Some thoughts

I stayed up to watch the live stream last night (the comments on the stream were truly cursed) but switched off once the coast phase had begun. This meant I missed the announcement that the launch had failed. Shame, hope they have better luck next time.

 Managed to watch the Livestream at work today: Personally, if I had the money I'd rather go on a New Shephard flight than SpaceShip Two, if only so you don't have quibbles as to whether you were actually in space or now. Popular Mechanics has a good summary of the event while Glenn Reynolds expands on its significance.

As expected after Branson's flight yesterday, a lot of articles like this:   The Joyride Era of Space Travel Is Here . What I dislike about the tone of these pieces is the hostility to people spending their money how they want, plus the ignorance of how these pioneers lower the costs for the masses as has happened with all technology (wealth may not trickle down but technology definitely does.  As a counterpoint article like this are much better IMO:  Branson vs Bezos: in praise of the billionaire space race

A good post at The Critic:  Letter from Washington: Team Musk . I liked this part contrasting his approach to the majority on the green movement: James Pethokoukis has contrasted the “Team Elon Musk” and “Team Greta Thunberg” approaches to climate change. The latter thinks “we must reject ‘fairy tales of eternal economic growth’ and settle for scarcity and stagnation to prevent environmental collapse”. The former “believes that humanity has the will and know-how to create a future of vast abundance”. Sign me up for Team Musk. Me too. Also by the same author, a report from the Boa Chica site:  Liftoff in Brownsville  

 A good article at the American Spectator on last week's SN15 flight summarising the program so far and next steps:  SpaceX Starship Ushers in New Era of Space Travel . I caught the end of the live stream of the flight, was a lot smoother than previous ones. Am looking forward to seeing the first orbital attempt.  Related, the UK Spectator reviews Eric Berger's (of Ars Technica) new book chronicling the early history of SpaceX:  Life on Earth is too tame for eccentric American billionaires . I do find it odd how many on the right (particularly the more libertarian elements) dislike Musk and moan about his being a subsidy junkie, especially as he is the closest thing to a real-life Tony Stark (who was a defence contactor...) or Randian superman. Maybe the fact that he took government contracts makes him a traitor in their eyes and shows the flaws in their pure capitalist worldview. It also seems the more they know about SpaceX compared to his other activities the less...

 With  Gwynne Shotwell  of SpaceX. I especially liked how she deflects the questions on gender at the end.

 I started watching the live stream last night but went to bed before the event. This morning I watched a reply of the flight and subsequent boom: Getting there! At least this one landed in one piece (for a while) In related news, it seems Elon Musk is  s Creating a City in Texas.  According to that article It 'Will Be Called Starbase and It Will Be Ruled by 'The Doge' Faster please

This is an excellent takedown of NASA's SLS (Space Launch System). I've been followed this fiasco on and off for years and am still flabbergastered by how much money has been wasted. If not cancelled soon I hope a RUD (rapid unscheduled disassembly, as SpaceX refers to them) occurs in the first flight, leading to the plug finally being pulled.

Its snowing outside, and due to Chinese New Year I've not got much online teaching at the moment. However I have my first opiece of coursework ddue in two weeks tomorrow anfd have a lot of reading to do so blogging with be brief for a while,. Netherlress, here'ss this weeks link roundup. First up, a  look ahead  to what 2021 holds for spaceflight by the RAS. I'm most excited to see how much progress SpaceX make on Starship, In environmental news, it looks as if after covid we should prepare for  the climate lockdowns . Yay :/ This ties in with my post on post covid predictions and how it is being used as a model by the ecoloons.  An interesting analysis of why people find Jordan Peterson's approach useful.  'Peterson’s detailed frame of reference allows people to understand where they are and what they need to do. Having resolved doubt, having found the North on their compass, much is settled. A person can thrust forward with confidence' While on the subject o...

  Virgin Orbit reaches orbit on second LauncherOne mission Good job. Faster, please.