You need a combination of imagination and practical actions to define and reach goals. Those goals don't have to be perfect. Often a near miss is sufficient.
It doesn't take a miracle to go from imagination to reality. It just takes actions which are never completely defined. So it's a serious insult to insinuate that Mars One is imaginary spaceflight.
Then Joel completely misses the obvious with, "Very spacious, modern, and most of all, clean." He focuses on clean as if the presentation should show the normal clutter of a lived in space. Why didn't he catch the more obvious, "This is where they are staying the rest of their lives."
No. They. Will. Not.
This is one of the problems with the Mars One plan. But this is fixable. Mars One is doing a lot of things entirely right because they are looking at what already exists rather than what they'd like to exist. They have talked with companies that already make the things for which they see the need. But they don't see everything which means before they send anyone some of those blind spots need to be made visible. Slandering them doesn't accomplish that.
Yes, dust will have to be dealt with, but let's not treat it as if it was a bridge too far. Dust can cause illness and even death on earth (berylliosis) but we deal with it. We will deal with it on mars. He sums up with, "visionaries never have PowerPoint slides showing astronauts scrubbing filters."
Guess what? He's one of the visionaries and he's pointed out a problem. That's the first step in fixing it. Nothing that works is pristine. It just has to work enough to do it's job. They have limited space on the I.S.S. to fix such things. They do not have limited space on mars if they simply provide a way to make more habitable space. They don't have to scrub filters if they make them right. Perhaps with a water bubble bath? Then you just change the water when needed (or put some fish or snails or whatever to do it for ya?) Whatever the solution requires.
Mars does not require the SLS. ...or many other showstoppers that aren't.
We need visionaries. Visionaries with money are especially helpful. We don't absolutely need naysayers, but they can be useful in keeping people honest.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Epimenides paradox revisited
Obama the Barrack says, 'all Barracks are liars,' but Obama is himself a liar. No paradox.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Odd how things turn out
Next election the GOP may find they are in absolute love with ObamaCare (of course, not for the reasons the left loves it.)
Update: The only problem with this strong case is that the left has been successful in marginalizing Faux News among their useful idiots.
That tingle is a trickle going down his pant leg. Chris Matthews says Obama has no leadership.
Update: The only problem with this strong case is that the left has been successful in marginalizing Faux News among their useful idiots.
That tingle is a trickle going down his pant leg. Chris Matthews says Obama has no leadership.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Industry on mars
CJ made such a great comment that it deserves a detailed reply...
I agree that building tractor from parts is easy (And with or without 3d printing, they'll have to be able to do that). But, shipping all those parts from Earth would be a lot of upmass. For the first few, not a problem, but I don't think that's viable long term. So, they'd need to go ISRU for parts (for both new tractors and repair parts on older ones.)
My scenario is a dozen colonists on the first mission and 26 months later three dozen more. Mission planners need to understand that a viable colony needs lots of skilled people. A single person might have all the skills four dozen have, but they don't have the production capability of four dozen lesser skilled people. I propose just one lander with parts for two tractors to support the first dozen colonists. After that, yes, it's all ISRU although the earth may be more generous than I am. I think those first dozen are capable of taking it from there, but absolutely they should be (if we send people with the correct skills) after the second mission which I will explain more in the following replies...
But... you mention skilled machinists making parts in seconds. Sorry, but I think you're way off on the timescale. Okay, try this (It caused me a rude awakening once); go to a machinist and ask if he can make you a new cylinder head, or for a Mars tractor, I'm thinking the electric motors, suspension, steering, etc Sure, he can make leaf springs for the suspension, but he can't make the shock absorbers. So, do without those, but what about the motors?
I've worked with machinists and it is amazing watching them do their thing. When I said seconds, I meant seconds. But that does not include the time to get to that point. I gave the example of washers which is a very simple part that makes up about 30% of the bill of materials for making the example tractor which would have to be adapted to a martian design but makes a good reference. They might start by pouring some iron into a dirt mold to make a rod. They would turn that rod to make a cylinder. Then they would slice that cylinder into shorter rods they could drill (not a hand drill but in a pinch they could use that.) Then they slice that short drilled rod into washers. That's the part that takes seconds. That's for a very simple part, so yes I was a bit misleading, but more complicated parts are done the same way... a series of simpler steps (not perhaps the ones I would come up with, machinists are smarter than me in this area) except more of them of course.
There's always setup and preparation, but once that's done (and perhaps takes a bit longer if they lack coffee) they can crank out a lot of identical parts in a day. (Clarification: a single part often requires several steps all of which require setup before production.) As a matter of fact, those jobs (prep and cranking out parts) are usually assigned to different machinists because they are two different personalities but they could be done by the same person. Sure, if you ask a machinist to do just one complicated part they will take time (and more coffee) but it will get done. I had friends with a company in a very small town (by small I mean a few thousand people hundreds of miles from anyplace bigger) that made electric motors and it is simply amazing watching them work. But ultimately you are right, making parts takes time. Almost anything can be made in a day or two however (in most cases you're talking about hundreds if not thousands of identical parts in a single day.) Keep in mind the parts you referenced are themselves actually made from multiple parts. So let's say on average it takes a day per part (and from seeing it being done I know that's generous.) In that case it would take them 1000 days to make the parts for a single tractor which is not bad since 8 hrs later it's assembled and added to the colonies assets (which is to say one colonist ordered and payed for it from those that had the skills to make it.) But they wouldn't do that.
I agree that building tractor from parts is easy (And with or without 3d printing, they'll have to be able to do that). But, shipping all those parts from Earth would be a lot of upmass. For the first few, not a problem, but I don't think that's viable long term. So, they'd need to go ISRU for parts (for both new tractors and repair parts on older ones.)
My scenario is a dozen colonists on the first mission and 26 months later three dozen more. Mission planners need to understand that a viable colony needs lots of skilled people. A single person might have all the skills four dozen have, but they don't have the production capability of four dozen lesser skilled people. I propose just one lander with parts for two tractors to support the first dozen colonists. After that, yes, it's all ISRU although the earth may be more generous than I am. I think those first dozen are capable of taking it from there, but absolutely they should be (if we send people with the correct skills) after the second mission which I will explain more in the following replies...
But... you mention skilled machinists making parts in seconds. Sorry, but I think you're way off on the timescale. Okay, try this (It caused me a rude awakening once); go to a machinist and ask if he can make you a new cylinder head, or for a Mars tractor, I'm thinking the electric motors, suspension, steering, etc Sure, he can make leaf springs for the suspension, but he can't make the shock absorbers. So, do without those, but what about the motors?
I've worked with machinists and it is amazing watching them do their thing. When I said seconds, I meant seconds. But that does not include the time to get to that point. I gave the example of washers which is a very simple part that makes up about 30% of the bill of materials for making the example tractor which would have to be adapted to a martian design but makes a good reference. They might start by pouring some iron into a dirt mold to make a rod. They would turn that rod to make a cylinder. Then they would slice that cylinder into shorter rods they could drill (not a hand drill but in a pinch they could use that.) Then they slice that short drilled rod into washers. That's the part that takes seconds. That's for a very simple part, so yes I was a bit misleading, but more complicated parts are done the same way... a series of simpler steps (not perhaps the ones I would come up with, machinists are smarter than me in this area) except more of them of course.
There's always setup and preparation, but once that's done (and perhaps takes a bit longer if they lack coffee) they can crank out a lot of identical parts in a day. (Clarification: a single part often requires several steps all of which require setup before production.) As a matter of fact, those jobs (prep and cranking out parts) are usually assigned to different machinists because they are two different personalities but they could be done by the same person. Sure, if you ask a machinist to do just one complicated part they will take time (and more coffee) but it will get done. I had friends with a company in a very small town (by small I mean a few thousand people hundreds of miles from anyplace bigger) that made electric motors and it is simply amazing watching them work. But ultimately you are right, making parts takes time. Almost anything can be made in a day or two however (in most cases you're talking about hundreds if not thousands of identical parts in a single day.) Keep in mind the parts you referenced are themselves actually made from multiple parts. So let's say on average it takes a day per part (and from seeing it being done I know that's generous.) In that case it would take them 1000 days to make the parts for a single tractor which is not bad since 8 hrs later it's assembled and added to the colonies assets (which is to say one colonist ordered and payed for it from those that had the skills to make it.) But they wouldn't do that.
They would never spend that time to only make parts for one tractor. Making multiple parts takes less time per part than making single parts. So in that thirty-four months they would make parts for perhaps a dozen tractors instead. Partly by having that one prep machinist work with a number of line machinists. More hands make lighter work. That electric motor company I mentioned only had about five employees and cranked out several motors of different models per day. Only the owner was the really skilled person and spent some of his time on administrative duties. However, they didn't make their own castings, rotors, coated wires and magnets. That would come from a different group but they also could work faster than you might imagine. Making wire is a simple extrusion process, dipped in a liquid insulator before being wound on a spool all in a continuous process. That process itself requires setup but production is much faster. As a matter of fact, setup may be all that requires a skilled person since production could be highly automated with a non machinist doing loading and unloading. That setup would be something repetitive itself, not requiring as much skill as coming up with the process in the first place. Everything complicated is made up of simple steps.
Designing the tractor to be easy to build would obviate most of the issues, but far from all. Forging isn't easy (ever watched it being done?) and even making steel requires a smelter and factory (plus a lot of O2). Also, ask a machinist if he can make a plain old nut and bolt that's interchangeable with others; yes, he can, if he has the right equipment, but it's going to take a huge amount of time and work, every time, and the machinery to do it en mass would fill several landers.
Industrial forging I haven't personally seen (other than those TV channels that will occasionally touch upon it) but I have done it myself in shop class as a kid almost four decades ago. The martians will build their capabilities over time and will specialize like any industrial society. They certainly will not start at a high level at first and none of the machinery will come from earth. Keep in mind a single blacksmith is a forger. From there you scale up. You are absolutely right about the importance of design and that will be the thing martians will be skilled at because of necessity. They will also be supported by millions of designers on earth that will do it for free (including transmission of their designs to the martians) just to be a part of such an adventure.
Bolts you might just stamp with some post production. Nuts, you would probably stamp and then tap (many at a time with a rig set up to do that.) BTW, coming up with the machines and rigs to make parts is a major part of what a top machinist does.
For another example, try asking a machinist to make a car transmission. He won't be able to. Same with a new engine, or even a master brake cylinder (as many a classic car buss has learned to their dismay). You can do a lot in a machine shop, but that's cutting, not casting, and some shapes just can't be made via cutting alone.
A machine shop is not just cutting. It's slicing, pounding, bending, turning, milling, grinding, pouring, compressing (which includes stamping and other variations) etc. I agree that casting often precedes machining if required at all after casting.
No a machinist does not make a transmission, but he will be able to make all the parts which a skilled transmission mechanic will then assemble (other than parts that don't require his/her skills such as casting.) (S)He doesn't even have to know what the parts being made are for. Again, this is where design becomes important. That tractor doesn't have a typical transmission, it's completely hydraulic. Yes, they can make all the hydraulic parts (the fittings anyway, hoses are made by somebody else.)
For small, simple parts like nuts, bolts, joints, sockets, etc, 3d printing would IMHO be far easier. (for washers, stamping is easier, but only if you need a lot)
3D printing has the advantage of flexibility but almost always loses the time of production race compared to other industrial processes some of which go back to the stone age.
Or what about small plastic parts, such as the cooling fan (just the blades) for a computer, or a space suit? Think about the infrastructure needed to make a new one; it's a lot. Or, you have to take along huge parts inventories. Far easier to print what you need.
You could but actually, I think that's where 3D printing really finds it's niche. Not in making the parts themselves but making the molds for an injection molding process which makes the parts magnitudes faster than 3D printing. 3D printing is more likely to be used when you just need that one missing part rather than a production line of them. As an example I read about a lady using 3D printing to make cookie cutters of her own design. She was a small operation but still needed five printers to keep up with orders. If her company gets any bigger, I guarantee she would have been smarter to buy just one printer and do production with injection molding. That's where she'll end up in any case (actually, probably using another injection molding company to provide fulfillment services.)
I don't see 3d printing as a show stopper (You can do it without it) but I think viable 3d printing could make the bootstrapping process far, far easier, as well as being far easier on the upmass side.
Agreed.
There are other showstoppers for Mars colonization, but even I don't think lack of 3d is one of them. I just think it would make it a lot easier, especially in a colony's early days, and especially if its on a tight upmass budget.
Absolutely right.
Now, what very well be a true showstopper regarding Mars colonization is an issue I've yet to see addressed; proper food preparation. Specifically, how do you design a smoking grill for Mars? You need hardwood or mesquite wood for it, and growing it would take years, and there's the smoke to consider, etc. After all, without real BBq ribs, human life cannot exist. :-)
Ya got me there. But even that will be accomplished in a shorter space of time than most imagine. Same goes for livestock.
Secondly, coffee; good coffee hasn't been successfully grown in greenhouses here on earth, so have we even researched how this can be done on Mars? This should be a primary research goal, placed well ahead of other, less critical colony necessities such as air and water.
:-)
I see your point. You've been absolutely great CJ. Thank you and keep it up please.
Finally I should say, very early they would not dedicate themselves to making parts for one product. They would simply make parts in volume related to orders not even knowing what those parts are going to be used for. You don't need a central plan.
Also, it's not just metal or plastic parts. I worked for a company that worked with beryllium oxide ceramics. Part of their manufacturing was hydraulically stamped from powder and those parts (thousands of them) took less than a second per part (granted martians would have a less capable press to start, but there's nothing preventing them from scaling up if they have the need.)
When I say "none of the machinery will come from earth" I do not mean it as an absolute statement. Where it makes sense they will import things from earth but even then probably only as part of the new incoming colonists mass allowment. Material for all the massive things they need are already on mars. They would not import those things. Yes, earth could make fancier things than they could make for themselves until they develop more. They will never need those things until they are capable of making those themselves. About the only thing I can think of is advanced microprocessors. Most other electronics will be completely within their own capabilities to produce. They will not even have to go through the brick cell phone stage. The entire core cell phone electronics are a single chip or two they can import. A single satellite sent from earth will take care of all their phone and internet needs for quite some time (allowing them to roam half the planet.) I can see all colonists having something like an Ubuntu phone which only requires a keyboard and monitor to be a desktop computer. The monitors would be an import but the keyboards they could certainly make themselves. Yes, I know the Ubuntu Edge Kickstarter project failed, but I'm talking capabilities here.
Designing the tractor to be easy to build would obviate most of the issues, but far from all. Forging isn't easy (ever watched it being done?) and even making steel requires a smelter and factory (plus a lot of O2). Also, ask a machinist if he can make a plain old nut and bolt that's interchangeable with others; yes, he can, if he has the right equipment, but it's going to take a huge amount of time and work, every time, and the machinery to do it en mass would fill several landers.
Industrial forging I haven't personally seen (other than those TV channels that will occasionally touch upon it) but I have done it myself in shop class as a kid almost four decades ago. The martians will build their capabilities over time and will specialize like any industrial society. They certainly will not start at a high level at first and none of the machinery will come from earth. Keep in mind a single blacksmith is a forger. From there you scale up. You are absolutely right about the importance of design and that will be the thing martians will be skilled at because of necessity. They will also be supported by millions of designers on earth that will do it for free (including transmission of their designs to the martians) just to be a part of such an adventure.
Bolts you might just stamp with some post production. Nuts, you would probably stamp and then tap (many at a time with a rig set up to do that.) BTW, coming up with the machines and rigs to make parts is a major part of what a top machinist does.
For another example, try asking a machinist to make a car transmission. He won't be able to. Same with a new engine, or even a master brake cylinder (as many a classic car buss has learned to their dismay). You can do a lot in a machine shop, but that's cutting, not casting, and some shapes just can't be made via cutting alone.
A machine shop is not just cutting. It's slicing, pounding, bending, turning, milling, grinding, pouring, compressing (which includes stamping and other variations) etc. I agree that casting often precedes machining if required at all after casting.
No a machinist does not make a transmission, but he will be able to make all the parts which a skilled transmission mechanic will then assemble (other than parts that don't require his/her skills such as casting.) (S)He doesn't even have to know what the parts being made are for. Again, this is where design becomes important. That tractor doesn't have a typical transmission, it's completely hydraulic. Yes, they can make all the hydraulic parts (the fittings anyway, hoses are made by somebody else.)
For small, simple parts like nuts, bolts, joints, sockets, etc, 3d printing would IMHO be far easier. (for washers, stamping is easier, but only if you need a lot)
3D printing has the advantage of flexibility but almost always loses the time of production race compared to other industrial processes some of which go back to the stone age.
Or what about small plastic parts, such as the cooling fan (just the blades) for a computer, or a space suit? Think about the infrastructure needed to make a new one; it's a lot. Or, you have to take along huge parts inventories. Far easier to print what you need.
You could but actually, I think that's where 3D printing really finds it's niche. Not in making the parts themselves but making the molds for an injection molding process which makes the parts magnitudes faster than 3D printing. 3D printing is more likely to be used when you just need that one missing part rather than a production line of them. As an example I read about a lady using 3D printing to make cookie cutters of her own design. She was a small operation but still needed five printers to keep up with orders. If her company gets any bigger, I guarantee she would have been smarter to buy just one printer and do production with injection molding. That's where she'll end up in any case (actually, probably using another injection molding company to provide fulfillment services.)
I don't see 3d printing as a show stopper (You can do it without it) but I think viable 3d printing could make the bootstrapping process far, far easier, as well as being far easier on the upmass side.
Agreed.
There are other showstoppers for Mars colonization, but even I don't think lack of 3d is one of them. I just think it would make it a lot easier, especially in a colony's early days, and especially if its on a tight upmass budget.
Absolutely right.
Now, what very well be a true showstopper regarding Mars colonization is an issue I've yet to see addressed; proper food preparation. Specifically, how do you design a smoking grill for Mars? You need hardwood or mesquite wood for it, and growing it would take years, and there's the smoke to consider, etc. After all, without real BBq ribs, human life cannot exist. :-)
Ya got me there. But even that will be accomplished in a shorter space of time than most imagine. Same goes for livestock.
Secondly, coffee; good coffee hasn't been successfully grown in greenhouses here on earth, so have we even researched how this can be done on Mars? This should be a primary research goal, placed well ahead of other, less critical colony necessities such as air and water.
:-)
I see your point. You've been absolutely great CJ. Thank you and keep it up please.
Finally I should say, very early they would not dedicate themselves to making parts for one product. They would simply make parts in volume related to orders not even knowing what those parts are going to be used for. You don't need a central plan.
Also, it's not just metal or plastic parts. I worked for a company that worked with beryllium oxide ceramics. Part of their manufacturing was hydraulically stamped from powder and those parts (thousands of them) took less than a second per part (granted martians would have a less capable press to start, but there's nothing preventing them from scaling up if they have the need.)
When I say "none of the machinery will come from earth" I do not mean it as an absolute statement. Where it makes sense they will import things from earth but even then probably only as part of the new incoming colonists mass allowment. Material for all the massive things they need are already on mars. They would not import those things. Yes, earth could make fancier things than they could make for themselves until they develop more. They will never need those things until they are capable of making those themselves. About the only thing I can think of is advanced microprocessors. Most other electronics will be completely within their own capabilities to produce. They will not even have to go through the brick cell phone stage. The entire core cell phone electronics are a single chip or two they can import. A single satellite sent from earth will take care of all their phone and internet needs for quite some time (allowing them to roam half the planet.) I can see all colonists having something like an Ubuntu phone which only requires a keyboard and monitor to be a desktop computer. The monitors would be an import but the keyboards they could certainly make themselves. Yes, I know the Ubuntu Edge Kickstarter project failed, but I'm talking capabilities here.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Perspective
"Putting things in perspective: March 21st 2010 to October 1 2013 is 3 years, 6 months, 10 days. December 7, 1941 to May 8, 1945 is 3 years, 5 months, 1 day. What this means is that in the time we were attacked at Pearl Harbor to the day Germany surrendered is not enough time for this progressive federal government to build a working webpage.”Yup.
The gbaikie prize
I would favor a Mars prize ... say 5 billion to land dozen people. Payable upon safe landing. Up to dozen and so 416.6 million per surviving crew. And another 416.6 million per crew surviving after 5 years on the surface. Prize expires 2033. Total amount possible 10 billion dollars.Ok, this is how I see it happening once this prize was announced.
Mars One contacts all their potential vendors into a room and says, "Let's go for it." They haggle the details revising the current plan. A little known blogger suggests they do it with two upgraded sundancers and hands each of the potential astronauts a copy of his settlement charter emphasizing the point that if a transportation company doesn't sign on to it only they would own martian real estate.
The moon is not Antarctica
Analogy are sometimes useful to communicate ideas. However, A is not ever B. Trying to force an analogy to reflect reality indicates a loose grasp of reality. Used correctly and without that confusion they are useful AS A MEANS OF CONVEYING THOUGHT.
But when it leads to confusion it's best to avoid their usage.
Rand is has me reading two long articles here and here.
Dr. Spudis can be relied on to provide solid (if sometimes biased) analysis, but this Veronique Greenwood seems to be one of those that doesn't know anyone that voted for Nixon (you know, the guy that carried 49 of the 57* states.)
* 57 was what Obama said, Palin was mocking him (not that useful idiots get clarifications.)
But even looney tunes can sometimes get things right...
How do I know? Because we reelected our present president. Everybody over 50 that wasn't drinking the kool aid was stunned into reality with that event. Fascism is here. Don't go into the showers.
Def: Fascism - the negation of equal justice by means of wavers. This is not rule of law. This is rule by decree. Thousands of pages that nobody reads is usurpation (the wrongful seizure of royal sovereignty) of power especially when you can change the details without representative debate.
But when it leads to confusion it's best to avoid their usage.
Rand is has me reading two long articles here and here.
Dr. Spudis can be relied on to provide solid (if sometimes biased) analysis, but this Veronique Greenwood seems to be one of those that doesn't know anyone that voted for Nixon (you know, the guy that carried 49 of the 57* states.)
* 57 was what Obama said, Palin was mocking him (not that useful idiots get clarifications.)
But even looney tunes can sometimes get things right...
These decisions are important because they won’t affect just the moon.Even now control freaks are writing rules to take away liberty. Yes, yes, I know that refers to all aspects of life, but I'm being more specifically on this topic. It will happen if we allow it.
How do I know? Because we reelected our present president. Everybody over 50 that wasn't drinking the kool aid was stunned into reality with that event. Fascism is here. Don't go into the showers.
Def: Fascism - the negation of equal justice by means of wavers. This is not rule of law. This is rule by decree. Thousands of pages that nobody reads is usurpation (the wrongful seizure of royal sovereignty) of power especially when you can change the details without representative debate.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Search this blog
That tool on the right doesn't work right. I'm debating removing it. Better to use google with the site:planetplots.blogspot.com filter.
The affirmative defense
Via Ace is apparently what lawyers call lying and Obama does it constantly.
Shouldn't the media have been telling us this... constantly. It's not like it's difficult to spot once you know what to look for.
President Scam Artist.
Shouldn't the media have been telling us this... constantly. It's not like it's difficult to spot once you know what to look for.
President Scam Artist.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
A question of value
Heinrich Monroe asks on October 29, 2013 - 15:16
So, to be as precise as is possible: The moon/mars is worth the total of what all people owning its parts are willing to sell their parts for. It has no value until people own it. No wealth is created until people trade it. This is why nothing needs to be transported from one planet to another to create wealth. Ownership can be transferred electronically. This means mars can increase the wealth of people on earth without a single gram of matter being transferred.
What about mining?
What, precisely, is the value of the Moon? Mars?Precisely? Already we discern a misunderstanding of value. Value is not intrinsic so can never be precise.
ALL VALUE IS DETERMINED SUBJECTIVELY BY INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE
ALL WEALTH IS CREATED OUT OF NOTHING BY TRADE
So, to be as precise as is possible: The moon/mars is worth the total of what all people owning its parts are willing to sell their parts for. It has no value until people own it. No wealth is created until people trade it. This is why nothing needs to be transported from one planet to another to create wealth. Ownership can be transferred electronically. This means mars can increase the wealth of people on earth without a single gram of matter being transferred.
What about mining?
Discernment
Here and here.
But note this really has nothing to do with putting a colony on mars. We can certainly get people to mars orbit. SpaceX is even confident enough to put numbers to landing. $150m to $195m to put a lander in mars orbit. This lander will put 2500kg on the surface including four passengers.
There is no question we are up to the challenge of getting people to the martian surface. Can they live there?
A self contained environment works for perhaps a long time but will ultimately fail. Recycling is not going to be 100% so you need to provide for the losses. More important is that it is not growth. People don't want to live forever in tuna cans. You've got to go into the harsh environment to get resources. The biggest resource being more living space. Your sealed environment is going to be contaminated. So it's not really a sealed environment you need but an environment you can clean.
Which is funny since people now claim we can't do it because of dust. They talk of it as if they've forgotten that going around the earth at some places and times can kill the unprepared just as well.
Air filtration is a known technology. We can handle it. We just need to prepare for it. It is not a show stopper except in the minds of those that aren't going to be a part of this next age of humankind. Well a few will later claim they knew it all along.
Update from CJ: [To build tractors on mars] they will need to have either 3-printing, or it's going to be a very long time until they can do this.
Not you too CJ? Why does 3D printing cause us to forget how we do things without 3D Printing? To make a tractor you need the parts and the labor of two people for about 8 hrs. (in the example I'm using.) Enough parts to build two tractors can fit on one lander (2500kg.)
To build the parts you need material and a machinist. Of the 1000 or so parts required, hundreds of them can be made in seconds (3/4" washer x 238) by a skilled machinist. All of them could be produced in a month or so. The raw materials are everywhere in martian dirt (15% iron which is easily made into steel using the carbon in the martian atmosphere.)
It's not just the initial tractor parts we should send. Along with the machinists personal tools we should send parts for the tools like metal extruders. They can make the dies themselves. This quickly gives them a leg up on industrial capabilities. Otherwise they'd have to start as blacksmiths but that works as well until they move beyond that.
That's not to say that 3D printing isn't useful, but it is not required; they will have it anyway.
Something else I'd like to add... some things are not visible to many people. In any city you will find machine shops because they are essential as a foundation for everything else. Alvin Toffler talked about transitions as if they were clearly delineated. They aren't. TV didn't eliminate radio. Radio didn't eliminate reading. ...and so on. We may live in a disposable society where everything is made on the other side of the world, but that's just circumstance, not the only way things can be. Mars will be different because the circumstances are different, but the underlying reality doesn't change.
Another something... what's the difference between big industry and garage industry? Scale. 3D printing is not the only way to get self replicating. The key ingredient is the design. Designs can be scaled, but you have to have one first. 3D printing is just another tool in the toolbox.
The goal of keeping people alive in an enclosed, self-contained environment whisking through space may be beyond human capabilities for many centuries.I believe this is a very true statement although predicting anything centuries out is a bit dicey.
But note this really has nothing to do with putting a colony on mars. We can certainly get people to mars orbit. SpaceX is even confident enough to put numbers to landing. $150m to $195m to put a lander in mars orbit. This lander will put 2500kg on the surface including four passengers.
There is no question we are up to the challenge of getting people to the martian surface. Can they live there?
A self contained environment works for perhaps a long time but will ultimately fail. Recycling is not going to be 100% so you need to provide for the losses. More important is that it is not growth. People don't want to live forever in tuna cans. You've got to go into the harsh environment to get resources. The biggest resource being more living space. Your sealed environment is going to be contaminated. So it's not really a sealed environment you need but an environment you can clean.
Which is funny since people now claim we can't do it because of dust. They talk of it as if they've forgotten that going around the earth at some places and times can kill the unprepared just as well.
Air filtration is a known technology. We can handle it. We just need to prepare for it. It is not a show stopper except in the minds of those that aren't going to be a part of this next age of humankind. Well a few will later claim they knew it all along.
Update from CJ: [To build tractors on mars] they will need to have either 3-printing, or it's going to be a very long time until they can do this.
Not you too CJ? Why does 3D printing cause us to forget how we do things without 3D Printing? To make a tractor you need the parts and the labor of two people for about 8 hrs. (in the example I'm using.) Enough parts to build two tractors can fit on one lander (2500kg.)
To build the parts you need material and a machinist. Of the 1000 or so parts required, hundreds of them can be made in seconds (3/4" washer x 238) by a skilled machinist. All of them could be produced in a month or so. The raw materials are everywhere in martian dirt (15% iron which is easily made into steel using the carbon in the martian atmosphere.)
It's not just the initial tractor parts we should send. Along with the machinists personal tools we should send parts for the tools like metal extruders. They can make the dies themselves. This quickly gives them a leg up on industrial capabilities. Otherwise they'd have to start as blacksmiths but that works as well until they move beyond that.
That's not to say that 3D printing isn't useful, but it is not required; they will have it anyway.
Something else I'd like to add... some things are not visible to many people. In any city you will find machine shops because they are essential as a foundation for everything else. Alvin Toffler talked about transitions as if they were clearly delineated. They aren't. TV didn't eliminate radio. Radio didn't eliminate reading. ...and so on. We may live in a disposable society where everything is made on the other side of the world, but that's just circumstance, not the only way things can be. Mars will be different because the circumstances are different, but the underlying reality doesn't change.
Another something... what's the difference between big industry and garage industry? Scale. 3D printing is not the only way to get self replicating. The key ingredient is the design. Designs can be scaled, but you have to have one first. 3D printing is just another tool in the toolbox.
Friday, November 8, 2013
You Lie!
The title is evergreen regarding Obama and his mouthpieces. Now they're trying to blame insurance companies for ObamaCare issues.
Ev. Er. Green.
Ev. Er. Green.
You just know it's a false flag operation
Why? Because we want people to know what ObamaCare means to them personally. DOS attacks are limited to the time when people bother and are usually short lived. DOS attacks are not free and conform to economic laws.
Ask yourself, why now is DOS being talked about rather then at the time?
Ask yourself, why now is DOS being talked about rather then at the time?
The website debacle -- which is actually saving Obama's ass right now, by disguising all the other more fundamental and less fixable problems with Obamacare...Ace nails it.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Tesla is worth almost a quarter of GM
Double take time.
Stock takes hit. Is Elon not old enough to remember Osbourne and Kaypro? He's announced his next car will be around $30k vs. the $80k cars he sells today. Pre-announcement of something like this is all it takes to cause a loss of sales.
Stock takes hit. Is Elon not old enough to remember Osbourne and Kaypro? He's announced his next car will be around $30k vs. the $80k cars he sells today. Pre-announcement of something like this is all it takes to cause a loss of sales.
Power corrupts
Story One and Two.
90% of you are drug dealers and you can't prove you're not.
...and Rand brings us three showing that cops are just pikers.
90% of you are drug dealers and you can't prove you're not.
...and Rand brings us three showing that cops are just pikers.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
To elaborate
On this.
First you start with a SpaceX fairing which is made in two pieces...
You fill it with just two things (one thing, see update) making it very light. First is lots of plastic just thick enough to hold one full atmosphere. When inflated this creates a huge interior volume. I'm talking bigger than anyone else has imagined. Much bigger than the BA2100 and less mass so it can be launched on the F9. Attached to this plastic would be multiple very low mass airlocks allowing many ships to dock. These would be properly positioned by being attach to the plastic so everything comes out right after inflation.
This is not a completed station. What it is, is a work area for making a completed station. On a separate launch go the construction workers and materials. They laminate the plastic with multiple layers like Bigelow's habitats now have. They furnish the station with cabins and life support equipment. Let's call this hands on science if you need a justification.
By starting with the fairing you don't have to figure out if your design fits in the fairing. It does. You can also have windows built into the fairings so that element of construction is not required in the plastic. Actually the fairing could have other elements built on the ground that you don't want the construction workers in space to have to deal with.
The cost of this thing should be such a small percent of the cost to launch on an F9 that any nation that wants a space station could now have one. They would all construct it in any way they like as part of their own nations research. So countries, would you like your own space station with more volume than the I.S.S., send as many astronaut researchers as you like at a millionth of the cost?
Update: Even simpler... forget the airlocks, it's all just plastic folded inside and properly attached to each fairing. You built one airlock in each fairing half. If you want more, DIY.
BTW, this plastic could inflate to almost any shape required even before any construction.
Update: What kind of plastic works? I'm researching now. There's also rubberized cloth and latex as possible alternatives.
Some young people doing research.
Space habitat project. Introducing us to Vectran.
A how to build article.
From the killing two birds with one stone department.
Update to answer uzivatel's questions:
Imagine you've just docked on one half of the fairing. It hasn't been inflated yet, but now you start the process. It's inflated to one atmosphere and is now huge. One astronaut crosses in while the rest wait in the Dragonrider. The plastic already has points for connecting lines so that astronaut is not just floating around (well, once we stop him/her from just having fun floating around.) They could have compressed gas thrusters for moving around but do not really need them. Update: Docking will require the ability to align. The Dragonrider has the ability built in but the station will need something as well. Outside the box ideas? Before inflation it isn't that big... perhaps a sticky rope would do the trick? If it's tumbling that may be all you need to stop it. Maybe not.
Sharp items? It's the same answer the doctor gives when you say "it hurts when I do this." Don't do this. Don't poke the plastic with sharp objects. But suppose you do. It's inflated to one atmosphere and is now huge. It is puncture resistant. If it is punctured anyway it will take a long time for the air to bleed out even from a big hole. They will have time to patch it. Once laminated that problem pretty much disappears. It's no different than the protocol on any space station.
Heat? Reflect the heat away. You'll note others using aluminized plastic. We might use something else. The goal is something low mass and flexible not as a final surface but something the final surface can be laminated to. Heat plastic enough and it will melt. Actually, that's true of just about every material. Yet, we handle it. Read about skylab for an example or the examples I've already provided.
Radiation? The good news is this isn't deep space, it's LEO. The earth protects us from most radiation in LEO. Anything with a high hydrogen content is a good radiation shield. Bigelow habitat skin is about a foot thick. We're going bigger than Bigelow. We can make the walls as thick as we like probably using a spray on foam sandwiched with other materials.
Repairs? Having constructed it, they should easily be able to repair it. How does Bigelow intend to repair his. Whatever a thing is made of it will have it's own method of repair.
Once prepared the astronauts will be able to take off their space suits and work in comfort. The final product can be any level better than our current stations. The customer is free to choose.
Update: Thoughts from some real rocket scientists.
First you start with a SpaceX fairing which is made in two pieces...
You fill it with just two things (one thing, see update) making it very light. First is lots of plastic just thick enough to hold one full atmosphere. When inflated this creates a huge interior volume. I'm talking bigger than anyone else has imagined. Much bigger than the BA2100 and less mass so it can be launched on the F9. Attached to this plastic would be multiple very low mass airlocks allowing many ships to dock. These would be properly positioned by being attach to the plastic so everything comes out right after inflation.
This is not a completed station. What it is, is a work area for making a completed station. On a separate launch go the construction workers and materials. They laminate the plastic with multiple layers like Bigelow's habitats now have. They furnish the station with cabins and life support equipment. Let's call this hands on science if you need a justification.
By starting with the fairing you don't have to figure out if your design fits in the fairing. It does. You can also have windows built into the fairings so that element of construction is not required in the plastic. Actually the fairing could have other elements built on the ground that you don't want the construction workers in space to have to deal with.
The cost of this thing should be such a small percent of the cost to launch on an F9 that any nation that wants a space station could now have one. They would all construct it in any way they like as part of their own nations research. So countries, would you like your own space station with more volume than the I.S.S., send as many astronaut researchers as you like at a millionth of the cost?
Update: Even simpler... forget the airlocks, it's all just plastic folded inside and properly attached to each fairing. You built one airlock in each fairing half. If you want more, DIY.
BTW, this plastic could inflate to almost any shape required even before any construction.
Update: What kind of plastic works? I'm researching now. There's also rubberized cloth and latex as possible alternatives.
Some young people doing research.
Space habitat project. Introducing us to Vectran.
A how to build article.
From the killing two birds with one stone department.
Update to answer uzivatel's questions:
Imagine you've just docked on one half of the fairing. It hasn't been inflated yet, but now you start the process. It's inflated to one atmosphere and is now huge. One astronaut crosses in while the rest wait in the Dragonrider. The plastic already has points for connecting lines so that astronaut is not just floating around (well, once we stop him/her from just having fun floating around.) They could have compressed gas thrusters for moving around but do not really need them. Update: Docking will require the ability to align. The Dragonrider has the ability built in but the station will need something as well. Outside the box ideas? Before inflation it isn't that big... perhaps a sticky rope would do the trick? If it's tumbling that may be all you need to stop it. Maybe not.
Sharp items? It's the same answer the doctor gives when you say "it hurts when I do this." Don't do this. Don't poke the plastic with sharp objects. But suppose you do. It's inflated to one atmosphere and is now huge. It is puncture resistant. If it is punctured anyway it will take a long time for the air to bleed out even from a big hole. They will have time to patch it. Once laminated that problem pretty much disappears. It's no different than the protocol on any space station.
Heat? Reflect the heat away. You'll note others using aluminized plastic. We might use something else. The goal is something low mass and flexible not as a final surface but something the final surface can be laminated to. Heat plastic enough and it will melt. Actually, that's true of just about every material. Yet, we handle it. Read about skylab for an example or the examples I've already provided.
Radiation? The good news is this isn't deep space, it's LEO. The earth protects us from most radiation in LEO. Anything with a high hydrogen content is a good radiation shield. Bigelow habitat skin is about a foot thick. We're going bigger than Bigelow. We can make the walls as thick as we like probably using a spray on foam sandwiched with other materials.
Repairs? Having constructed it, they should easily be able to repair it. How does Bigelow intend to repair his. Whatever a thing is made of it will have it's own method of repair.
Once prepared the astronauts will be able to take off their space suits and work in comfort. The final product can be any level better than our current stations. The customer is free to choose.
Update: Thoughts from some real rocket scientists.
Fisking Thomas Sowell
Somebody just has to do it.
I don't agree with Palin 100% which puts her 1000% ahead of any other candidate. She made the right decision not to run last time (they wanted to run against Romney and so they ran against Romney... guess who the democrats will nominate for us next time? I'm guessing Christie.) I hope she can decide to run in the future. It's been a while since somebody won 49 states.
I did that fisking thing right, right?
The conservative intelligentsia who react against [Governor Palin] have remarkably little to say that will stand up to scrutiny.He's right.
People who actually dealt with her ... have expressed how much they were impressed by her intelligence.Yup.
Governor Palin's candidacy for the vice presidency was what galvanized ... Republicans.Surprising McCain, but that's not too hard.
something about her that turned even some conservative intellectuals against herWhat was that something? She wasn't puffed up with self importance as they were.
Republicans need [Governor Palin] who is neither one of the country club Republicans nor-- worse yet-- the sort of person who appeals to the intelligentsia.According to polls, if you ignore how the media has smeared her, Governor Palin is representative of the majority of Americans. It's time we put the talking heads and their ilk in their places.
I don't agree with Palin 100% which puts her 1000% ahead of any other candidate. She made the right decision not to run last time (they wanted to run against Romney and so they ran against Romney... guess who the democrats will nominate for us next time? I'm guessing Christie.) I hope she can decide to run in the future. It's been a while since somebody won 49 states.
I did that fisking thing right, right?
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Liberty or death
Are we still willing to die for liberty? Where does that start? Rand has an article about safety regulation in an immature industry. Why does government have the right to regulate anything that doesn't affect anyone outside of those it wants to regulate?
Growing exponentially
It grows exponentially has got to be the safest statement utterable because any growth can be exponential, including negative if you choose the right exponent. An exponent of 1 means zero growth for example.
Ok, so exponential growth is not linear but neither is a point in time.
Ok, so exponential growth is not linear but neither is a point in time.
Trepidation
When an article is written by one person I admire about another you fear it won't be pretty. I had nothing to fear. Cruz is popular now because he fought. Someone else has fought longer and harder against more of the enemy... like a girl.
Monday, November 4, 2013
What the headline should be
NOT: 8.8 Billion Earth-size, Just-right Planets
BUT: 1 in 8.8 billion planet in Sol's fourth orbit. Not lightyears away.
Also, Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) Phase 2. I'm thinking a craft designed for putting humans in space that has already had humans in it in space (the I.S.S. crew mentioned that Dragon had that new car smell) should be a clear winner here.
Some nice pictures of sea launch.
...and in the not news until it happens dept.
BUT: 1 in 8.8 billion planet in Sol's fourth orbit. Not lightyears away.
Also, Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) Phase 2. I'm thinking a craft designed for putting humans in space that has already had humans in it in space (the I.S.S. crew mentioned that Dragon had that new car smell) should be a clear winner here.
Some nice pictures of sea launch.
...and in the not news until it happens dept.
Family history
I just found out tonight that back in the day my mother threw Dinah Shore (and her entourage) out of the Phoenix Skyharbor restaurant one morning. It seems Dinah was complaining that the pastries weren't fresh and was giving the waitresses a very bad time about it. My mother heard about it in the kitchen and went to have a word with Dinah. That word included "...you're no better than anybody else and should treat the people serving you with more respect. Now get out."
Mom never took crap from anyone. It really did not have anything to do with her father being mafia.
She almost got my uncle (her sister's husband) whacked a time before that. This was earlier in a restaurant in NY. She was mad at my uncle about something and chatted about it in earshot of a 'minder' which was someone the family had sitting there all day drinking coffee. He asked her, "d'ya want me to take care of that for you?" Realizing the implications she told him "no, it wasn't anything like that." I liked that uncle. It would have been sad never to have known he existed.
I met my mom's father once on Thanksgiving when I was 16. I never got to know him.
Update: It is funny how some things tie together. John Wayne used to have a ranch around here and came into Springerville to dine quite often. He was known to be very generous. His face is drawn on the outside wall of one of the places here. As a kid, my sister bumped into John Wayne at Skyharbor one day (he died of cancer not long after.) That sister now lives here in Springerville.
Mom never took crap from anyone. It really did not have anything to do with her father being mafia.
She almost got my uncle (her sister's husband) whacked a time before that. This was earlier in a restaurant in NY. She was mad at my uncle about something and chatted about it in earshot of a 'minder' which was someone the family had sitting there all day drinking coffee. He asked her, "d'ya want me to take care of that for you?" Realizing the implications she told him "no, it wasn't anything like that." I liked that uncle. It would have been sad never to have known he existed.
I met my mom's father once on Thanksgiving when I was 16. I never got to know him.
Update: It is funny how some things tie together. John Wayne used to have a ranch around here and came into Springerville to dine quite often. He was known to be very generous. His face is drawn on the outside wall of one of the places here. As a kid, my sister bumped into John Wayne at Skyharbor one day (he died of cancer not long after.) That sister now lives here in Springerville.
Obama goes right back to wrong
In a healthy economy business owners, closest to the facts, make decisions about how to run their company. They are in competition with other companies, so if they do a bad job they lose and other companies rise to take their place.
After the debacle of Affordable Health Care, Obama wants you to move on, nothing to see here, listen to me demagogue a new issue. It isn't even about the issue he's chosen. It's about government taking over more and more of business through more and more regulations. It Obama saying again and again, "you didn't build that."
Business people are just as evil as politicians. The difference is they must compete and get votes every day rather than just on election day. We the people are the only ones that can keep them honest. Midterms are coming.
Update: I beat Ace to the punch, but of course he tells it better.
After the debacle of Affordable Health Care, Obama wants you to move on, nothing to see here, listen to me demagogue a new issue. It isn't even about the issue he's chosen. It's about government taking over more and more of business through more and more regulations. It Obama saying again and again, "you didn't build that."
Business people are just as evil as politicians. The difference is they must compete and get votes every day rather than just on election day. We the people are the only ones that can keep them honest. Midterms are coming.
Update: I beat Ace to the punch, but of course he tells it better.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Proper focus of mars colonists
The Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0 describes the systems and operations that would be used for the first three missions to explore the surface of Mars by humans.Which is to say, right off the bat, they start with the wrong focus. Let the martian colonists explore mars after they do what they should be focused on... survival and industry both working hand in hand. Building industrial capability from the beginning increases their survival potential. Every mars colonist is going to bring with them their own set of skills. Those skill will need to take the raw elements found on mars and turn them into all the useful things they need, not just to survive but to thrive.
The basics are easy. Water is essential for life. Mars has about a liter per cubic foot of dirt just about everywhere. They need power to extract both water from dirt and oxygen from water. They need spacious habitats with regulated temperature and pressure which also requires power, with radiation mitigation that doesn't. Solar panels and batteries can provide enough power with methane engines providing supplemental high energy needs. A nuclear reactor could easily fit in a lander with terminals for cables outside making the entire thing a sealed battery providing decades of power.
As a small community, initially they will share everything. We can supply them with more food than they need every 26 months. The first step to independence is when they produce food on their own individual farmland plots. This will be the beginning of industry. They will freely trade what they individually produce with each other using the liberty to choose what they produce. Are they going to use 3D printers? We can send some raw materials for these, but martian industry should soon take over extruding ISRU plastic into suitable spools. But they don't need 3D printers to survive. It's a luxury that unfortunately gets the fascination of those that aren't thinking in terms of survival and industry. Martian needs will be much more basic. They need to be able to make things. Which means machinists, chemists and farmers and all the other skills we take for granted. They should take along an encyclopedia like this one from 1881. In less than 800 pages it includes...
1 AGRICULTURE
2 HORTICULTURE
3 RURAL AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY
4 FARRIERY
5 MEDICINE
6 CULINARY ARTS
7 BREWING
8 DISTILLATION
9 PERFUMERY
10 BLEACHING AND SCOURING
11 DYING
12 PAINTS AND COLORS
13 VARNISHES
14 INKS
15 METALLURGY
16 PYROTECHNY
17 TANNING
18 ENAMELLING
19 POTTERY
20 GLASS
21 PHOTOGRAPHY
22 ENGRAVING
23 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
24 CHEMICAL RECEIPTS
25 WEATHER PROGNOSTICS
26 ANGLING
27 MISCELLANEOUS
28 IMPLEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE
Which shows not just how to use these things but how to make them from the elements. Not everything may be practical, but earth knowledge will be one of the easiest things for colonists to get (if we open our minds to pioneer requirements and not frustrate themselves with what they can't do. Can do is just can't do + time.)
If we want to prepare for living on mars we should be growing crops in filtered sunlight here on earth. Mars gets about half the sunlight that we do. Will we need mirrors to focus more light on crops? It should be simple enough to find out before we go.
Air locks are going to be essential. What's the easiest way to manufacture them on mars with their starting resources?
Another example of the wrong focus:
A strong motivating factor for the exploration of Mars is the search for extraterrestrial life.No. That search should be made after survival and industry are established. Then they have the time to make the search. We've lived thousands of years without this knowledge. We can wait a few years while the colony gets past the dangerous years. More...
...the plan is to return the astronauts to Earth at the end of the mission.Bad plan. There are plenty of people wanting to settle mars. Why should their seat be given to someone that doesn't? With the SpaceX Raptor engine they should be able to build their own ships when they're ready and fuel them as well.
...it must be assumed that some microbial contamination of the surrounding martian environment would be inevitable...Yes.
...so human missions should be sent only to sites on Mars where this consequence is acceptable.Give me a break. Mars has 144 million sq. km. of real estate. We aren't going to contaminate that for hundreds of years or longer. The researchers will always have pristine areas to explore.
Then yada, yada, yada about the goals of scientific exploration all of which is not even secondary to survival and building the community. Then it's heavy lift and nuclear engines both of which are not required but will delay going. Gotta use Orion? Nope.
Habitats? The first one they land in. The second one holds the entire group. Then they build their own on their own properties because ownership works.
Stopped reading after page 56.
Update: Before you can colonize, you must land. Yep, that is true. As CJ points out, SpaceX has tested some of the propulsive technology that may lead to safe landing of high mass to the surface of mars. You get around 'rocket fire into the direction of travel at hypersonic velocity' by not doing it. The superdracos are angled away from the direction of travel and are behind the heat shield. That angle has to be shallow to not lose too much thrust, but enough to avoid the problem.
Shockwaves can be shaped and may even assist in decelerating the vehicle. A configuration can be stable or unstable mainly dependent on shape. I'm confident SpaceX can put this issue behind them resulting in reliable high payload mass landers. They have certainly shown the ability to learn from experience and the ability to go at a pace set by funding (much lower funding that others seam to require.) Landing humans on mars is the key hurdle remaining for colonization. I wish others besides SpaceX were working on it, but if not I think SpaceX will git'er done.
He lied to you because you're stupid
Hey lefties. ...and because he thinks you're stupid enough to keep voting his way.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Is this true?
The United States is ranked 3rd, from the Top, in Murders - throughout the World.
But, if you remove just 4 cities from the statistics:
The United States is then ranked 4th, from the bottom, in the entire world - for Murders.
These 4 cities also have the toughest Gun Control Laws in the United States and are run by Democrats.
Via MRWD.
But, if you remove just 4 cities from the statistics:
- Chicago
- Detroit
- Washington, DC
- New Orleans
The United States is then ranked 4th, from the bottom, in the entire world - for Murders.
These 4 cities also have the toughest Gun Control Laws in the United States and are run by Democrats.
Via MRWD.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Guacamole
My folks make it with cottage cheese and lemon juice.
My sister sent her baby father to the store, "Get a gallon of milk and if they have avocados get six." So my not quite bro-in-law comes back with six gallons of milk.
Then I hear on the news that an illegal immigrant is hiding in a nice neighborhood in Phoenix. Police go in and arrest over a dozen. I'm assuming they found avocados?
I've got fever chills today and hardly any energy to move but I'm covered by the fact that this room with the computer is freezing. Springerville cracked the block on my last car when I went out to get some OJ one frozen night. I'm in fear that something like that will happen to my current Jimmy.
I checked out apartments in Prescott. I can't afford them except perhaps one about 30 minutes out of town. But even that one will take so much of my monthly income that I will have little left. I'm too poor to go now, but next payday I'm going to Prescott anyway. I've got to get out of this little town and the madhouse. I just hope I don't crack a block before that happens.
My sister sent her baby father to the store, "Get a gallon of milk and if they have avocados get six." So my not quite bro-in-law comes back with six gallons of milk.
Then I hear on the news that an illegal immigrant is hiding in a nice neighborhood in Phoenix. Police go in and arrest over a dozen. I'm assuming they found avocados?
I've got fever chills today and hardly any energy to move but I'm covered by the fact that this room with the computer is freezing. Springerville cracked the block on my last car when I went out to get some OJ one frozen night. I'm in fear that something like that will happen to my current Jimmy.
I checked out apartments in Prescott. I can't afford them except perhaps one about 30 minutes out of town. But even that one will take so much of my monthly income that I will have little left. I'm too poor to go now, but next payday I'm going to Prescott anyway. I've got to get out of this little town and the madhouse. I just hope I don't crack a block before that happens.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
China to beat Bigelow?
One way to get to mars is to turn a profit in LEO first. I expected Bigelow to be first leasing space on their Alpha Station. I still do since I don't believe it will take ten years as the Chinese propose.
Why 39A matters
It's all about holding SpaceX back because they can't compete otherwise.
In the almost as bad as SLS department...
In the almost as bad as SLS department...
...the MPCV, which has already absorbed an incredible $7 billion through 2012, while foregoing the rather important necessity of developing a service module, is set to receive a steady allotment of roughly $1 billion per year, virtually for the foreseeable future.What did it take to make a Dragon?
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
The "because I said so" plan
“Nothing in this Act ... shall be construed to require that an individual terminate coverage..."Like saying, "I will never, ever do [destructive behavior] again... I mean it this time." Only worse, because ACA was written in the bizarro world of unreality and can't work in the real world. It has consequences and no amount of words change those consequences.
For mentally ill lefties: words speak louder than actions.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
GOP quislings
RINO is too good a term for them. Either we fight them or find a new place to form a more perfect union.
But they don't hang
They jump from no accountability to another like monkeys.
Isn't it time we ended the government protection racket?
Isn't it time we ended the government protection racket?
The slavery issue of the 21st century is effectively Big Government
An absolute must read. It's important to get the definition of smaller government correct.
I am a potted plant
Musk’s 12-15 year prediction for crewed flights to Mars is closer to reality than anyone thought.I'm not anyone? Once the Mars One lander was ready which could be done in perhaps 3 years, we could go to mars then as everything else already exists. We don't even need the Falcon Heavy. The F9 is good enough to put a ship based on the Sundancer in orbit.
It needs to be explained
Obama should explain to Cruz that a freshman senator is not qualified to be president. /sarc
I've not heard him debate, but I hope this is true...
I've not heard him debate, but I hope this is true...
He’s very bright, he’s very articulate — and he’s very hard for others to debate.The Democrats own ObamaCare but watch how the media tries to turn it around (and some members of the stupid party help them.) Let the suffering (and death) begin, because we tried to stop it.
Would you like to travel at 3C?
Click on the down arrow.
Imagine that one day we could travel at that speed and landed on some far off world and all we discovered was this.
Imagine that one day we could travel at that speed and landed on some far off world and all we discovered was this.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Raptor four times the power of Merlin
Not just for the upper stage either. Another game changer. It makes other companies (and countries) look like they're standing still. Via Zimmerman.
The Raptor is a methane/Lox engine suitable for some future mars launch vehicle using ISRU fuel. But of course, it's going to be used in other vehicles long before that.
Update: More. Rand is also on it.
The Raptor is a methane/Lox engine suitable for some future mars launch vehicle using ISRU fuel. But of course, it's going to be used in other vehicles long before that.
Update: More. Rand is also on it.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Says our Liar in Chief
“No matter what you’ve heard… if you like your plan you get to keep your plan”Millions losing their plan.
Via Zimmerman.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
A woman with gravitas
"protecting incumbents won’t protect our freedom"You'd think people would know that? Go Liz!
Monday, October 21, 2013
Elbow room
A discussion of space mining introduces the idea that the busybodies on earth may make mining in space more palatable...
If you are a big mining operation, you could spend fifteen years putting a mine into place then have the government arbitrarily say "Oh, by the way, we are increasing your royalties. They are now going to be doubled..." Or there is a sacred indigenous burial ground that no one ever knew about that you are going to have to pay a tribute to, or stop operations because of... In some ways, the resources in space have a set of risks that are lower.Assuming they don't let the politicians get their grubby hands on that as well?
Many of our investors ask us "Tell me how this is going to change the world, I'm not interested in a better improvement or percentage point." They are already rich. They want something that is going to change the world.Colonizing will change the world and provide a market for water and more in space.
Bingo. How to understand the elite republicans
...it’s not “smaller [govt.] than we have now” it’s “smaller [govt.] than the Democrats want it to be in the future but bigger than now”.Smaller means smaller! Damn it!
they know so much that isn't so
This speech could use an update for our times. 2014 would be it's 50th anniversary.
I think we need to understand that ObamaCare is a red herring. The problem is elite republicans that are ok with a growing government. The 'shutdown' has highlighted who they are so they can be targeted for removal.
I hope ObamaCare does defund itself, but the democrats have made a fine art of never letting a crisis go to waste. The best thing about ObamaCare is it hurts the idiots that voted for it.
I think we need to understand that ObamaCare is a red herring. The problem is elite republicans that are ok with a growing government. The 'shutdown' has highlighted who they are so they can be targeted for removal.
I hope ObamaCare does defund itself, but the democrats have made a fine art of never letting a crisis go to waste. The best thing about ObamaCare is it hurts the idiots that voted for it.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Unicorns are really dancing in the flame duct?
SpaceX points out that Blue Origin doesn't have anything to fly yet. Pad 39A is meant for launches to orbit and the space station.
Things that can't be seen
Truth can be blocked by the environment you are in. So how is it that those not in such environments are just as blinded?
The importance of no
Democrats called the republicans the party of no. Did they realize they were giving a compliment?
Control freaks always want more. Take for example the NASA CCIDC (Commercial Crew Integrated Design Contract) which uses safety as the red herring for taking control away from private companies. They would have gotten away with it except for one thing: Elon said no.
He did it very diplomatically, "We may not bid on it."
NASA got the message and their plans for universal domination were foiled (for this round. Control freaks never give up.)
The sad thing is, I didn't hear any of the other contractors come out and say the same thing which they should have. I am greatly saddened that these principles are not more universally held.
Control freaks always want more. Take for example the NASA CCIDC (Commercial Crew Integrated Design Contract) which uses safety as the red herring for taking control away from private companies. They would have gotten away with it except for one thing: Elon said no.
He did it very diplomatically, "We may not bid on it."
NASA got the message and their plans for universal domination were foiled (for this round. Control freaks never give up.)
The sad thing is, I didn't hear any of the other contractors come out and say the same thing which they should have. I am greatly saddened that these principles are not more universally held.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Grasshopper retired
Because it taught SpaceX the things they wanted to know...
Could Bezos slip past the finish line first?
Dark horse Branson ... springs a surprise, “We do have another idea, which we’re going to announce in about four months’ time [around next January.]"
Did those old movies get this right?...
From SpaceX...
The October 7 flight by the company’s Grasshopper test vehicle ... was the last planned flight of that vehicle...However, that certainly isn't the end of things...
Falcon 9-R (“Falcon Niner”) first stage equipped with flight-weight, retractable landing legs [will have] test flights at Spaceport America in New Mexico starting in late December.They're like the terminator... "it will not stop..." until they've figured out reusability.
Could Bezos slip past the finish line first?
Dark horse Branson ... springs a surprise, “We do have another idea, which we’re going to announce in about four months’ time [around next January.]"
Did those old movies get this right?...
That relight also went well, however we exceeded the roll control authority of the attitude control thrusters. This particular stage was not equipped with landing gear which could have helped stabilize the stage like fins would on an aircraft [or old movie rocket.]
It's all about the abuse of power
If you can't sell it and someone else [in this case the EPA] tells you what you can and can't do with it, then you don't own it (at least not completely.) While some may be good, in all cases regulation takes away property rights.
No surprise, the EPA wants to expand their control over you by removing...
We have had a mechanism for dealing with polluters since the beginning of time. If someone damages you, you can sue them... no EPA required. Or you could just let the community know and boycott them.
I especially like laws that self correct behavior such as the one that says your intake water must be downstream of your exhaust water.
No surprise, the EPA wants to expand their control over you by removing...
the limiting word “navigable” from “navigable waters of the United States”The next step would be "any land exposed to air."
We have had a mechanism for dealing with polluters since the beginning of time. If someone damages you, you can sue them... no EPA required. Or you could just let the community know and boycott them.
I especially like laws that self correct behavior such as the one that says your intake water must be downstream of your exhaust water.
Friday, October 18, 2013
My broken record
Is playing again at Rand's blog. I should add that the article he refers to is one of the best in highlighting the mess of SLS and the opportunity costs lost.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
It's starting to get cold
Now would be a good time to head to Phoenix except I've decided to pay off my last three payments on the Jimmy so I can put myself back on schedule. I've got a specific goal to reach by January which I'm not going to make if I don't do something now. It's a good thing I'm on the shallow end of the curve. By July I've got to get the engine humming.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Why neither side will compromise
"The purpose of Obamacare got nothing to do with your health, and nothing to do with your insurance," [Rush Limbaugh] said. "It's about building a permanent, undefeatable, always-funded Democrat majority."How can any deny this? That's what democrats do and it will destroy America because we will run out of 'other people money' eventually.
Losing this fight is game over.
Update: No, they didn't compromise. They caved. It's hard to see any strategy that wins in the future. Picking up a senate seat in CO is not going to mean much even if they do.
Welcome to the undefeatable, always-funded Democrat majority future. I'm putting that out there so I can be proved wrong... I hope.
Regarding a third party... it might be useful to clarify when polls paint with a broad brush... GOP polls down? Is it because of the tea party or the elites? Doesn't matter, the MSM can bash them either way.
When did freedom and liberty become an extremist position? "Give me liberty or give me death" "Sure pal, here's death..."
Monday, October 14, 2013
I'm looking for an apartment in Prescott
I went to Las Vegas, not to gamble but because it was on my way from Springerville to Sacramento.
Drove up and down the strip once then ate at a mediocre Chinese restaurant. I was tired and it was dark when I pressed on and I couldn't remember the route so I downloaded Navigator for my not so smart phone. It sent me north on 95 (I should have gone south to avoid the mountain passes.) Then at the entrance to CA-120 my phone would not connect all the way to where 120 meets 395.
Spooky... CA-120 dips and turns so your headlights are mostly useless. Then every half mile or so you get a sign with an animal on it. Never the same animal it seems. It has cattle crossing gates (some real, some just paint.) Did I mention the temperature was 27 F. and I was also worried about black ice? /...spooky.
CA-108 on the other hand was much better than the goat path it used to be. I waited for daylight and refueled first though.
Sonora has become a parking lot. Not going to spend any time there.
I first stopped at my sister and her husband in Lockeford and spent a few days there. They're always too busy for me to come around but when it's time to leave they won't let me go so I spend a few more days with them than I plan.
Then I went to Sacramento and gave my ex a call. Unlike all other times I've called she was speechless. No warmth at all. She could not have made it more plain. So I didn't bother to visit.
I spent the night in Sacramento but woke up around 2am and realized my stepson was probably at his second job. I called and we got together. He is so big and has shaved his head. He's doing well enough and we will get together some time when I can meet his wife (married last Feb.)
Then I went back to Lockeford to talk with my brother-in-law about where I might settle. He suggested Prescott where I'd never been before. So I drove there and spent a few days exploring. I went by way of Bakersfield this time. Much better.
In Prescott, I saw Gravity in a theater with plush recliners. Very nice. I would have stayed longer in the Prescott area but my money was running low. Next payday my mother will need some money so my days on the road will have to start up again the following payday.
I definitely want to get an apartment in that area. I fell in love. All of the convenience of a large city, but it's not. Plus, if you are not heading to Prescott, I-17 or 95 do not take you through it.
Shhh... don't tell anybody about this best kept secret in AZ.
Drove up and down the strip once then ate at a mediocre Chinese restaurant. I was tired and it was dark when I pressed on and I couldn't remember the route so I downloaded Navigator for my not so smart phone. It sent me north on 95 (I should have gone south to avoid the mountain passes.) Then at the entrance to CA-120 my phone would not connect all the way to where 120 meets 395.
Spooky... CA-120 dips and turns so your headlights are mostly useless. Then every half mile or so you get a sign with an animal on it. Never the same animal it seems. It has cattle crossing gates (some real, some just paint.) Did I mention the temperature was 27 F. and I was also worried about black ice? /...spooky.
CA-108 on the other hand was much better than the goat path it used to be. I waited for daylight and refueled first though.
Sonora has become a parking lot. Not going to spend any time there.
I first stopped at my sister and her husband in Lockeford and spent a few days there. They're always too busy for me to come around but when it's time to leave they won't let me go so I spend a few more days with them than I plan.
Then I went to Sacramento and gave my ex a call. Unlike all other times I've called she was speechless. No warmth at all. She could not have made it more plain. So I didn't bother to visit.
I spent the night in Sacramento but woke up around 2am and realized my stepson was probably at his second job. I called and we got together. He is so big and has shaved his head. He's doing well enough and we will get together some time when I can meet his wife (married last Feb.)
Then I went back to Lockeford to talk with my brother-in-law about where I might settle. He suggested Prescott where I'd never been before. So I drove there and spent a few days exploring. I went by way of Bakersfield this time. Much better.
In Prescott, I saw Gravity in a theater with plush recliners. Very nice. I would have stayed longer in the Prescott area but my money was running low. Next payday my mother will need some money so my days on the road will have to start up again the following payday.
I definitely want to get an apartment in that area. I fell in love. All of the convenience of a large city, but it's not. Plus, if you are not heading to Prescott, I-17 or 95 do not take you through it.
Shhh... don't tell anybody about this best kept secret in AZ.
Overcoming sensible objections
I'm not alone in my concerns for the Mars One plan. I don't think they will raise more than a third of their funding from a reality show and I think dependence on life support equipment from earth makes it a suicide mission. But these are objections that can be addressed and overcome. I would like to respond to those and others.
1) Does not have existing flight ready hardware.
Correct, but so what? It's not like we haven't anything at all and we already have a good idea of the cost: 3 landers, 2 transit ships, 1 F9/Dragon to orbit. One billion for vehicles and one billion for fuel putting the first dozen on mars. We should add landers for precursor missions to preposition supplies to improve chance of survival.
2) Four colonists will not have the specialized skills to survive.
In principal correct, but not entirely. A single person could have all the skills but more is definitely better. I suggest a dozen for the first landing and another 3 dozen two years later. Four dozen allows for a complete industrial ecology (meaning the foundation exists for everything else) with plenty of overlap in skills.
3) Funding: not enough and not in time.
They do not need all the funding up front. If they did happen to get a lump sum of $6b at any time, that would be enough to pay for everything using just the interest, the $6b would exist forever to provide indefinite funding. $300 million per year is more than enough. That would provide four resupply mission each launch window for instance. The transit vehicles are reusable so only have a one time cost other than consumables. Launch to orbit may be $20m per person today but simply increasing the number put in orbit on a single vehicle (using Falcon Heavy instead of F9 for example) could reduce that cost to 20% or 10%.
4) Can't land in the martian atmosphere.
We've already landed in that atmosphere. This is an engineering challenge. Nothing more.
5) They can't handle the isolation.
Give me a break. So don't isolate them. Four dozen in two years with plenty of work to do takes care of most of this concern. Send more and often.
6) Environment will kill them.
Some of them? Probably. All of them? Not likely. We've already overcome harsher environments. With proper preparation, old age will be the most common killer.
7) Landing too far from supplies (or vice-versa.)
This is why human landers should include a small electric vehicle with a battery range of about 50km. This is not nearly as complicated as the lunar buggy. It's just a small tractor most of which is the batteries pulling a very strong but low mass unfolded trailer for the astronauts. They land with two weeks of supplies but will likely not be more than a few hours from their destination. They will have solar panels to recharge the batteries to extend their range. They could even drag the solar panels behind the trailer (mitigating for dust) for continuous daylight range.
Another possible mitigation: We keep supplies in orbit for after humans land. If they happen to land too far from ground supplies we send in more supplies closer to where they did land. In any case, there is no reason we can't demonstrate the required precision.
8) Not a big enough gene pool.
Semen will be relatively easy to send.
9) Perchlorates.
Not deadly. Chlorine and oxygen can both kill you but we do find them useful as well. Take along a biochemist to explain it to you.
10) If we don't think of everything they will die before being resupplied.
Wrong on multiple levels. We only need to think of enough things, not every thing. For everything we do think of we should have multiple solutions and always a solution that can be provided for using ISRU. This is one of the obvious flaws in the Mars One plan that is easily solved and will likely be given the time they will have before sending anyone.
11) Funding may be cut off after the first colonists land.
Absolutely. So getting them to independence ASAP is vital, but does not require as many colonists as some naysayers would demand. Also, they will never be fully cut off. Communication with earth will allow them the depth of knowledge to help overcome any challenges they may face. Plus they will have all the resources they need withing walking distance (but they'll use trucks) to grow their society after being given a proper start. Even limited funding would be enough to send other seeds and such for diversity they may need.
12) Isolation will kill them.
Yes, I'm repeating item 5 because it's being hyped by the naysayers and I have more to say. If they have work to keep them busy, work they give themselves to improve their lives because they have ownership, they will not feel isolated. It's an old story... "Martha, too many people are coming to our valley. I think we should head west for some more elbow room. There must be at least a dozen families in this valley." Most people today aren't used to this level of isolation but even today hundreds of thousands live in communities of less than 100 individuals. The solution to isolation is we send more people and stop wringing our hands about it.
13) It's just nonsense!
Such a strong negative assertion. Doing it is the best way to answer such smugness.
14) Dust! Toxic abrasive dust.
You're giving me shivers. How could we ever deal with dust? First realize that everything is both toxic and abrasive. "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." Not sure if that's right, but the fact is we deal with toxic and abrasive on earth all the time. We can do it on mars. This is why I propose the 50m Zubrin Hobby farm be directly accessible from the habitat and would seal out any dust (other than human skin which can be filtered out if desired.) The airlock that does go directly to the martian surface will let in dust. A combination of positive pressure and a water bath/wash for the environment suit (which you leave in the airlock, it's not required in the habitat of course) keeps the dust from being any sort of problem. This is not high tech. and is easily fixed if it does somehow break down (fans do break occasionally.)
15) Radiation. Gravity.
Already answered numerous times. Read my blog. Not the big deal some make it out to be. Even the naysayers have to acknowledge that it takes years to kill even without mitigation. Sudden high doses of radiation are not what we're talking about. The levels that are known to exist are easily dealt with.
More... I see we already have a structure as a foundation for real estate development.
1) Does not have existing flight ready hardware.
Correct, but so what? It's not like we haven't anything at all and we already have a good idea of the cost: 3 landers, 2 transit ships, 1 F9/Dragon to orbit. One billion for vehicles and one billion for fuel putting the first dozen on mars. We should add landers for precursor missions to preposition supplies to improve chance of survival.
2) Four colonists will not have the specialized skills to survive.
In principal correct, but not entirely. A single person could have all the skills but more is definitely better. I suggest a dozen for the first landing and another 3 dozen two years later. Four dozen allows for a complete industrial ecology (meaning the foundation exists for everything else) with plenty of overlap in skills.
3) Funding: not enough and not in time.
They do not need all the funding up front. If they did happen to get a lump sum of $6b at any time, that would be enough to pay for everything using just the interest, the $6b would exist forever to provide indefinite funding. $300 million per year is more than enough. That would provide four resupply mission each launch window for instance. The transit vehicles are reusable so only have a one time cost other than consumables. Launch to orbit may be $20m per person today but simply increasing the number put in orbit on a single vehicle (using Falcon Heavy instead of F9 for example) could reduce that cost to 20% or 10%.
4) Can't land in the martian atmosphere.
We've already landed in that atmosphere. This is an engineering challenge. Nothing more.
5) They can't handle the isolation.
Give me a break. So don't isolate them. Four dozen in two years with plenty of work to do takes care of most of this concern. Send more and often.
6) Environment will kill them.
Some of them? Probably. All of them? Not likely. We've already overcome harsher environments. With proper preparation, old age will be the most common killer.
7) Landing too far from supplies (or vice-versa.)
This is why human landers should include a small electric vehicle with a battery range of about 50km. This is not nearly as complicated as the lunar buggy. It's just a small tractor most of which is the batteries pulling a very strong but low mass unfolded trailer for the astronauts. They land with two weeks of supplies but will likely not be more than a few hours from their destination. They will have solar panels to recharge the batteries to extend their range. They could even drag the solar panels behind the trailer (mitigating for dust) for continuous daylight range.
Another possible mitigation: We keep supplies in orbit for after humans land. If they happen to land too far from ground supplies we send in more supplies closer to where they did land. In any case, there is no reason we can't demonstrate the required precision.
8) Not a big enough gene pool.
Semen will be relatively easy to send.
9) Perchlorates.
Not deadly. Chlorine and oxygen can both kill you but we do find them useful as well. Take along a biochemist to explain it to you.
10) If we don't think of everything they will die before being resupplied.
Wrong on multiple levels. We only need to think of enough things, not every thing. For everything we do think of we should have multiple solutions and always a solution that can be provided for using ISRU. This is one of the obvious flaws in the Mars One plan that is easily solved and will likely be given the time they will have before sending anyone.
11) Funding may be cut off after the first colonists land.
Absolutely. So getting them to independence ASAP is vital, but does not require as many colonists as some naysayers would demand. Also, they will never be fully cut off. Communication with earth will allow them the depth of knowledge to help overcome any challenges they may face. Plus they will have all the resources they need withing walking distance (but they'll use trucks) to grow their society after being given a proper start. Even limited funding would be enough to send other seeds and such for diversity they may need.
12) Isolation will kill them.
Yes, I'm repeating item 5 because it's being hyped by the naysayers and I have more to say. If they have work to keep them busy, work they give themselves to improve their lives because they have ownership, they will not feel isolated. It's an old story... "Martha, too many people are coming to our valley. I think we should head west for some more elbow room. There must be at least a dozen families in this valley." Most people today aren't used to this level of isolation but even today hundreds of thousands live in communities of less than 100 individuals. The solution to isolation is we send more people and stop wringing our hands about it.
13) It's just nonsense!
Such a strong negative assertion. Doing it is the best way to answer such smugness.
14) Dust! Toxic abrasive dust.
You're giving me shivers. How could we ever deal with dust? First realize that everything is both toxic and abrasive. "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." Not sure if that's right, but the fact is we deal with toxic and abrasive on earth all the time. We can do it on mars. This is why I propose the 50m Zubrin Hobby farm be directly accessible from the habitat and would seal out any dust (other than human skin which can be filtered out if desired.) The airlock that does go directly to the martian surface will let in dust. A combination of positive pressure and a water bath/wash for the environment suit (which you leave in the airlock, it's not required in the habitat of course) keeps the dust from being any sort of problem. This is not high tech. and is easily fixed if it does somehow break down (fans do break occasionally.)
15) Radiation. Gravity.
Already answered numerous times. Read my blog. Not the big deal some make it out to be. Even the naysayers have to acknowledge that it takes years to kill even without mitigation. Sudden high doses of radiation are not what we're talking about. The levels that are known to exist are easily dealt with.
More... I see we already have a structure as a foundation for real estate development.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Lansdorp disagrees with history
As Earth's own colonization history has proved, placement and subsequent expansion of a settlement has essentially led to ownership of that land.(My emphasis.) If Lansdorp is successful in putting colonists on mars his disagreement with history will have little impact.
Abundant water on mars with enough solar panels (which can be produced ISRU) for power makes mars colonization inevitable.
Getting to mars is difficult; Living on mars need not be.
"If you have a Falcon Heavy, and you have a Dragon, and you have a Bigelow module, then all of a sudden, life gets interesting," Pittman told NBC News. "It changes the whole equation here."Well yeah.
Strickland said the alternate scenario could lead to the establishment of a base on Mars in the 2030s, at a cost of "tens of billions of dollars instead of hundreds of billions."Actually, perhaps as little as two billion would land the first dozen colonists. While independent depots certainly make sense they aren't required to get colonists to mars. The ships for orbital transfer are themselves depots. They sit in orbit (with a profit potential as lease-able space) until fully fueled with enough delta V to make the trip using storeable kerosene and LOX. Ion engines with internally stored fuel provide a safety margin for mars orbit insertion and returning the ships empty to earth for reuse. Clarification: The bulk of your chemical fuel used for orbital transfer is no longer subject to collision loss. Your ion fuel stored internally is only lost if the entire ship is lost to a collision.
For a dozen colonists you need 3 landers in mars orbit ($150m ea.) 2 BA330 class ships for orbit transfer ($200m ea. or less) 2 F9/Dragon to orbit ($100m ea.) The rest is fuel cost to orbit which comes down in future trips because there are cheaper sources than taking LOX from the earth's surface.
The first trip could begin in as little as three years. Strong property rights pays for everything at a significant profit. Colonists risking their lives should go for free and arrive with wealth for future development independent of any enslaving organization. We could finally attempt true free enterprise with contracts replacing the need for government. [This last sentence has caused cognizant dissonance in control freaks but what can you do?]
Unless and until you get the government on board, it's really tough to make progress.No. The problem is the psychological block that says government is required when it is not. 2 billion is within the reach of a single company or even individual and the profit potential is much higher even if it takes a dozen years to realize (but doesn't have to.) The initially small colony on mars can be self governing only needing supplies from earth mainly for survival in the early years.
Will it take a Russian orbital station to teach us about free enterprise in space?
Does concentrated solar heat stored in salts have implications for a mars colony?
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Criminal violation of trust
They don't own it. We do. Prison is too good for them (I'm including the media, for ignorance is no excuse.)
The GOP has many faults. The most important is there inability to communicate. It's not like they never had a good example.
The GOP has many faults. The most important is there inability to communicate. It's not like they never had a good example.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Homeless update
I had a 2hr appointment in town yesterday that I came back to Springerville for and also paid for six more months on my vehicle insurance with my local agent. On the road I'll just find a local office and get further proof of insurance over the phone. Fuel and maintenance costs on my vehicle are killing my budget. It cost me $135 to replace a battery that had a dead cell after I called AAA (but I'm thankful to have it for emergencies on the road.) I'm getting 20mpg on the highway where before I was getting 29. I noticed it happened rather suddenly on my second trip this year to Flagstaff which cost $40 more than my first trip. I haven't left the state yet. The only new place I've been is Globe and saw a little bit of the copper mine. It was hot so I said "what the hell" and continued on to Phoenix. This was not the time of year to visit phoenix.
I'm going to do New Mexico after I visit California. I'm just not in a NM mood right now. My "Build Equity" with low risk plan doesn't really kick in until after I finish paying the remaining $600 I owe on my GMC Jimmy but otherwise I'm on track for now. After New Years things should become a bit more flexible for me. Then I'll try to find a nice under $100 digital camera and document my journeys a bit.
If you happen to read this I wish you well on your life journey.
We'd better start understanding this point sooner rather than later:
This seems an insightful comment: The GOP controls the House, period. They have enough members in the Senate to block cloture. No amount of insisting that the strategy is “doomed” changes these facts. Stay united against Obamacare, and the strategy succeeds.
Between 6) and 7) you vote some of the bastards out of office.
Good question: How can one actually consent if there is no possible way to withhold consent?
Finally, what to do: Get away from the keyboard.
I'm going to do New Mexico after I visit California. I'm just not in a NM mood right now. My "Build Equity" with low risk plan doesn't really kick in until after I finish paying the remaining $600 I owe on my GMC Jimmy but otherwise I'm on track for now. After New Years things should become a bit more flexible for me. Then I'll try to find a nice under $100 digital camera and document my journeys a bit.
If you happen to read this I wish you well on your life journey.
We'd better start understanding this point sooner rather than later:
On its metric for “Legal System and Property Rights,” the U.S. is 33rd in the world today, down from number one in 1980.The constitution provides a never used before way of restoring our liberties.
This seems an insightful comment: The GOP controls the House, period. They have enough members in the Senate to block cloture. No amount of insisting that the strategy is “doomed” changes these facts. Stay united against Obamacare, and the strategy succeeds.
Between 6) and 7) you vote some of the bastards out of office.
Good question: How can one actually consent if there is no possible way to withhold consent?
Finally, what to do: Get away from the keyboard.
Friday, July 19, 2013
I'll be back!
In about three years. I plan to use this time to change my life. I'll be homeless with a mission.
I will be leaving Springerville in about 5 days. But essentially, I'm already gone. Yes, some of you said mentally gone. You're forgiven. See my final thoughts. I'll need you to champion them while I'm away (should you choose to, and no tape will self destruct... hopefully.) I'll miss ya.
I will be leaving Springerville in about 5 days. But essentially, I'm already gone. Yes, some of you said mentally gone. You're forgiven. See my final thoughts. I'll need you to champion them while I'm away (should you choose to, and no tape will self destruct... hopefully.) I'll miss ya.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Australia disagrees with Musk
Musk thinks carbon taxes are a good idea. He's wrong.
But I do agree that, "The world could use a good movie about establishing a base on Mars."
So should I write a screenplay based on my settlement charter?
Elements of screenwriting.
Speaking of Australia, does it have mars dirt?
But I do agree that, "The world could use a good movie about establishing a base on Mars."
So should I write a screenplay based on my settlement charter?
Elements of screenwriting.
Speaking of Australia, does it have mars dirt?
Snails and turtles applaud
After almost a year on mars, the curiosity rover has completed a distance an astronaut could have walked in ten minutes. Just to put things in perspective.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Why would any conservative take advice from this guy?
Democrats routinely turn into Republicans when they walk into the polling place for the primary and then switch back to Democrat on their way out. Personally, I’ve done this at least 4 or 5 times and I will surely do it again next year.
7 instead of 8
I cancelled my appointment on the 25th. I squeezed it in today instead. Which means I will be leaving on the 24th. So seven more days instead of eight. Seven instead of eight would have completely changed my life a quarter century ago.
I was an ATCS in Oklahoma taking a simulation test. I had traffic crossing a vortac with another orbiting above. I didn't have to give a landing clearance to the aircraft orbiting. I could have waited until the traffic cleared. But I did give a clearance at or below 8000. It should have been at or below 7000. That was about half a point in my four months of testing. That's how much I failed by. Had I said seven or not given any clearance at all... I'd be retired now, collecting more than the average working persons income to sit on my butt.
Then I would have missed out on all the life experience I had instead. eh... I would have made that sacrifice. Seven more days...
I was an ATCS in Oklahoma taking a simulation test. I had traffic crossing a vortac with another orbiting above. I didn't have to give a landing clearance to the aircraft orbiting. I could have waited until the traffic cleared. But I did give a clearance at or below 8000. It should have been at or below 7000. That was about half a point in my four months of testing. That's how much I failed by. Had I said seven or not given any clearance at all... I'd be retired now, collecting more than the average working persons income to sit on my butt.
Then I would have missed out on all the life experience I had instead. eh... I would have made that sacrifice. Seven more days...
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
I did not know this
Most U.S. states do not allow manufacturers to sell new cars directly to consumers.This is simply incredible to me.
Time for some Lazarus Long quotes.
"Being intelligent is not a felony, but most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor."
Monday, July 15, 2013
Tires rotated
One more thing to check off my list. 10 more days to go. Oil change just before I leave.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Sanity and law prevails
Will Bill Lee, former police chief of Sanford, get his job back? George Zimmerman will not get his life back either. Trayvon got what he deserved according to the law.
Second-degree murder in Florida requires "a depraved mind without regard for human life.” Only a depraved mind would accuse Zimmerman of that.
Manslaughter doesn't apply either because in Florida killing is justified on the reasonable belief that bodily harm is a potential even before the reality that exists for all to see in this case. Self defense does not require the belief that your life is in jeopardy as is commonly believed. That little word 'OR' has legal meaning.
The killing was justified and a young thug got what he deserved is what the jury found even with the judge hiding information from them that would have made this conclusion much easier to reach.
This is a message that we should be clearly stating so thugs everywhere start to get it.
The Valentines day massacre was national news when one mobster group killed seven of another mobster group. It would hardly be newsworthy today. This is probably a daily occurrence in this day and hardly gets beyond local news.
Let Trayvon's parents shed their tears. The rest of us should see one down, lots more to go. This is what's codified in law when sanity prevailed. You can legally kill a thug when they attack you.
Got that thugs? You can be killed and will be when you can't control your rage. Good riddance.
Kill all the thugs and what does society become? A whole lot better. We don't have to kill them all, but let those that remain have a good reason to control their violence when among decent people.
I don't care what color the people involved are. The media twisting itself into a pretzel to describe someone as a white Hispanic is absurd. George is a mutt just like the rest of us.
Second-degree murder in Florida requires "a depraved mind without regard for human life.” Only a depraved mind would accuse Zimmerman of that.
Manslaughter doesn't apply either because in Florida killing is justified on the reasonable belief that bodily harm is a potential even before the reality that exists for all to see in this case. Self defense does not require the belief that your life is in jeopardy as is commonly believed. That little word 'OR' has legal meaning.
The killing was justified and a young thug got what he deserved is what the jury found even with the judge hiding information from them that would have made this conclusion much easier to reach.
This is a message that we should be clearly stating so thugs everywhere start to get it.
The Valentines day massacre was national news when one mobster group killed seven of another mobster group. It would hardly be newsworthy today. This is probably a daily occurrence in this day and hardly gets beyond local news.
Let Trayvon's parents shed their tears. The rest of us should see one down, lots more to go. This is what's codified in law when sanity prevailed. You can legally kill a thug when they attack you.
Got that thugs? You can be killed and will be when you can't control your rage. Good riddance.
Kill all the thugs and what does society become? A whole lot better. We don't have to kill them all, but let those that remain have a good reason to control their violence when among decent people.
I don't care what color the people involved are. The media twisting itself into a pretzel to describe someone as a white Hispanic is absurd. George is a mutt just like the rest of us.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Boeing batteries...
...Are chemically not the same as those used by Tesla and SpaceX contrary to what's been reported.
Tesla automobiles do not use the lithium-cobalt-oxide chemistry that is in the Dreamliner batteries. They rely on Panasonic nickel-cobalt-aluminum lithium-ion batteries.Second, Boeing's 'fixes' completely ignore what Elon is saying. The central issue is not just spacing. It's cell size.
Boeing elected to use a battery with a grouping of eight large cells, Tesla's batteries contain thousands of smaller cells that are independently separated.Boeing refuses to address this issue so they will continue to have problems until they do.
Budgeting
My income comes every four weeks except when it comes in five. Which it happens to after this next payday. This will work for me as regards my car payment which is budgeted at $50 per week (paid monthly) but zero every fifth week when that happens. Food and fuel will be budgeted at $50 each, every week regardless. Everything else is a luxury except I will make savings a priority.
I will need patience. Things will be happening very slowly for the next four months or so. I'm using a four column journal with the last column being my over/under for the weekly budget. The car payment should be zero over/under at all times. Other stuff will start out 100% under weekly budget until expenses occur. At the end of each week I will have an accumulation of budget and savings.
Simple enough. Beyond that I have goals for this year and next year. July 2015 I'm gonna party. Have no clue where but that is when my odyssey ends. Update: Nope. It will take until the end of 2016 to reach my goals.
Of course every ending is a new beginning. Not going to think about that for now.
I have little to do for the next twelve days. I'm already packed. I could get my tires rotated.
Every six months I get car insurance. That will require putting aside about $10 per week (with consideration for the weeks that have already gone by.) Not much room for anything beyond that.
Another way of looking at it. First I take $200 off the top for car payment. Then I have $160 per week (for five weeks.) $100 for food and gas leaves $60 for luxuries. $160 goes into savings ever four week period.
I will need patience. Things will be happening very slowly for the next four months or so. I'm using a four column journal with the last column being my over/under for the weekly budget. The car payment should be zero over/under at all times. Other stuff will start out 100% under weekly budget until expenses occur. At the end of each week I will have an accumulation of budget and savings.
Simple enough. Beyond that I have goals for this year and next year. July 2015 I'm gonna party. Have no clue where but that is when my odyssey ends. Update: Nope. It will take until the end of 2016 to reach my goals.
Of course every ending is a new beginning. Not going to think about that for now.
I have little to do for the next twelve days. I'm already packed. I could get my tires rotated.
Every six months I get car insurance. That will require putting aside about $10 per week (with consideration for the weeks that have already gone by.) Not much room for anything beyond that.
Another way of looking at it. First I take $200 off the top for car payment. Then I have $160 per week (for five weeks.) $100 for food and gas leaves $60 for luxuries. $160 goes into savings ever four week period.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Lately...
I've been seeing all of my favorite foods in over abundant quantities lately. Another reason I must leave.
I absolutely love eggplant before it's become eggplant parmesan (thin sliced and dipped in just egg and breadcrumbs, fried) with a little ranch dressing.
Italian mothers will love you to death. Spanish stepfathers will passive-aggressive attack such as waiting until you are two hours into a deep sleep and turning on one of three televisions in the house at maximum volume two feet away from your head.
I've been in a tired funk all day with one exception. The wiring on my Jimmy is complete. Everything is working as desired. I have one appointment on July 25th before I blow this town.
I talked to my brother-in-law this afternoon and his first comment was "when are you coming to visit?" I told him probably in about three months. I plan a very slow migration. I do not want to arrive at family broke. I must have some savings first. I may stay a week, but no longer. Then I will probably head north. I've never seen much of Oregon accept to pass through and would like to take it a bit more leisurely this time. I have a good friend in Washington I haven't seen in over a decade and may stop by my old employer as well.
My brother-in-law and I also talked about my stepson that visited him a week or two ago. I got a text message that he will be calling me anytime now. They had a 3 hour visit and I got some answers regarding their discussion. It was encouraging to me but will never make a dent in my ex-wife. I've learned I can only plant seeds with her. She doesn't like her son's wife who seems a decent girl to me and nothing I say will likely change that.
My son wants to work with his hands, perhaps as a mechanic. My ex wants him to pursue more scholarly interests that he is perfectly capable of but not interested in. Only time will prove out.
Just got off the phone with my stepson Sasha (Alex to everybody else but still Sasha to me.) He hasn't changed, except perhaps a bit more mature at 23. It seems he got married Feb 9th. I'd heard, but that didn't stop me from putting him in the hot seat ("So why didn't I hear from you?" You do realize that was your mom's anniversary with me?" Actually a few days different, but close enough. Etc.) Anyway, I told him not to be such a stranger with my sister and her husband and to bring his wife by for them to meet. Also, my brother-in-law's birthday is around thanksgiving and I expect both of them to attend. Which suggest I should plan to be around during that time as well. My ex is planning 3 weeks with her folks in the Ukraine in August but I'm sure she will have plenty of vacation for a day in November.
Update: I sent an email to my ex regarding my plans. She is in a panic. Oh well. Not much I can do about that. I'd hate to cut her out of my plans but that will happen if she continues to be herself (not much chance of anything else, is there?) I will succeed or fail, but my life is my responsibility.
Just got off the phone with my ex. We did not discuss my plans at all. It was all about her relationship with her now married son who did not celebrate mothers day or her birthday this year. She said she is the most important person in her son's life. I had to correct her because her son is married. She is not happy with me for pointing this out and certainly doesn't agree with me. He has cut the apron strings but she continues to hold fast to her end. She does not understand that she is the one isolating herself. She just will not accept any perspective that is not her own. It is not his life and his responsibility, it is hers and everyone should not argue this point. So the conversation ends.
Sasha certainly does tell people what he thinks they want to hear. This is not something unusual for this generation. But he does understand that he is responsible for his own life and now his wife and is working hard, making mistakes and taking that responsibility. He is leagues ahead of many young men his age (or some twice his age.) It's hard to understand how his mother doesn't understand this. She is simply hurt that she is not the center of his world.
People are nuts. This is one reason my choice to hit the road isn't. I don't care who disagrees. My life. My responsibility. My results. I look forward to many nights of peaceful rest. It's been a long time coming.
I absolutely love eggplant before it's become eggplant parmesan (thin sliced and dipped in just egg and breadcrumbs, fried) with a little ranch dressing.
Italian mothers will love you to death. Spanish stepfathers will passive-aggressive attack such as waiting until you are two hours into a deep sleep and turning on one of three televisions in the house at maximum volume two feet away from your head.
I've been in a tired funk all day with one exception. The wiring on my Jimmy is complete. Everything is working as desired. I have one appointment on July 25th before I blow this town.
I talked to my brother-in-law this afternoon and his first comment was "when are you coming to visit?" I told him probably in about three months. I plan a very slow migration. I do not want to arrive at family broke. I must have some savings first. I may stay a week, but no longer. Then I will probably head north. I've never seen much of Oregon accept to pass through and would like to take it a bit more leisurely this time. I have a good friend in Washington I haven't seen in over a decade and may stop by my old employer as well.
My brother-in-law and I also talked about my stepson that visited him a week or two ago. I got a text message that he will be calling me anytime now. They had a 3 hour visit and I got some answers regarding their discussion. It was encouraging to me but will never make a dent in my ex-wife. I've learned I can only plant seeds with her. She doesn't like her son's wife who seems a decent girl to me and nothing I say will likely change that.
My son wants to work with his hands, perhaps as a mechanic. My ex wants him to pursue more scholarly interests that he is perfectly capable of but not interested in. Only time will prove out.
Just got off the phone with my stepson Sasha (Alex to everybody else but still Sasha to me.) He hasn't changed, except perhaps a bit more mature at 23. It seems he got married Feb 9th. I'd heard, but that didn't stop me from putting him in the hot seat ("So why didn't I hear from you?" You do realize that was your mom's anniversary with me?" Actually a few days different, but close enough. Etc.) Anyway, I told him not to be such a stranger with my sister and her husband and to bring his wife by for them to meet. Also, my brother-in-law's birthday is around thanksgiving and I expect both of them to attend. Which suggest I should plan to be around during that time as well. My ex is planning 3 weeks with her folks in the Ukraine in August but I'm sure she will have plenty of vacation for a day in November.
Update: I sent an email to my ex regarding my plans. She is in a panic. Oh well. Not much I can do about that. I'd hate to cut her out of my plans but that will happen if she continues to be herself (not much chance of anything else, is there?) I will succeed or fail, but my life is my responsibility.
Just got off the phone with my ex. We did not discuss my plans at all. It was all about her relationship with her now married son who did not celebrate mothers day or her birthday this year. She said she is the most important person in her son's life. I had to correct her because her son is married. She is not happy with me for pointing this out and certainly doesn't agree with me. He has cut the apron strings but she continues to hold fast to her end. She does not understand that she is the one isolating herself. She just will not accept any perspective that is not her own. It is not his life and his responsibility, it is hers and everyone should not argue this point. So the conversation ends.
Sasha certainly does tell people what he thinks they want to hear. This is not something unusual for this generation. But he does understand that he is responsible for his own life and now his wife and is working hard, making mistakes and taking that responsibility. He is leagues ahead of many young men his age (or some twice his age.) It's hard to understand how his mother doesn't understand this. She is simply hurt that she is not the center of his world.
People are nuts. This is one reason my choice to hit the road isn't. I don't care who disagrees. My life. My responsibility. My results. I look forward to many nights of peaceful rest. It's been a long time coming.
Sowell remembers when racists were white
But he's just some old guy. I'm surprised he didn't reference the Zimmerman trial.
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