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Comment Re: Elon Musk (Score 2) 108

Bruce, it is at vandenberg. The launch vehicle is already there, and has been tanked 1 already.
In addition, it is only using 3 engines, not all 9. As such, it is thought that it was a converted grasshopper.

The launch pad abort was supposed to have happened long ago, and then I had heard Feb, and then april and now a NET of May 5th.

As to the delays, yeah, most, if not all, was caused by spaceX focusing on getting their launch rate way up, along with the 2 failed landings. But, in light of NASA's dicking around with SpaceX and giving preference to Boeing to the point that SpaceX can not go to the ISS until Boeing has done so, you really can not blame them.
I will say that if Soyuz fails (sad thought since that implies loss of life), then SpaceX's dragon 2 will no doubt be moved up in priority since it is by far the closest.

Comment Re: Well... (Score 1) 108

I would have to say that spacex is already manned quality. Even their F9 was designed with numerous sensors and the ability to shut down an engine or more while completing the mission. All that remains is PROVING dragon's ability to abort.

Comment Re:All of the major car makers are fighting EVs (Score 1) 486

glad that somebody modded you up.
When I speak of EVs, I have always been referring to electric cars. Passenger vehicles.
What is needed is to get Cargo and large passenger vehicles to switch to being series hybrids with nat gas. By getting commercial vehicles to switch to that, it will make it possible for makers to deal with electric until we get it figured out better.

BTW, BNSF railroad uses 5% of America's diesel. They are in the process of converting all of their engines to LNG instead. And the other companies are considering it, since Nat Gas is just too cheap.
If these switch, that is around 10-15% of America's diesel. That is HUGE.

Finally, Tesla will be forcing all car makers to EVs. Make no mistake about it. They do not want to go, but they will. They have no choice once the Model 3, along with the analog crossover comes out in 2016/2017.

Comment Re:Re-read your link (Score 1) 334

Such nonsense.

Nobody recycles batteries for the lithium. A small amount get recycled for cobalt That will change as the price of lithium rises, of course as that happens we are back to economics..

And yet, the total batteries are being recycled as we speak here in America.
Here is more.

Which is why we don't have enough to supply our need.

Sadly, again, you have no real knowledge of science, or what is going on. You took something from several years ago, which is predicated on PROVED RESERVOIRS that want to be acknowledged. Yet, it is wrong.
Now, go look up Simbol Mining Corp. Simbol is going to feed Tesla, which is working on a factory that will MORE THAN DOUBLE CURRENT LITHIUM ION PRODUCTION. Now, that is just 1 company that will be providing all this.
In addition, for the future Here is more.
You just have to read a bit, rather than as little as possible. In addition, stay up on your science.

Finally, as to being cheap/economical, it is regularly about scale, not about process. Bolivia and Chile are pushed by Europe to be dirty, but, Tesla will be looking for more than what Bolivia, Chile, China, and Australia put out together, THIS YEAR. And considering that it will come from America (and Canada), that will increase the scale. Finally, as Tesla gears up, Simbol's will also expand outwards to other geothermal units.

Comment Re-read your link (Score 1) 334

It is NOT the processing, but the mining of it. Places like Chile will use scarce water to turn it into a brine and then start the processing.
OTOH, Here in America, we are finding the lithium from heated brine solutions down below. In particular, we are bringing up brine solutions for geo-thermal electricity and then pulling the lithium out after the fact, and then re-injecting the cleaned up water back into the hole.
With this approach, there is NO mining, but instead, making use of an on-going process.

And yes, China, along with Europe, push for the DIRTY mining of Lithium. They are pretty bad, but they want it cheap.

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