While I was standing there looking at this pretty darned impressive hole in the ground, I started thinking about Larry Niven’s quip about how “Dinosaurs went extinct because they didn’t have a space program”. As I said on Twitter during the drive, I don’t think our space program would actually do us much good in stopping an extinction-level meteor strike, even if we had 5-10 years advanced notice (which we most likely wouldn’t have because we’re not doing the NEO search in the way that would actually give us much advanced warning).

I think a better way of thinking about this would be to say that “Dinosaurs went extinct because they weren’t spacefaring. Unfortunately, neither are we–yet.”

Speaking of spacefaring, I think that Paul Spudis’ article about the seafaring vs. aviation analogy for space was spot-on in illustrating this point. This is why I’m worried that the destination/mission focus of so much of the space debate is driving things in foolish directions. I actually side with Paul in thinking that cislunar space (including the surface of the Moon) is where it makes the most sense for us to develop ourselves into a spacefaring (and not just space-visiting) civilization. I just think a lot of the debate is on destinations versus whether we want to be forever stuck with one-off missions or whether we want to establish the kind of transportation infrastructure that enable something more like what Paul described (and ultimately what would be required if we want to be able to avoid repeating the fate of the Dinosaurs if it turns out some rock out there is addressed with our name on it).

I’ve been so busy lately that I’m only now getting a few spare minutes to show off some rather cool pictures I was sent a week ago.  A week ago Monday, I got an email from Claire Flanagan of the Johannesburg Planetarium in South Africa, asking about some strange pictures, including the one taken above by Mitchell Krog of Livingcanvas.co.za (check out some of his nature photographs–they’re breathtaking!). She had reason to believe that these bubbles had something to do with last week’s Atlas-V DMSP launch.

This was the launch I mentioned in my propellant depot paper, where after delivering the spacecraft they did a series of cryo-fluid management tests, including several tests on centrifugal propellant settling. BTW, I hear they got some good data from the tests, but I’ll let the ULA guys speak for themselves once the data is fully analyzed.

Anyhow, after helping the Johannesburg Planetarium gals/guys get in contact with ULA, they were (with Case Rijsdijk’s help) able to resolve the mystery. But I’ll let you read what Case and the Planetarium had to say about it, instead of just repeating it.

Kudos to Mitchell and Claire for letting me post some of the pictures and links.

I’ve found that the difference between “screwing around with heavy equipment” and “science” is whether or not you record the results with a high speed camera. This principal has been repeatedly demonstrated by the Mythbusters.