My mother sent me a link to VRBO. The site is a clearing house for people who are willing to rent their homes to people on vacation. They claim to have 130,000 homes listed.
A couple times we have several weeks or a month in another city. It was a real hassle to locate and arrange our extended vacations. This might be an easier way to do, though it does look a little expensive.
Anyone tried this service?
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Technorati tags: vacation, homes
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Space Access 2010 - Leik Myrabo, on The RPI Laser Propulsion Laboratory/International Collaboration On Hypersonic BEP With Brazil/LTI Work With Umea I
Leik Myrabo is working on a variety of projects. He’ll talk about naonsat program. He is working with some issues. He talked about beam powered space flight also in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
First Visionary future
What has changed recently is the price of lasers has dropped dramatically. Leik will share his vision of how to move people and good around the world in an environmentally friendly way.
He uses the term “light craft” to refer to something that doesn’t carry a power source. “LightPort” provides the power. His model is using lasers to power the crafts to move people to pretty much any where in the world in about 45 minutes. He has written a book about some of this proposal. The book is “Lightcraft Flight Handbook LTI-20: Hypersonic Flight Transport for an Era Beyond Oil” He warns that it isn’t light reading.
He beliefs this might come together starting around 2025. It would slowly edge out airplanes. He is working with a group of students in Sweden. They had a project to look at how a business traveler might use such a transportation system. Leik showed pictures from the project. The students put short movies. Here is one of them:
Leik has also been working on a Brazilian project. Chemical rockets needs to carry their fuel. Laser launched systems don't need to carry fuel. He covered some of the technical issues. The experiments he has been running have used crafts about 12 inches across.
He has also been working with the Air Force to launch Nano Satellites, any where, on demand.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
First Visionary future
What has changed recently is the price of lasers has dropped dramatically. Leik will share his vision of how to move people and good around the world in an environmentally friendly way.
He uses the term “light craft” to refer to something that doesn’t carry a power source. “LightPort” provides the power. His model is using lasers to power the crafts to move people to pretty much any where in the world in about 45 minutes. He has written a book about some of this proposal. The book is “Lightcraft Flight Handbook LTI-20: Hypersonic Flight Transport for an Era Beyond Oil” He warns that it isn’t light reading.
He beliefs this might come together starting around 2025. It would slowly edge out airplanes. He is working with a group of students in Sweden. They had a project to look at how a business traveler might use such a transportation system. Leik showed pictures from the project. The students put short movies. Here is one of them:
Aurora Spacelines | Laser Powered business-trips from niklas palm on Vimeo.
He showed a few more videos.Leik has also been working on a Brazilian project. Chemical rockets needs to carry their fuel. Laser launched systems don't need to carry fuel. He covered some of the technical issues. The experiments he has been running have used crafts about 12 inches across.
He has also been working with the Air Force to launch Nano Satellites, any where, on demand.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
Reminder - send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
Christine will be hosting the carnival at Our Curious Home.
Go here for the instructions on sending in a submission.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Go here for the instructions on sending in a submission.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Friday, April 09, 2010
Space Access 2010 - Space Diver / Rick Tumlinson
Rick Tumlinson encouraged us to read a book, it might have been O'Neil's book "The High Frontier."
Rick formed a company and they developed the only commercially available space suit.
They have a second company and developed a concept of "Space Diver." The diver Rick was working with recently died. Two other top divers have stepped in to help.
Rick now has a third company: "In Space." They are looking at producing a television series, the name of the show is "Space Race."
Rick showed us a video of various things that may be happening in space. The video ended with someone starting a sky dive from space.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
Rick formed a company and they developed the only commercially available space suit.
They have a second company and developed a concept of "Space Diver." The diver Rick was working with recently died. Two other top divers have stepped in to help.
Rick now has a third company: "In Space." They are looking at producing a television series, the name of the show is "Space Race."
Rick showed us a video of various things that may be happening in space. The video ended with someone starting a sky dive from space.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - Misuzu Onuki, on Japanese Space Venture Developments
She reported on the progress of space development in Japan. There are two Japaness Astronauts in ISS. They have a program to look at asteroids. There were several other programs.
Misuzu has a program to improve the quality of life in space. She is thinking about things like the colors and smells.
Japan has more than 30 commercial customers.
Japan is about the same size as California, but they have 98 airports. They are looking as using some airports into spaceports.
There is a suborbital training program.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
Misuzu has a program to improve the quality of life in space. She is thinking about things like the colors and smells.
Japan has more than 30 commercial customers.
Japan is about the same size as California, but they have 98 airports. They are looking as using some airports into spaceports.
There is a suborbital training program.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - Panel: World Space Programs & Projects - Clark Lindsey, Doug Messier, Dave Salt, Henry Spencer
Clark Lindsey started off talking about commercial space projects around the world.
It is an update from a similar panel discussion last year. You can get Clark's slides for this year's presentation here.
Kazakhstan has recently announced that they have invested in a land launch company.
Doug reported that Russia is building a new space port in the far east. Should be finished by 2015. Russia is building a family of rockets from two tons to forty tons. Russia is trying to be self contained, they are moving out of Kazakhstan. Henry said we have heard much of this before, so be careful.
Doug talked about some launches planned in the Ukraine.
Clark listed some activity in Europe. Spaceport Sweden is waiting for SpaceShipTwo to show up. The panel talked about Odessy Moon a bit.
Some UK activity: Virgin Galactic seems to be making progress. Clark mentioned Starchaser, they seem to have a hybrid rocket project. Dave said they seem to focus on expandables, rather than reusables. Dave also talked about Reaction Engines. Dave has a relationship with them, going back to the 1980s. They have an air breathing rocket. A few other companies were discussed.
There is a Project Enterprise in Germany. Two guys from there came to Space Access last year. They seem to be making some progress.
Two companies were listed for Canada. Henry said that the Canadian space agency makes noise about supporting new space efforts, but never provides money.
There is a group in Japan which has a DC-X like rocket. They got up to 40 km.
There is some agreement between XCor and some place in Asia, I think it was China.
A RocketLab in New Zealand had a launch, but they couldn't recover the second stage.
There is a project in India.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
It is an update from a similar panel discussion last year. You can get Clark's slides for this year's presentation here.
Kazakhstan has recently announced that they have invested in a land launch company.
Doug reported that Russia is building a new space port in the far east. Should be finished by 2015. Russia is building a family of rockets from two tons to forty tons. Russia is trying to be self contained, they are moving out of Kazakhstan. Henry said we have heard much of this before, so be careful.
Doug talked about some launches planned in the Ukraine.
Clark listed some activity in Europe. Spaceport Sweden is waiting for SpaceShipTwo to show up. The panel talked about Odessy Moon a bit.
Some UK activity: Virgin Galactic seems to be making progress. Clark mentioned Starchaser, they seem to have a hybrid rocket project. Dave said they seem to focus on expandables, rather than reusables. Dave also talked about Reaction Engines. Dave has a relationship with them, going back to the 1980s. They have an air breathing rocket. A few other companies were discussed.
There is a Project Enterprise in Germany. Two guys from there came to Space Access last year. They seem to be making some progress.
Two companies were listed for Canada. Henry said that the Canadian space agency makes noise about supporting new space efforts, but never provides money.
There is a group in Japan which has a DC-X like rocket. They got up to 40 km.
There is some agreement between XCor and some place in Asia, I think it was China.
A RocketLab in New Zealand had a launch, but they couldn't recover the second stage.
There is a project in India.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - Dynetics/Tim Pickens
Tim Perkins founded Orion Propulsion, Inc. which was recently sold to Dynetics.
Tim talked about what Dynetics does. He explained the services they provide and the products they produce.
He said it is good to always visit your vendors. The internet can mislead.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
Tim talked about what Dynetics does. He explained the services they provide and the products they produce.
He said it is good to always visit your vendors. The internet can mislead.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - Gary Hudson, on The Past Forty Years In The Commercial Space Business And A View Of Its Future
Gary Hudson started off with a quote of something like “There is no history, only biography.” He thanked various people.
Gary says he got started in this business because of Walt Disney’s “Man in Space” series. Gary figured that would be something worth devoting his life to. He referenced a Mark Twain quote:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Gary was convinced that reusable space vehicles were the way to go. Gary says he has been lucky to be mentored over the years by various individuals. He reviewed various ideas developed over the years.
Winston Churchill said “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no lost of enthusiasm.” This was the lead in to the Percheron around the year of 1981. Gary feels that the government regulatory agencies have a bad sense of risk.
In 1982 Gary came back to largely reusable vehicles. He looked again at the Phoenix.
I missed a few things Gary said while I was checking out some web sites on Gary.
In 1990 Gary got together with Tom Clancy to work on an improved Phoenix. This was before email, they used to fax messages back and forth. This was the last Phoenix design Gary worked on.
Around this time Gary got involved with Burt Rotan. In 1992 Gary worked on the Skyrocket. It was the first winged vehicle he had worked on.
In 1994-1995 Gary decided he needed to make some money, so built K0 for Kistler.
In 1994 to1996 Gary worked on a peroxide propulsion issues.
In 1995 he worked on the Roton X rocket. They flew the Roton X three times. He says the Roton X was a bridge too far. He says it took two years off his life.
He decided to just work with paying customers.
He worked on a project to launch a rocket from a plane.
Gary is worried about the world economy. He had a couple comics from Delbert. Gary gave some advice about how to help new space to succeed.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Gary says he got started in this business because of Walt Disney’s “Man in Space” series. Gary figured that would be something worth devoting his life to. He referenced a Mark Twain quote:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Gary was convinced that reusable space vehicles were the way to go. Gary says he has been lucky to be mentored over the years by various individuals. He reviewed various ideas developed over the years.
Winston Churchill said “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no lost of enthusiasm.” This was the lead in to the Percheron around the year of 1981. Gary feels that the government regulatory agencies have a bad sense of risk.
In 1982 Gary came back to largely reusable vehicles. He looked again at the Phoenix.
I missed a few things Gary said while I was checking out some web sites on Gary.
In 1990 Gary got together with Tom Clancy to work on an improved Phoenix. This was before email, they used to fax messages back and forth. This was the last Phoenix design Gary worked on.
Around this time Gary got involved with Burt Rotan. In 1992 Gary worked on the Skyrocket. It was the first winged vehicle he had worked on.
In 1994-1995 Gary decided he needed to make some money, so built K0 for Kistler.
In 1994 to1996 Gary worked on a peroxide propulsion issues.
In 1995 he worked on the Roton X rocket. They flew the Roton X three times. He says the Roton X was a bridge too far. He says it took two years off his life.
He decided to just work with paying customers.
He worked on a project to launch a rocket from a plane.
Gary is worried about the world economy. He had a couple comics from Delbert. Gary gave some advice about how to help new space to succeed.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
A milestone!
I just noticed that according to blogger we've passed the 3500 post milestone. This is our 3502 post!
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Technorati tags: milestone
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Technorati tags: milestone
Space Access 2010 - Tethers Unlimited/Gerald Nordley
Gerry Nordley gave a summary of what Tethers Unlimited has been doing recently.
They have been working on some projects for the navy.
They have been working on using tethers to deorbit a satellite.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
They have been working on some projects for the navy.
They have been working on using tethers to deorbit a satellite.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - SpaceWorks Commercial/A.C. Charania
A.C. Charania said that SpaceWorks Commercial provides services.
Some of his presentation is found in these slides.
He listed a bunch of projects they have worked on and are working on.
He talked about the kind of services they can provide. For example they have in house artists and some additional artists on contract.
The second half of his presentation is on what they call FastForward, going point to point with high speed transportation across the earth.
They have a number of white papers.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Some of his presentation is found in these slides.
He listed a bunch of projects they have worked on and are working on.
He talked about the kind of services they can provide. For example they have in house artists and some additional artists on contract.
The second half of his presentation is on what they call FastForward, going point to point with high speed transportation across the earth.
They have a number of white papers.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - FAA AST/Michelle Murray
Michelle Murray works with the FAA, Office of Commercial Space Transportation. Much of what she said was similar to her presentations in 2009, 2008 and 2007.
She showed a map of U.S. Spaceports. Some of them were Kodiak in Alaska, two in
California, one in New Mexico, one in Oklahoma, and one in Virginia.
She gave a summary of the Augustine Committee Findings.
Experimental rocket flights can’t carry paying cargo, but it might be OK to carry cargo for free. Michelle said to send in proposals.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
She showed a map of U.S. Spaceports. Some of them were Kodiak in Alaska, two in
California, one in New Mexico, one in Oklahoma, and one in Virginia.
She gave a summary of the Augustine Committee Findings.
Experimental rocket flights can’t carry paying cargo, but it might be OK to carry cargo for free. Michelle said to send in proposals.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - Lasermotive/Jordin Kare
Jordin Kare gave a brief history of the contest for climbing a ribbon using beamed power. He showed a picture of how they cooked hot dogs with their 4000 watt laser. It took four minutes.
He talked about some of the technical issues involved.
He showed a video of the winning run. I think the prize was $900,000!
He walked through a proposal of a 100 Megawatt launch system. The cost per launch would be very cheap. Jordin expect it would be about ten years before a first launch and maybe fifteen years before regular service.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
He talked about some of the technical issues involved.
He showed a video of the winning run. I think the prize was $900,000!
He walked through a proposal of a 100 Megawatt launch system. The cost per launch would be very cheap. Jordin expect it would be about ten years before a first launch and maybe fifteen years before regular service.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
One nice thing about gong to a conference
My normal days are pretty hectic. It seems like I'm often on the go. Between work, trying to raise children, getting a little more involved in politics, church, blogging, and so on, I've not kept up with everything I wanted to do. I've not been reading other blogs as much as I want to.
During a break today I look through a dozen or so favorite blogs. Spunky has a fun version of "The Miranda Rights for Public School Parents." It is the second half of a painful story about Abortion during school hours?!?
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
During a break today I look through a dozen or so favorite blogs. Spunky has a fun version of "The Miranda Rights for Public School Parents." It is the second half of a painful story about Abortion during school hours?!?
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Space Access 2010 - Panel: Propellant Depots: "Impedance Matching" Between LEO Launch And Deep-Space Missions - Dallas Bienhoff, Jon Goff, Bernard Kut
The panelists introduced themselves. They were: Dallas Bienhoff, Bernard Kutter, Jonathon Goff, and Rand Samberg.
Rand said someone suggested that the earth is a LEO harbor. Rand says it is a bad analogy, we don’t use tugboats to get ships from earth to low orbit. A better analogy is the small boats that take people from shore out to a cruise ship. There is a problem when you have two sets of requirements into one vehicle. Better to have one rocket to take people up to LEO, and another rocket to take people from LEO to places farther in space.
Jonathon suggested that fuel depots (a gas station) might be an important early RLV markets. It might make sense to have small depots. He pointed out that when refueling aircraft in flight we don’t ram the two together, you reach out a boom. Maybe the right thing is to also have a boom for rockets. If we start going with fuel depots, then in the first 12 months we might end up having more docking that in the whole previous history of docking.
Bernard said that United Launch Alliance launches about 150 tons to LEO. He said he didn’t know what the correct size was for building up the fuel depots. Was it a 1000 pounds? Was it 20,000 pounds? Bernard says we don’t need new technology, we know enough now. He suggests we first launch a large empty tank, get it into space. Could get a 20,000 or 50,000 gallon tank. If build fuel depots in LEO and one of the Lagrange points, then can put large amounts of material on the moon or Mars.
Here are some similar slides from Bernard.
Dallas started off should a video of a proposal of taking fuel up to a fuel depot. He showed various options for putting fuel into various places in space. There are several economic issues that still need to be resolved.
Q&A
Bernard said he thought they could have fuel depots in four years.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Rand said someone suggested that the earth is a LEO harbor. Rand says it is a bad analogy, we don’t use tugboats to get ships from earth to low orbit. A better analogy is the small boats that take people from shore out to a cruise ship. There is a problem when you have two sets of requirements into one vehicle. Better to have one rocket to take people up to LEO, and another rocket to take people from LEO to places farther in space.
Jonathon suggested that fuel depots (a gas station) might be an important early RLV markets. It might make sense to have small depots. He pointed out that when refueling aircraft in flight we don’t ram the two together, you reach out a boom. Maybe the right thing is to also have a boom for rockets. If we start going with fuel depots, then in the first 12 months we might end up having more docking that in the whole previous history of docking.
Bernard said that United Launch Alliance launches about 150 tons to LEO. He said he didn’t know what the correct size was for building up the fuel depots. Was it a 1000 pounds? Was it 20,000 pounds? Bernard says we don’t need new technology, we know enough now. He suggests we first launch a large empty tank, get it into space. Could get a 20,000 or 50,000 gallon tank. If build fuel depots in LEO and one of the Lagrange points, then can put large amounts of material on the moon or Mars.
Here are some similar slides from Bernard.
Dallas started off should a video of a proposal of taking fuel up to a fuel depot. He showed various options for putting fuel into various places in space. There are several economic issues that still need to be resolved.
Q&A
Bernard said he thought they could have fuel depots in four years.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - CRuSR (Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research)/Douglas Maclise, NASA
Douglas Maclise started off with the question: "Why CRuSR?"
The goal is to develop a commercial reusable suborbital transportation industry to provide much cheaper access to space. They want to create a tipping point, be a big customer until the industry can survive on their own.
If NASA has access to more frequent, reliable flights, then there will be a lot more experiments that they will be able to run. They are looking at having a standard framework for experiments. They want to have lots of experiments done by students.
Douglas talked about some issues about launching a rocket and having it return in stages. Do you keep the airspace clear until they are both back? They are working with the FAA to resolve.
Safety is an issue.
They are trying to promote space awareness, for example they come to conferences like Space Access. They have a web site. They are trying to use Facebook and Twitter. They especially want to reach out to students.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
The goal is to develop a commercial reusable suborbital transportation industry to provide much cheaper access to space. They want to create a tipping point, be a big customer until the industry can survive on their own.
If NASA has access to more frequent, reliable flights, then there will be a lot more experiments that they will be able to run. They are looking at having a standard framework for experiments. They want to have lots of experiments done by students.
Douglas talked about some issues about launching a rocket and having it return in stages. Do you keep the airspace clear until they are both back? They are working with the FAA to resolve.
Safety is an issue.
They are trying to promote space awareness, for example they come to conferences like Space Access. They have a web site. They are trying to use Facebook and Twitter. They especially want to reach out to students.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Are you looking for popular blogs on particular topics?
While doing the research for the Minuteman Lobbyist I came across Wikio's list of top political blogs. The sites has a number of categories of top blogs.
There doesn't appear to be a category for top homeschooling blogs, or even top education blogs.
If you are interested you might add your blog to their datebase by going here.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
There doesn't appear to be a category for top homeschooling blogs, or even top education blogs.
If you are interested you might add your blog to their datebase by going here.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Space Access 2010 - Space Frontier Foundation/Ryan McLinko
Ryan McLinko talked about the Space Frontier Foundation. It was founded in 1988. They want to open up space to everyone.
They are hopeful that the new administration’s change in direction for NASA will be a benefit.
They are helping with the New Space Conference in July, at NASA Ames.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
They are hopeful that the new administration’s change in direction for NASA will be a benefit.
They are helping with the New Space Conference in July, at NASA Ames.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - Paragon Space Development/Jane Poynter
Jana Poynter is the co-founder of Paragon Space Development
Paragon is focused on keeping people comfortable in space. She lives in Tuscon, the company is scattered around. The company was started with people have never met each other, across the internet.
They designed biospheres. They had the first commercial ISS experiment. They have moved on to other programs. They are working with Bigelow. They have worked on space suits. They have a suit which allows divers to go into contaminated areas. They have worked on inflatable products. They have a product to pull oxygen out of moon rocks, and also take care of the contaminates in the rocks.
They are working on a air revitalization system for NASA. The design is fairly simple and they hope it will be able to fly in any LEO system.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Paragon is focused on keeping people comfortable in space. She lives in Tuscon, the company is scattered around. The company was started with people have never met each other, across the internet.
They designed biospheres. They had the first commercial ISS experiment. They have moved on to other programs. They are working with Bigelow. They have worked on space suits. They have a suit which allows divers to go into contaminated areas. They have worked on inflatable products. They have a product to pull oxygen out of moon rocks, and also take care of the contaminates in the rocks.
They are working on a air revitalization system for NASA. The design is fairly simple and they hope it will be able to fly in any LEO system.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
It may pay to give to charity
'Pay it forward' pays off reports that a study found we benefit when we help others. Here are some interesting paragraphs:
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For all those dismayed by scenes of looting in disaster-struck zones, whether Haiti or Chile or elsewhere, take heart: Good acts - acts of kindness, generosity and cooperation - spread just as easily as bad. And it takes only a handful of individuals to really make a difference.
In a study published in the March 8 early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of California, San Diego and Harvard provide the first laboratory evidence that cooperative behavior is contagious and that it spreads from person to person to person. When people benefit from kindness they "pay it forward" by helping others who were not originally involved, and this creates a cascade of cooperation that influences dozens more in a social network.
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When you have a chance to help someone remember that you may spark many more acts of kindness.
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Technorati tags: kindness
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For all those dismayed by scenes of looting in disaster-struck zones, whether Haiti or Chile or elsewhere, take heart: Good acts - acts of kindness, generosity and cooperation - spread just as easily as bad. And it takes only a handful of individuals to really make a difference.
In a study published in the March 8 early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of California, San Diego and Harvard provide the first laboratory evidence that cooperative behavior is contagious and that it spreads from person to person to person. When people benefit from kindness they "pay it forward" by helping others who were not originally involved, and this creates a cascade of cooperation that influences dozens more in a social network.
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When you have a chance to help someone remember that you may spark many more acts of kindness.
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Technorati tags: kindness
Space Access 2010 - XCOR Aerospace / Jeff Greason
Jeff Greason reflected a bit about his last twelve years. It has been rough, but he is glad he took the plunge.
Jeff worries that the dinosaurs (NASA) are dying faster than the new space industries are ready to step up. He encourages us to get along with the other players.
Jeff wants the United States to have a successful, profitable space transportation industry. Need to have markets. We are getting closer to moving people into space.
Ten years ago Jeff thought the best approach was to go with a two stage rocket. He wanted to move a pound into orbit for less than $100 a pound. The first stage needs to return and so they decided to add wings.
Jeff showed a video of a rocket they built for Rocket Racer. XCor built it for Rocket Racer. They no longer have a business relationship with Rocket Racer, but would be happy to build more rockets for Rocket Racer. The video showed the turn around time, in eight and a half minutes. They did seven flights in one day. Jeff said the rocket racer rocket was a the kiddie car compared to the Lynx.
I counted about 130 people in the room.
He showed a video, it was similar to this one:
Jeff says that it takes time to design a rocket. You can’t speed up the process by throwing lots of people at the problem. There are design issues that are solved better when a small group of people are working on the overall design. Things are a lot cheaper when you catch issues in the design. They have changed the design again and again and again. They have changed the configuration of the nose.
It is looking like they are getting there.
Business wise it has been rough the last two years. They are not self funded. They use to get more money from the federal government. Things are looking better now. They are getting more phone calls. NASA’s plans to put $75 million into the industry reassures investors.
Jeff says that in a rational universe companies would be willing to buy things like engines from “competitors.”
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Jeff worries that the dinosaurs (NASA) are dying faster than the new space industries are ready to step up. He encourages us to get along with the other players.
Jeff wants the United States to have a successful, profitable space transportation industry. Need to have markets. We are getting closer to moving people into space.
Ten years ago Jeff thought the best approach was to go with a two stage rocket. He wanted to move a pound into orbit for less than $100 a pound. The first stage needs to return and so they decided to add wings.
Jeff showed a video of a rocket they built for Rocket Racer. XCor built it for Rocket Racer. They no longer have a business relationship with Rocket Racer, but would be happy to build more rockets for Rocket Racer. The video showed the turn around time, in eight and a half minutes. They did seven flights in one day. Jeff said the rocket racer rocket was a the kiddie car compared to the Lynx.
I counted about 130 people in the room.
He showed a video, it was similar to this one:
Jeff says that it takes time to design a rocket. You can’t speed up the process by throwing lots of people at the problem. There are design issues that are solved better when a small group of people are working on the overall design. Things are a lot cheaper when you catch issues in the design. They have changed the design again and again and again. They have changed the configuration of the nose.
It is looking like they are getting there.
Business wise it has been rough the last two years. They are not self funded. They use to get more money from the federal government. Things are looking better now. They are getting more phone calls. NASA’s plans to put $75 million into the industry reassures investors.
Jeff says that in a rational universe companies would be willing to buy things like engines from “competitors.”
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
A great enemy of human happiness
From Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day mailing list:
Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.
ATTRIBUTION:
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), British author, lexicographer. Letter, December 7, 1782, to James Boswell. Quoted in James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson (1791).
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Technorati tags: poverty, happiness, Dan Galvin
Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.
ATTRIBUTION:
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), British author, lexicographer. Letter, December 7, 1782, to James Boswell. Quoted in James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson (1791).
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Technorati tags: poverty, happiness, Dan Galvin
Space Access 2010 - DC-X, High-Alpha and the Continued Quest for the VTVL Spaceplane/Bill Gaubatz, Layne Cook
Bill Gaubatz started off giving a brief history of the DC-X, and DC-X/A. It was 42 feet tall, about 41,000 pounds at take off. Flew 12 times. Had one unsuccessful landing. They had a goal of eight hour turn around time. They broke that several times. Operated in a variety of weather. They were trying to get into an airplane like environment. The DC-X became a flying test bed for new technologies. Bill reviewed a number of technologies developed and/or tested with the DC-X.
Partly successful because stayed focused and had small management teams on both the industry side and the government side. Good to be in a cycle of design a little, test a little, and learn a lot.
There were plans for follow on programs, but they didn’t work out.
Layne Cook focused on a proposal for the next-generation DC-X. Initially the plan from DC-X would flew in with nose first, and then do a rotation before landing. Then looked at coming in with a high angle of attack and then doesn’t have to rotate as much.
The space shuttle takes off like a rocket and lands like a plane. Layne explored some of the benefits of acting like a rocket for the whole flight.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
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Technorati tags: space access
Partly successful because stayed focused and had small management teams on both the industry side and the government side. Good to be in a cycle of design a little, test a little, and learn a lot.
There were plans for follow on programs, but they didn’t work out.
Layne Cook focused on a proposal for the next-generation DC-X. Initially the plan from DC-X would flew in with nose first, and then do a rotation before landing. Then looked at coming in with a high angle of attack and then doesn’t have to rotate as much.
The space shuttle takes off like a rocket and lands like a plane. Layne explored some of the benefits of acting like a rocket for the whole flight.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Space Access 2010 - Charles Miller, Senior Advisor for Commercial Space, NASA HQ, on An NACA Approach To Low Cost Reliable Access To Space
Charles Miller started off thanking Henry Vanderbilt for organizing this conference.
Charles will share some thoughts on the potential for NASA to help with low cost reliable access to space.
Some of the slides here are similar to what he showed us.
Charles says the NACA approach is to build an industry, not a program. They weren’t trying to pick winners.
Historically NASA has done a poor job of creating low cost access to space. Charles reviewed four attempts by NASA over the last forty years. Engineers point out that we have learned technical lessons. Charles says we haven’t learned other lessons, more important lessons.
In 1898 the Department of War gave Dr. Sam Langley $50,000 to invent the airplane. This was a lot of money. He was the acknowledged expert on flight at the time. Five years later he was $20,000 over budget. When he failed, he was not close to inventing a practical airplane. Embarrassed the Department of War shut down the project.
Then a couple months later the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk. The brothers spent only $1,000. These brothers would never have been picked as experts, yet alone be the ones who succeed.
Charles says the point of this is often “We often don’t know what we don’t know.” He proposes that we take an open innovation approach. Don’t worry about trying to figure out ahead of time who will be the winner.
Charles said the NACA had their greatest impact when their budget was the lowest.
In the early history of aviation there were legal issues on who could build airplanes.
Europe bought lots of planes. The government didn’t buy planes in volume for years. The NACA persuaded various government agencies to buy planes.
Charles talked a bit about some upcoming conferences.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
Charles will share some thoughts on the potential for NASA to help with low cost reliable access to space.
Some of the slides here are similar to what he showed us.
Charles says the NACA approach is to build an industry, not a program. They weren’t trying to pick winners.
Historically NASA has done a poor job of creating low cost access to space. Charles reviewed four attempts by NASA over the last forty years. Engineers point out that we have learned technical lessons. Charles says we haven’t learned other lessons, more important lessons.
In 1898 the Department of War gave Dr. Sam Langley $50,000 to invent the airplane. This was a lot of money. He was the acknowledged expert on flight at the time. Five years later he was $20,000 over budget. When he failed, he was not close to inventing a practical airplane. Embarrassed the Department of War shut down the project.
Then a couple months later the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk. The brothers spent only $1,000. These brothers would never have been picked as experts, yet alone be the ones who succeed.
Charles says the point of this is often “We often don’t know what we don’t know.” He proposes that we take an open innovation approach. Don’t worry about trying to figure out ahead of time who will be the winner.
Charles said the NACA had their greatest impact when their budget was the lowest.
In the early history of aviation there were legal issues on who could build airplanes.
Europe bought lots of planes. The government didn’t buy planes in volume for years. The NACA persuaded various government agencies to buy planes.
Charles talked a bit about some upcoming conferences.
The full agenda for Space Access 2010, with links
---------
Technorati tags: space access
A scary statistic - 43% have less than $10,000 saved for retirement
43% have less than $10k for retirement reports:
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The percentage of American workers with virtually no retirement savings grew for the third straight year, according to a survey released Tuesday. Workers who said they had less than $1,000 jumped to 27%, from 20% in 2009. -----------
I would love to know some statistics for those within ten to fifteen years of retirement.
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Technorati tags: space
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The percentage of American workers with virtually no retirement savings grew for the third straight year, according to a survey released Tuesday.
The percentage of workers who said they have less than $10,000 in savings grew to 43% in 2010, from 39% in 2009, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's annual Retirement Confidence Survey. That excludes the value of primary homes and defined-benefit pension plans.
I would love to know some statistics for those within ten to fifteen years of retirement.
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Technorati tags: space
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