Random Musings from the Warped Minds of Jonathan Goff, Ken Murphy, John Hare, and Kirk Sorensen
Posted in Administrivia on Jun 12th, 2009
Sorry guys, I said I’d post the second half of that thought today (the one about how to use dual-launched EELVs for manned missions). But I’m exhausted. Been doing far too many cycles of stay up till 1am, then get up at 6:30 or 7am over the past two weeks. I’m going to bed. Hopefully [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 12th, 2009
A couple months ago, I had a friend run an interesting idea past me for a way of soft-landing serious sized payloads on the moon using existing launchers, even before full-fledged depots are operational. After looking at the idea, I realized it also had the potential for even allowing manned lunar missions. While [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 9th, 2009
guest blogger john hare
I have a seriously adverse reaction to der Griffenshaft and the money and opportunity costs it represents. This is a what if post concerning the results that the $8B to date could have achieved if handled in a totally different manner. Nobody should take this post too seriously as it would have [...]
…I know there’s sometimes some confusion about names, but I’m pretty sure NASA isn’t short for Northern Alabama Space Administration. Someone ought to point that out to our Mr. Shelby.
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 8th, 2009
guest blogger john hare
I noticed an objection to reusing tanks in orbit again that struck me as minor. Insulation popcorning off the tank creates an orbital debris problem that is increasingly unacceptable. It would seem to me that an Echo type balloon much larger than the stage could be used to contain the problem even if [...]
Posted in NASA, Propellant Depots, Space Development, Space Policy, Space Transportation on Jun 4th, 2009
[Ed: I'm pretty sure I've used this argument before, but didn't see it on the blog, so I figured I'd put it down in writing even if it ends up being repetitive.]
One of the most common criticisms I hear of propellant depots is that we can’t “put unproven technology on the critical path to our [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 3rd, 2009
john hare
I’ve been without net access for a few months and still don’t have a valid email after moving out of the house. I don’t have anything interesting to post at this time, especially as I seem to have missed a lot, but will throw ideas out there when that changes.
Sorry for the OT. I just [...]