Because that's exactly how it would be. I used to work in libraries. They're just suffering an existential crisis, and will react this way each time someone comes up with a better idea than they can make good on themselves.
First, I am not a biochemist, so don't flog me too harshly if I grossly overlook important elements of this biofuel process...
That said, need the process be commercialized? From what I can gather, having followed this a bit, is that they are looking for ways to mass-produce fuel from algae. Is 'microbrewing' not possible, or is it just not profitable for energy companies?
Cruelty isn't just inflicting physical pain. One aspect of slaughterhouse design involves proper lighting, flooring, and sound control.
See the book, Animals in Translation. It's an eye-opener on the subject.
It is dispersed throughout a large volume, certainly. But with an automated craft, provided with ion engines and enough time, it seems you one be able to achieve a considerable collection of debris.
Here's an idea...
How many tons of launch debris do we dodge daily in orbit?
Why not collect it, and use its condensed and combined mass for such a "gravity tractor?"
Just asking...
As much of a fan of NASA as I am (and have been, since the mid-70s), I am seriously beginning to doubt the agency's ability to get back into the business of taking big trips. Even if NASA gets us back to the moon, we're likely to be greeted by the Chinese, or some commercial operation's management (welcome to Bigelow at Tranquility!).
It seems almost silly to be developing a return to space program, when commercial space is doing the same thing, for less money, and is closer to actually ACHIEVING it.
ya.. and we'll see how well it goes.
They've taken 30 years to go from TRL1 to TRL5(ish) and meanwhile the rest of the community have focused on actual attainable thrusters.
It's provided many a great PhD thesis (or ten) but I wouldn't expect anything operational soon..
Remember the ultimate goal is nuclear.. fission, then fusion.
I thought the ultimate goal was Warp Drive...
That would be a glimpse of the past, actually.
Thank you!
If I had mod points, I'd share 'em.
What, the "Flaming Gas-Bag" module?
Good point. There are proposals for using the Orion vehicle to explore asteroids, and I think resource needs will drive this.
Follow the money!
Re.: the wheels and power train... The front wheels are for steering. The back wheel is the drive wheel. Apparently, this is a fairly stable setup.
I am kind of a fan of the Aptera, though I am more eager to see the gas-electric hybrid.
It certainly seems so. It would be interesting to see of there is something cyclical in society that makes January a bad month to fly to/from space. Like personal cabin fever driving rocketry go fever, etc.
This is yet another example of things which, eight years ago, might have seemed merely odd, rather than somewhat unsettling.
How quaint the 20th Century already seems.
"May your future be limited only by your dreams." -- Christa McAuliffe
