands. In the wonderful changes it will herald for mankind.
Go big or go home they say. We've been stuck at home too long. Time to go big!
Boldly Go!
We don't think BIG. We the people who went to the moon, harnessed the power of the atom, carved our favorite presidents faces in the side of a freaking mountain. We've stopped thinking big.
We just get by.
Think about it. What was the last truly great invention? Personal computer. Ipod. Iphone. GPS.
Nice toys. Sure. Not ground breaking. Just evolution of other gadgets that have been around for a long time.
Not BIG enough.
Our government is no different. They don't think big enough either. It's no wonder we've so many issues. Every peice of legislation they put forth just carries the day. Buys us time until tomorrow. Band-aids on gushing wounds like the economy. Nothing at all for broken bones like social security and immigration. Just enough to survive.
NOT BIG ENOUGH.
Who thinks big these days? The forces of evil.
Al Queda on 9/11/01 thought big. Damn BIG. The acts on that day changed our world forever.
A bunch of guys who unleashed a computer virus yesterday took down email systems world wide. They thought big.
Somali Pirates. Yes them too. A bunch of guys from a horrible place, with guns and nothing to lose. Attacking huge ships, and taking on Navies. Stupid, but big.
The list goes on and on.
Why don't we think big anymore? Easy answer is it's too hard. You can't throw resources at a single BIG thing without some of the small things - the things that serve as the worlds band-aids losing resources. That's where the politicians get involved, and cause stagnation.
Sometimes we try to think big. Remember when we invaded Iraq, with a theme of 'Shock and Awe'. Big start to that. But it fizzled out and went to pot for a number of reasons.
Its time for America, for the world to think big again. Go big or go nowhere. Extremists and Terrorists wreaking havoc from third world countries? Go Big. As a people we've all got to say enough. No more terrorists. No more lawless nations. No more living in fear of someone who thinks bigger.
Think BIG!
You want alternate fuels? Great. Lets get them developed, for real. Go 'All in' and say after 2030 all new commuter vehicles must be fueled by something other than gas. Oh, and they cannot cost the consumers more than a gas powered vehicle. Get it right, and make it affordable.
BIGGER!
Go back to the moon. Go to Mars. Start now. Come on! If you've read other entries in this blog, you already know about the benefits this will have in new tech that will be developed. In jobs for hundreds of thousands. In the wonderful changes it will herald for mankind.
Go big or go home they say. We've been stuck at home too long. Time to go big!
Boldly Go!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Remembering the Greatest Generation
This morning, I was privileged to march in the local 4th of July parade with my daughter and her Y-princess tribe. My wife and younger daughter watch on the side, so they saw the whole parade, including something amazing.
A group of WWII veterans, all of whom must be in their 80's or older, rode a float, re-enacting the scene in the famous photo from the battle of Iwo Jima. These elderly gentlemen, in the blazing sun, held pose for the full two plus miles of the parade, for all to see. These amazing men, who a lifetime ago perhaps fought that very battle, or certainly one like it, then came home to re-tool and rebuild a nation.
Last week my grandmother died, at age 89. My grandfather passed away 20 years ago in his early 70's. Of course I'm saddened by losing her, even though her health over the last few years had made that an inevitable reality.
I remember the stories she shared with me over the years, of how her family had so little growing up. How she raised my aunt, who was stricken with polio, while my grandfather fought in the pacific. How they worked so hard after the war, raising a family, while my grandfather worked long hours in the steel mill. The stories of how they went without during strikes. How my grandfather did not own a car until he was 47 years old. Real sacrifice.
What strikes me mostly though, is I've lost the tie my family had to 'The Greatest Generation', as it's come to be known. In my family, my parents generation is now elevated to that 'patriarchal' level. It's perfectly natural, circle of life and all that.
But here's the thing. That 'Greatest Generation', we are nothing compared to them. That generation, born or raised in the Great Depression, hardened by World War II. Then building the great industrial giant that would be the United States in 20th century. Those remarkable men and women of vision who set out to go to the moon, then went. Who brought us most of the technologies we rely on every day. A generation that Boldly Went.
They, as a society, set out to do things, and did them. They WON wars. They went to the moon. They put a car in every driveway. They had a vision of the future and made it happen.
The generations that have come since got nothing on them. My own included. We have vision, sure. We do not have the drive to see that vision through. We let a bunch of baby boom era politicians screw it up.
This is not meant to shed a light of disrespect on the baby boom generation. My Aunts and Uncles were incredible role models for me, and helped teach me the value of hard work and education. After my parents split in the mid 80's they, along with my grandparents helped turn me from a boy to a man. The politicians on the other hand, are not about hard work. They are about poor leadership and entitlements.
Think about it. Who was the last President that was truly respected. Bush Sr?, Reagan? Bring on boomers like Clinton, & GW Bush, and there's no respect. Not like there should be. And nothing gets done. Does Obama qualify as a boomer? Probably not, but the congress who's bidding he does (Pelosi, Reid, etc) is. I wish President Obama would stand on his own, but he does not. He does their bidding on every issue, further dividing our great nation. Boldly going nowhere.
When President George W Bush addressed the nation after the 9/11 attacks, we all seemed ready to sacrifice. All ready to do whatever we had to in order to protect our nation. All ready to commit our nations resources to eliminating terrorism around the world. Until the politicians and pundits decided it wasn't popular anymore. So now we've half hearted war efforts, that despite the sacrifice of our troops are not well represented by our elected leaders. Men dying for our freedoms, working to liberate rogue nations and fight terrorists. It doesn't get much more red blooded GI Frakkin' Joe American than that. Our elected leaders and media pundits have turned it into a circus.
When it really came time to buckle down and make sacrifices, by and large, we didn't. Our politicians complained about the costs of war. Our media outlets turned fallen soldiers into a spectacle. What has the average non military American really sacrificed in the war on terror? Another buck or two a gallon?
The Greatest Generation sacrificed. They sacrificed to survive, from the time they were born, to the time they died. Born of the depression they had little to begin with. Then while the men went off to war, the women raised families and retooled our nation to build weapons of war. The war ended and our veterans retooled our nation into one of the greatest manufacturing societies in history. They accomplished amazing things, and sacrificed to do it. Raising large families in tiny bungalows, working through labor strikes and race riots. That generation's sacrifices shaped our futures.
So to those great men, holding the flag this morning, and to my grandparents, and and all those heroes of the Greatest Generation, Thank You. Thank you for so many things you did, and lessons we should have learned.
Maybe, just maybe my generation or the next can get us back on course. Maybe then, we can Boldly Go!
This entry dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Martha Allie.
A group of WWII veterans, all of whom must be in their 80's or older, rode a float, re-enacting the scene in the famous photo from the battle of Iwo Jima. These elderly gentlemen, in the blazing sun, held pose for the full two plus miles of the parade, for all to see. These amazing men, who a lifetime ago perhaps fought that very battle, or certainly one like it, then came home to re-tool and rebuild a nation.
Last week my grandmother died, at age 89. My grandfather passed away 20 years ago in his early 70's. Of course I'm saddened by losing her, even though her health over the last few years had made that an inevitable reality.
I remember the stories she shared with me over the years, of how her family had so little growing up. How she raised my aunt, who was stricken with polio, while my grandfather fought in the pacific. How they worked so hard after the war, raising a family, while my grandfather worked long hours in the steel mill. The stories of how they went without during strikes. How my grandfather did not own a car until he was 47 years old. Real sacrifice.
What strikes me mostly though, is I've lost the tie my family had to 'The Greatest Generation', as it's come to be known. In my family, my parents generation is now elevated to that 'patriarchal' level. It's perfectly natural, circle of life and all that.
But here's the thing. That 'Greatest Generation', we are nothing compared to them. That generation, born or raised in the Great Depression, hardened by World War II. Then building the great industrial giant that would be the United States in 20th century. Those remarkable men and women of vision who set out to go to the moon, then went. Who brought us most of the technologies we rely on every day. A generation that Boldly Went.
They, as a society, set out to do things, and did them. They WON wars. They went to the moon. They put a car in every driveway. They had a vision of the future and made it happen.
The generations that have come since got nothing on them. My own included. We have vision, sure. We do not have the drive to see that vision through. We let a bunch of baby boom era politicians screw it up.
This is not meant to shed a light of disrespect on the baby boom generation. My Aunts and Uncles were incredible role models for me, and helped teach me the value of hard work and education. After my parents split in the mid 80's they, along with my grandparents helped turn me from a boy to a man. The politicians on the other hand, are not about hard work. They are about poor leadership and entitlements.
Think about it. Who was the last President that was truly respected. Bush Sr?, Reagan? Bring on boomers like Clinton, & GW Bush, and there's no respect. Not like there should be. And nothing gets done. Does Obama qualify as a boomer? Probably not, but the congress who's bidding he does (Pelosi, Reid, etc) is. I wish President Obama would stand on his own, but he does not. He does their bidding on every issue, further dividing our great nation. Boldly going nowhere.
When President George W Bush addressed the nation after the 9/11 attacks, we all seemed ready to sacrifice. All ready to do whatever we had to in order to protect our nation. All ready to commit our nations resources to eliminating terrorism around the world. Until the politicians and pundits decided it wasn't popular anymore. So now we've half hearted war efforts, that despite the sacrifice of our troops are not well represented by our elected leaders. Men dying for our freedoms, working to liberate rogue nations and fight terrorists. It doesn't get much more red blooded GI Frakkin' Joe American than that. Our elected leaders and media pundits have turned it into a circus.
When it really came time to buckle down and make sacrifices, by and large, we didn't. Our politicians complained about the costs of war. Our media outlets turned fallen soldiers into a spectacle. What has the average non military American really sacrificed in the war on terror? Another buck or two a gallon?
The Greatest Generation sacrificed. They sacrificed to survive, from the time they were born, to the time they died. Born of the depression they had little to begin with. Then while the men went off to war, the women raised families and retooled our nation to build weapons of war. The war ended and our veterans retooled our nation into one of the greatest manufacturing societies in history. They accomplished amazing things, and sacrificed to do it. Raising large families in tiny bungalows, working through labor strikes and race riots. That generation's sacrifices shaped our futures.
So to those great men, holding the flag this morning, and to my grandparents, and and all those heroes of the Greatest Generation, Thank You. Thank you for so many things you did, and lessons we should have learned.
Maybe, just maybe my generation or the next can get us back on course. Maybe then, we can Boldly Go!
This entry dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Martha Allie.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Congress to the Rescue??
I'll be darned. Whod've thunk it.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastructure/NASA-Space-Flight-Funding-Plan-Embroils-Congress-Obama-Administration-503112/
Boy, I hope this gains ground. It's the glimmer of hope I haven't seen in a long time.
Bipartisan effort to Boldly Go!
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastructure/NASA-Space-Flight-Funding-Plan-Embroils-Congress-Obama-Administration-503112/
Boy, I hope this gains ground. It's the glimmer of hope I haven't seen in a long time.
Bipartisan effort to Boldly Go!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Hydrogen Highway
Now this is a project our stimulus dollars should fund.
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/06/15/can-the-hydrogen-highway-exist/
One of the things keeping us from making a move to Hydrogen fueled vehicles is the lack of an infrastructure. So fund it. Put the stations in, and encourage the automakers t make cars that use it.
It'd be little different than the move from leaded gas to regular. Separate tanks, separate pumps, etc were needed for that back in the 70's. Start now, and the next generation of vehicles will be hydrogen powered.
Fund the infrastructure to put in the stations, or retrofit existing ones to carry hydrogen. Give automakers breaks, or funding to encourage partnerships areound development of hydrogen powered engines. Take bold steps.
Boldly Go!
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/06/15/can-the-hydrogen-highway-exist/
One of the things keeping us from making a move to Hydrogen fueled vehicles is the lack of an infrastructure. So fund it. Put the stations in, and encourage the automakers t make cars that use it.
It'd be little different than the move from leaded gas to regular. Separate tanks, separate pumps, etc were needed for that back in the 70's. Start now, and the next generation of vehicles will be hydrogen powered.
Fund the infrastructure to put in the stations, or retrofit existing ones to carry hydrogen. Give automakers breaks, or funding to encourage partnerships areound development of hydrogen powered engines. Take bold steps.
Boldly Go!
Tons of water on the moon!
Scientists believe there is literally tons of water under the surface of the moon.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/06/15/moon-vast-amount-water/
What does this mean? It means we're wasting an incredible opportunity.
Recall that part of the original plan for Mars was setting up a staging area on the moon, and embarking on the trip to Mars from there.
One of the key resources we need is water, as it can be converted to drinking water, and broken down into it's base elements for both fuel and breathable air.
It's not only already on the moon, but plentiful. It's almost as though it was left there for us, as a key to our destiny amongst the stars, just waiting until we were ready to use it.
We are ready. The time is now. Go to the moon, and harness this water. Drill baby Drill! That water will take us to Mars and beyond.
Boldly Go!
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/06/15/moon-vast-amount-water/
What does this mean? It means we're wasting an incredible opportunity.
Recall that part of the original plan for Mars was setting up a staging area on the moon, and embarking on the trip to Mars from there.
One of the key resources we need is water, as it can be converted to drinking water, and broken down into it's base elements for both fuel and breathable air.
It's not only already on the moon, but plentiful. It's almost as though it was left there for us, as a key to our destiny amongst the stars, just waiting until we were ready to use it.
We are ready. The time is now. Go to the moon, and harness this water. Drill baby Drill! That water will take us to Mars and beyond.
Boldly Go!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Go Soyuz Go!
http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/scitech/2010/06/14/russia-rocket-soyuz-prep/?test=faces#slide=1
Who would have thought it would come to this. Actually getting excited over a Russian spaceflight. As i started looking at this I caught myself thinking, wow, that looks pretty darned cool. Then the reality of what I was looking at set in.
Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave.
With 2 shuttle launches left is this what we've come to? We're relying on the Russkies to help us Boldly Go?
Sure we made nice with them after the cold war, but lately they've taken sides against us on a few little things. Terrorism, nuclear proliferation, Iran. You know, little things.
What in the world are the politicians thinking. We should have our own cool spacecraft. What a way to demoralize a nation. 'Yes we can' indeed.
Boy, do we ever need to Boldly Go!
Who would have thought it would come to this. Actually getting excited over a Russian spaceflight. As i started looking at this I caught myself thinking, wow, that looks pretty darned cool. Then the reality of what I was looking at set in.
Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave.
With 2 shuttle launches left is this what we've come to? We're relying on the Russkies to help us Boldly Go?
Sure we made nice with them after the cold war, but lately they've taken sides against us on a few little things. Terrorism, nuclear proliferation, Iran. You know, little things.
What in the world are the politicians thinking. We should have our own cool spacecraft. What a way to demoralize a nation. 'Yes we can' indeed.
Boy, do we ever need to Boldly Go!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Moon Dust and Alan Bean
Caught Alan Bean on the 6/10/10 episode of The Colbert Report. It was great to see him, and see the wonderful Apollo themed artwork he has created.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/312115/june-10-2010/alan-bean
He has actually found a way to incorporate moon dust into his paintings by taking his American flag and mission patches, and incorporating tiny bits of them into his paint.
What I would give to own one of those pieces. I own no real 'art'. The peices in my home are mostly bought at stores like Target. But something like that, created by one of the few pioneers who set foot on the moon, with pieces of the moon in it. How wonderfully inspiring.
He reminded us as well, of the small group of men who actually made that amazing trip from the earth to the moon. They are all in their late 70's or older, and will be lost to us soon, as the inevitable happens to each.
What wonderful men they are. Those who had the privilege to live in a time when our nation looked to the stars. So fortunate we are to hear the stories they share.
These amazing men, who were able to Boldly Go.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/312115/june-10-2010/alan-bean
He has actually found a way to incorporate moon dust into his paintings by taking his American flag and mission patches, and incorporating tiny bits of them into his paint.
What I would give to own one of those pieces. I own no real 'art'. The peices in my home are mostly bought at stores like Target. But something like that, created by one of the few pioneers who set foot on the moon, with pieces of the moon in it. How wonderfully inspiring.
He reminded us as well, of the small group of men who actually made that amazing trip from the earth to the moon. They are all in their late 70's or older, and will be lost to us soon, as the inevitable happens to each.
What wonderful men they are. Those who had the privilege to live in a time when our nation looked to the stars. So fortunate we are to hear the stories they share.
These amazing men, who were able to Boldly Go.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Hints of life on a Saturn Moon!
This is big news. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19005-hints-of-life-found-on-saturn-moon.html
Possible life on Titan. We should be able go see this firsthand by now. Instead, we're stuck hitching rides in low Earth Orbit, relying on robots and probes to do what Humans should be doing.
We are explorers by nature, and have always looked toward the unknown. Space is our next frontier. It is long past time we got serious about our destiny.
Time to Boldly Go!
Possible life on Titan. We should be able go see this firsthand by now. Instead, we're stuck hitching rides in low Earth Orbit, relying on robots and probes to do what Humans should be doing.
We are explorers by nature, and have always looked toward the unknown. Space is our next frontier. It is long past time we got serious about our destiny.
Time to Boldly Go!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Keep on Rovin'
Remember the Mars Rover's. I'll be t you don't right away. They've been up of Mars exploring, and taking amazing pictured for over 6 years. Check it out:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer20100519.html
The wonder of it is, there was fear at first that the rovers wouldn't work at all. But Spirit and Opportunity overcame early glitches, and have been working hard for us years past their expected life of 90 days.
Imagine if our gadgets here on Earth lasted 24 times as long as expected. No more disposable technology. No more DVD players that crap out after a year, or cell phones that die just before your contract is up.
If could happen, if we manufactured things to last. We don't. We let the lowest bidder manufacture our goods. We let the lowest bidder support our technology. We let the lowest bidder do way too much.
That works out well if you are in the Chinese ruling class, or a Wal-Mart executive. Not so much if you are a consumer, or out of work american who trained as an IT professional, or manufacturing engineer.
Meanwhile, Spirit and Opportunity, those aptly named gadgets, manufactured by NASA engineers, keeps on truckin. The space shuttles, designed in the late 1960's, first launched in the 1980's could keep flying for another decade if we'd let them.
Spirit and Opportunity, what names. What we could learn if we just stayed focused on a goal. The opportunities lie there, waiting for us. We have the spirit, we always have. Mankind has always looked to the stars. We just lack leaders with the vision to see it through.
It's time to Boldly Go.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer20100519.html
The wonder of it is, there was fear at first that the rovers wouldn't work at all. But Spirit and Opportunity overcame early glitches, and have been working hard for us years past their expected life of 90 days.
Imagine if our gadgets here on Earth lasted 24 times as long as expected. No more disposable technology. No more DVD players that crap out after a year, or cell phones that die just before your contract is up.
If could happen, if we manufactured things to last. We don't. We let the lowest bidder manufacture our goods. We let the lowest bidder support our technology. We let the lowest bidder do way too much.
That works out well if you are in the Chinese ruling class, or a Wal-Mart executive. Not so much if you are a consumer, or out of work american who trained as an IT professional, or manufacturing engineer.
Meanwhile, Spirit and Opportunity, those aptly named gadgets, manufactured by NASA engineers, keeps on truckin. The space shuttles, designed in the late 1960's, first launched in the 1980's could keep flying for another decade if we'd let them.
Spirit and Opportunity, what names. What we could learn if we just stayed focused on a goal. The opportunities lie there, waiting for us. We have the spirit, we always have. Mankind has always looked to the stars. We just lack leaders with the vision to see it through.
It's time to Boldly Go.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Farewell Atlantis
The final mission for Space Shuttle Atlantis. This would not be so sad, the retirement of the shuttle fleet, if we had something new on the horizon. Something to get excited about.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/05/14/vo.atlantis.shuttle.launch.cnn?hpt=Sbin
Sadly, our next great opportunity in space has been stolen from us by short sighted politicians, who'd rather spend the money to build high speed train from LA to Vegas for a prominent senator. Little projects to give a few people a little work for a few months to build some politician's pet project.
Instead of devoting resources to a national goal which will create new jobs for decades to come, new technologies, which will ultimately better all mankind.
No, why would we want to spend taxpayer money on the things hope and dreams are made of. there's your Audacity of Hope.
No lottery win yet. Maybe next week.
It's long past time, to Boldly Go!
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/05/14/vo.atlantis.shuttle.launch.cnn?hpt=Sbin
Sadly, our next great opportunity in space has been stolen from us by short sighted politicians, who'd rather spend the money to build high speed train from LA to Vegas for a prominent senator. Little projects to give a few people a little work for a few months to build some politician's pet project.
Instead of devoting resources to a national goal which will create new jobs for decades to come, new technologies, which will ultimately better all mankind.
No, why would we want to spend taxpayer money on the things hope and dreams are made of. there's your Audacity of Hope.
No lottery win yet. Maybe next week.
It's long past time, to Boldly Go!
Friday, May 14, 2010
What would you do with $100 million?
I know what I'd do.
It's a 20 year plan really. I figure it would take 20 years to amass the wealth required to get this done. We're talking Bill Gates & Oprah kind of money.
I'd invest in numerous grass roots based businesses with an intent to maximize the return on investment, and better communities by creating jobs. Use the proceeds to hire the best and brightest engineers coming out of MIT, or wherever. Consult with NASA veterans. Partner with captains of industry, and real leaders of men. Not politicians.
Forget the government. They don't have the guts to do what needs to be done. There are enough folks out there with the same passion and vision.
There is one goal, to better all mankind. To Boldly Go!
Now I just need to buy a lottery ticket. Lend me a buck?
Who's with me?
It's a 20 year plan really. I figure it would take 20 years to amass the wealth required to get this done. We're talking Bill Gates & Oprah kind of money.
I'd invest in numerous grass roots based businesses with an intent to maximize the return on investment, and better communities by creating jobs. Use the proceeds to hire the best and brightest engineers coming out of MIT, or wherever. Consult with NASA veterans. Partner with captains of industry, and real leaders of men. Not politicians.
Forget the government. They don't have the guts to do what needs to be done. There are enough folks out there with the same passion and vision.
There is one goal, to better all mankind. To Boldly Go!
Now I just need to buy a lottery ticket. Lend me a buck?
Who's with me?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Umanned Air Force Space drone
Not quite manned spaceflight, and probably just for spying, but at least we're developing something: http://www.space.com/common/media/video/player.php?videoRef=SP_100423_x-37-nasa-boeing
Well now we've done it. Broke the planet.
The oil spill in the gulf is pretty bad. Probably the worst ever.
Hell, the planet is leaking. That's pretty bad.
What's this have to do with space exploration you ask?
We've been relying on 100 year old internal combustion technology to get around on our world for too long. Sure, we've tweaked it and made it more efficient. But Americans are too stubborn to drill for oil where we should. We're dependent on drilling in the hard places, where it isn't so easy to fix things when they break -- or blow up. We rely on fuel from people who don't like us very much - but like our money.
The technologies to replace this aren't there yet. Alternative fuels such as corn based aren't perfected - maybe never will be. Hybrids are crazy expensive, and still reliant on petroleum. Straight electric needs to be better. Hydrogen is a still a fantasy.
Why? Very simple -- we lost our focus in the 1970's. I remember as a kid hearing about 'Space Age materials' and thinking 'Wow, that's gotta be awesome.' It was, way back then. Now those materials aren't space age anymore, they are the norm.
Where are the new 'Space age materials'? There are none. We've quit exploring, quit inventing. The men who had ideas to develop 30 years ago are gone. Now we have to re-invent the wheel.
Well we had better get to it quickly. New innovations are long overdue.
It's time to Boldly Go!
Hell, the planet is leaking. That's pretty bad.
What's this have to do with space exploration you ask?
We've been relying on 100 year old internal combustion technology to get around on our world for too long. Sure, we've tweaked it and made it more efficient. But Americans are too stubborn to drill for oil where we should. We're dependent on drilling in the hard places, where it isn't so easy to fix things when they break -- or blow up. We rely on fuel from people who don't like us very much - but like our money.
The technologies to replace this aren't there yet. Alternative fuels such as corn based aren't perfected - maybe never will be. Hybrids are crazy expensive, and still reliant on petroleum. Straight electric needs to be better. Hydrogen is a still a fantasy.
Why? Very simple -- we lost our focus in the 1970's. I remember as a kid hearing about 'Space Age materials' and thinking 'Wow, that's gotta be awesome.' It was, way back then. Now those materials aren't space age anymore, they are the norm.
Where are the new 'Space age materials'? There are none. We've quit exploring, quit inventing. The men who had ideas to develop 30 years ago are gone. Now we have to re-invent the wheel.
Well we had better get to it quickly. New innovations are long overdue.
It's time to Boldly Go!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Those Hydrogen Fuel Cells the car makers are trying to figure out -- there was an early version of them in use on the Gemini and Apollo missions 40 years ago. http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/attm/a11.jo.fc.1.html
Imagine if we'd stuck with the Apollo program then, and continued exploring. We'd have stayed on course as a people and reaped the benefits of the technologies developed.
Forget government bailouts. Set a national goal to return to space exploration. Throw your bailout money at that instead of pet projects of Senators that will give a few people work for a few months. A true focus on exploration would give tens of thousands work, and a renewed focus on learning and developing new technologies. Now and for generations to come. Benefits not just for Americans, but for all mankind.
Time to Boldly Go!
Imagine if we'd stuck with the Apollo program then, and continued exploring. We'd have stayed on course as a people and reaped the benefits of the technologies developed.
Forget government bailouts. Set a national goal to return to space exploration. Throw your bailout money at that instead of pet projects of Senators that will give a few people work for a few months. A true focus on exploration would give tens of thousands work, and a renewed focus on learning and developing new technologies. Now and for generations to come. Benefits not just for Americans, but for all mankind.
Time to Boldly Go!
Starting this blog
Why is mankind still earthbound? Think about 19th and 20th century science fiction. Jules Verne, Athur C Clarke, etc. We should be going to the stars by now. The space race of the 1960's got mankind off to a great start. Then we stopped.
We abandoned exploration, and got ourselves stuck in low Earth Orbit for decades. Now we're not even going to do much of that anymore.
The benefits of a renewed focus on space exploration would foster new technologies, new solutions for power, and innovations that would benefit us on earth as well as in the stars.
This blog is about the hopes and dreams for humanity to reach out to the stars again. Back to the moon, to Mars, and beyond. It's time, our governments be damned, it's time.
Time to Boldly Go.
We abandoned exploration, and got ourselves stuck in low Earth Orbit for decades. Now we're not even going to do much of that anymore.
The benefits of a renewed focus on space exploration would foster new technologies, new solutions for power, and innovations that would benefit us on earth as well as in the stars.
This blog is about the hopes and dreams for humanity to reach out to the stars again. Back to the moon, to Mars, and beyond. It's time, our governments be damned, it's time.
Time to Boldly Go.
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