I find something lacking, a habitat module. I see lots of articles, PPT, etc. describing how Orion will go beyond but yet I haven't found much on additional space for food, supplies, tools and parts (yes, things can break down needing replacements and repairs), exercise equipment. Maybe there is but I haven't seen anything consistent (I admit I'm not involved in Orion or other HSF programs, and haven't fully searched the internet for references). I see lots of articles about Orion and SLS launch vehicle but that's it. Perhaps a little here and there for habitat modules but no major development program like someone getting a big contract to design and build modules.

I view Orion as a high speed entry vehicle when screaming back into earth's atmosphere but other than that it is limited. It carries only four people, has no airlock, no toilet, not much space for supplies, and has less room per person than the Shuttle Orbiter.

is that who that is? I find frequently on my answering machine something pertaining to cardholder, I don't bother to listen as it sounds like another telemarketer, I hit delete button without bothering to listen to the rest of message. I have been getting a slew of calls from some kind of collection agency leaving a phone number with area code I don't recognize. And long distance too so I ain't gonna call.

I am surprised of an agency like FTC actually doing something that can benefit us little people on the user side of the "tubes."

imagine if they thought it was some useless kind of foreign typewriter, put it for sale at a flea market for $5.

I guess if you're old enough to remember when the world was only two pieces (US and USSR along each their allied countries), Pluto was a planet and many think it still is. At least for me it still seems like a planet. Though that's for the astronomers to argue it out.

I believe we are fortunate that money and effort was devoted to New Horizons to examine Pluto. Imagine what the surface is like, what would the sun look like at Pluto? Yes, much smaller than here on earth but kind of fun to imagine.

"Deals of this size are done all the time, and think what having access to and rights over a billion kilos of platinum would do for your corporate portfolio."

yes, I think this phrase is worth repeating.

this is a hint on how to build a "solar system railroad" is to build a Space Navy. Paradigm of a "Space Force" has been modeled after an air force of airplanes to command the sky. But airplanes are short duration on a specific mission. A navy to command the seas needs ships of long duration and logistics ships to keep them on station for months at a time. So think of a Space Navy to conquer the solar system.

Though first commercial ventures to asteroids would not need a navy, unless "space pirates" are to appear which may happen. One country may observe another taking the lead and then license privateers to attack those vessels and steal their ore. It's happened before on the oceans.

good one, I'll remember this.

back on that fateful night of Dec 31, 1999 in Santa Clara County CA, all police depts and sheriff units had all three shifts and reserves on duty. May seem silly but local officials wanted to be sure just in case. So in middle of night, someone figures he's gonna rob a liquor store (for much of the county it was pretty quiet). 211 call comes in, many many units respond, and arrive on scene quickly. "Damn, looks like I picked the wrong night to do a stick-up!"

I remember back in 20th century when it began as the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter. Really. Planners were seeing every new fighter was far more expensive and prohibitively so preventing sizable quantities for adequate forces. I've read some but so many different viewpoints and analysis. I still wonder what went wrong.

maybe remove these from maps both printed and Google? Yes it's ridiculous but I'm sure these ideas are kicking around. I read someplace that shortly after 9-11, some cities removed addresses of fire department stations because they felt if terrorists knew where these are they can disrupt first responders.

Except for a few people, nobody cares about Mars. Only need to see what the politicos and major decision makers are working on. Also from http://www.projectrho.com/rock...
"The Gobi Desert is about a thousand times as hospitable as Mars and five hundred times cheaper and easier to reach. Nobody ever writes "Gobi Desert Opera" because, well, it's just kind of plonkingly obvious that there's no good reason to go there and live. It's ugly, it's inhospitable and there's no way to make it pay. Mars is just the same, really. We just romanticize it because it's so hard to reach."

A manned mission to Mars has always been 20 years away and been presented like this for past 50 years (like fusion energy power plants are 10 years away which been presented like this for past 60 years). After a half century, maybe a different approach? Sorry I don't see how Orion or Musk's Dragon can reach Mars (supplies, food, machine shops to repair when things break down, radiation, microgravity, etc.). Then we got advocates always promoting their "One legged stool" http://hopsblog-hop.blogspot.c... for the Next Big Initiative.

Of all the stuff I read, Dennis Wingo in his book Moon Rush discusses real driver should be industrial expansion, "Deals of this size are done all the time, and think what having access to and rights over a billion kilos of platinum would do for your corporate portfolio." Wingo also discusses background of major programs Apollo, SEI, Augustine commissions I and II, and why certain decisions were made (and why many times nothing happened after). http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ...

Yes but then there will be complaints "it's socialism!" and protests against such practices (ironically by those working folks who will benefit). Or they will say, "too bad but that's capitalism." Yeah but I think in a capitalist system does not include rich people sending lobbyists to legislators to make laws against the competition or laws that game the system in their favor.

There was a time when tech companies provide training and additional education but then another company will poach them away. Then all the companies decide to poach employees instead of providing expense to give them more training and education. Now it seems instead of expense of educating people in schools, simply poach people from other countries.

That's my Gripe Of The Month for now.

more I look into this, illustrates how much countries do all kinds of manipulations instead of "intelligence operations" particularly systematic silencing of dissidents at home and abroad.

on how they bungled every mission involving Moose and Squirrel.

I probably could have added more content but re-writing much of its talking points? It also has a lot more material than just different space advocates arguing among themselves. Getting back to Mars Direct, a manned mission to Mars has always been 20 years away and been presented like this for past 50 years (like fusion energy power plants are 10 years away which been presented like this for past 60 years). After a half century, maybe a different approach? Sorry I don't see how Orion or Musk's Dragon can reach Mars (supplies, food, machine shops to repair when things break down, radiation, microgravity, etc.)