Space
Fly Commercial to Space: Coming, June 2009
Published by Rod D. Martin January 23rd, 2008 filed under Space, Future, Technology, Economics, Rod D. Martin, Conservatism, TheVanguard.Org
From London’s Evening Standard: Sir Richard Branson does it again.
The Virgin Galactic spacecraft, which was being unveiled in New York today, is already under construction. Test flights are expected to begin in June, with commercial flights starting 12 months later.
The New (Private) Space Race
Published by Rod D. Martin September 17th, 2007 filed under Future, Space, Technology, Rod D. Martin, TheVanguard.Org
Nothing against Orion or the wonderful things government is doing to advance scramjets (and NASA’s cool new technology to eliminate sonic booms), but the real action is in the private sector. As usual.
I’m a Prophet
Published by Rod D. Martin March 29th, 2007 filed under Future, Space, Technology, Rod D. Martin, TheVanguard.Org
On the very day my Examiner piece runs, we come across this story announcing Virgin Galactic’s plans to go forward with scramjet-based passenger liners.
Martin in the Examiner: “Trends to Watch as We Invent the Future, Again”
Published by Rod D. Martin March 29th, 2007 filed under Space, Health Care, Future, Technology, Energy, Rod D. Martin, Announcements, TheVanguard.Org
My Examiner piece is out today, and I hope you enjoy it.
Multi-Planetary Warming?
Published by Rod D. Martin March 26th, 2007 filed under Fred Thompson, Al Gore, Environment, Space, Rod D. Martin, Election 2008, TheVanguard.Org
It stands to reason that, if you were a scientist, and if therefore you believed in looking at all possibilities and investigating all known evidence before coming to a conclusion, one of the things you might do — if you believed Earth was getting warmer — was determine whether other planets nearby were doing the same thing.
The Problem With Government Space Programs
Published by Rod D. Martin January 15th, 2007 filed under Future, Space, Technology, Rod D. Martin, TheVanguard.Org
The Houston Chronicle reports that one casualty of the GOP’s kicking of all the continuing resolutions into 2007 is NASA. Senators had worked out a deal to increase the NASA budget by $1 billion, allowing continuation of vital research programs (scramjets included) and current manned ops, but also permitting needed — and urgent — development of the manned craft and launch vehicles which must replace the aging and increasingly dangerous Space Shuttle fleet. Even if that work stays on its planned schedule, something which is far from certain under the best of circumstances, the U.S. is scheduled for a four-year gap during which it will have NO ability to launch humans into space. Meantime, the Russian program rolls on, and the Chinese plan landings and colonies on the Moon.
Goldbugs Again. Ugh.
Published by Rod D. Martin April 4th, 2006 filed under Technology, Space, Monetary Policy, Economics, Rod D. Martin, TheVanguard.Org
Some friends of mine published an article online today stating that the gold standard is necessary both economically and Biblically. The argument is (very briefly) that since the Bible requires honest weights and measures, our modern system of floating currencies is inherently sinful, and only gold can fix this.
New Space Race Gets Down To Business
Published by Rod D. Martin January 29th, 2006 filed under Space, Technology, Rod D. Martin, TheVanguard.Org
Tech-savvy entrepreneurs devote bucks and brainpower to space visions, changing conceptions of the future for everyone except devotees of Robert A. Heinlein. Click here for the Forbes story on the men who are taking us all to space pretty darn quick.
U.S. Government Researching Warp Drive
Published by Rod D. Martin January 27th, 2006 filed under Space, Technology, Rod D. Martin, TheVanguard.Org
AN EXTRAORDINARY “hyperspace” engine that could make interstellar space travel a reality by flying into other dimensions is being investigated by the United States government, reports The Daily Scotsman. It’s going to be a cool century.