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Direct links to gallery pictures by Anonymous Coward · 2009-04-17 11:29 · Score: 5, Informative · on Predator C Avenger Makes First Flights

The site hosting TFA seems to be very aggressive when it comes to adverts and tracking their patrons, and like most intelligent people I object to this. It was a pain to find the right combination of allowed and untrusted domains in NoScript, whilst making sure any remaining crud was blocked by Adblock and actually getting the content. So here are the direct links to the pictures from their crappy gallery:

Direct links to gallery pictures by Anonymous Coward · 2009-04-17 11:29 · Score: 5, Informative · on Predator C Avenger Makes First Flights

The site hosting TFA seems to be very aggressive when it comes to adverts and tracking their patrons, and like most intelligent people I object to this. It was a pain to find the right combination of allowed and untrusted domains in NoScript, whilst making sure any remaining crud was blocked by Adblock and actually getting the content. So here are the direct links to the pictures from their crappy gallery:

Direct links to gallery pictures by Anonymous Coward · 2009-04-17 11:29 · Score: 5, Informative · on Predator C Avenger Makes First Flights

The site hosting TFA seems to be very aggressive when it comes to adverts and tracking their patrons, and like most intelligent people I object to this. It was a pain to find the right combination of allowed and untrusted domains in NoScript, whilst making sure any remaining crud was blocked by Adblock and actually getting the content. So here are the direct links to the pictures from their crappy gallery:

Re:Childish by IchNiSan · 2009-02-05 03:47 · Score: 1 · on Obama's Proposed Space Weapon Ban

I agree completely with your belief that we should not be cutting back on space technology, and the reasons you give for that, however, how does a worldwide ban on weapons that interfere with military and commercial satellites. interfere with those goals in any way? It is in the first paragraph of the first article linked, but this is slashdot, I guess I expect too much sometimes.

Re:There's a bigger problem with that. by bendodge · 2008-10-07 08:49 · Score: 4, Insightful · on Anti-Terrorist Data Mining Doesn't Work Very Well

The GP isn't calling for vigilante groups turning in terrorists. He's calling for old-fashioned cloak-and-dagger HUMINT. It works far, far better than the technological circus we are operating now. Humans will always outsmart machines made by humans. The only real accomplishment of mass government data mining is the oppression of the general public who aren't interesting in outwitting the government. They're just trying to live their lives.

In the old days (Revolution, World Wars, Cold War), when we were aware of our enemies, spies, analysts and cryptographers defeated the enemies with courage, brainpower and skill. Now we've replaced them almost entirely with people in offices. This isn't going to change until we have another wakeup call, and the next one will probably come from Russia. The red bear is back, and we aren't prepared to deal with it (or China). Much of Russia's new technology is ahead of the US, particularly in aerospace submarine areas. We do not have a real missile shield, we do not have space-based weapons, we do not have supercavitating torpedoes (or anything to stop them). About the only encouraging developments we do have are in robotics and lasers.

China isn't very technological (except for those nasty anti-sat weapons), but they have an enormous mountain of people they don't mind sacrificing for whatever they dream up. Their standing army is over 2 million. They're also currently building and testing over one ballistic missile a week.
2005 article 2007 Article Oct 6, 2008

Terrorist data mining won't help much of anything when an EMP hits and the computers are fried.

Re:Not $2B Over by OriginalArlen · 2008-10-07 08:17 · Score: 1 · on Next-Gen Mars Rover In Danger of Cancellation

Just to clarify, the rover is not $2 billion over budget, which is the impression I got from the summar

Sorry, my bad (I'm the story submitter.) Here's my source for the $2B figure [Aviation Leak]

entry heatsheild ablative change by Anonymous Coward · 2008-10-07 07:59 · Score: 0 · on Next-Gen Mars Rover In Danger of Cancellation

I've spent the last couple weeks modeling a 3d version of the MSL and reading about current issues. The big money problem MSL is dealing with now is that the heatshield originally designed for the atmospheric braking was SLA (super light ablative) which upon further testing for the complex Mars atmospheric reactions was not enough - this means that the heatshield has to be made from PICA (carbon phenolic) making the craft heavier. A heavier spacecraft needs an even thicker heatshield - and a heatshield redesign pushes launch back and increases budgets for all those employee expenses also. The entire Mars exploration budget is gone at this point. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/Heat021408.xml&headline=Mars%20Science%20Lab%20Has%20Heat%20Shield%20Woes%20&channel=space/

A Blog at Aviation Week & Space Technology say by Anonymous Coward · 2008-09-13 04:38 · Score: 0 · on Advanced Surveillance Tech for Unmanned Drones Credited In Iraq

blog

Re:Space X by Jubedgy · 2008-08-21 07:40 · Score: 1 · on Iran Announces Manned Space Mission Plans

Trick question: they didn't actually manage to successfully launch it. Unless you count the launch in 2005 which was a Russian rocket. Though Iran claims it was successful, I haven't seen any footage of the success. That, coupled with the reports from USN and USAF assets in the area paints a bleak picture for that poor satellite.

But hey, it's not that hard...it's just rocket science!

Re:The TSA is a multi billilion dollar JOKE! by Mesa+MIke · 2008-08-06 05:10 · Score: 1 · on TSA To Allow Laptops In Approved Bags

It is stupid that water bottles - even sealed ones - have to be ditched before going through security.
Thankfully, the TSA had to back down on the baby-bottles-filled-with-milk issue.
Be patient, a time is coming when liquids will once again be allowed.

Re:I hope it's DNA (or RNA) by CraftyJack · 2008-08-02 11:22 · Score: 1 · on White House Briefed On "Potential For Life" On Mars

According to the article that TFA is based on:

Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say.

Bear in mind that while AW&ST is generally a pretty decent source of news, they do have a weak spot for sensationalism.

Why don't you link to the original article? by Anonymous Coward · 2008-08-02 03:11 · Score: 5, Informative · on White House Briefed On "Potential For Life" On Mars

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/WH08018.xml&headline=White%20House%20Briefed%20On%20Potential%20For%20Mars%20Life&channel=space

Re:Weird by xalorous · 2008-07-30 22:23 · Score: 4, Informative · on US To Launch Military Orbital Spaceplane

After sorting through the linked article, I found the original article that they're basing their article on. 1. X-37B is correct. 2. X-40A was a 'previous configuration' 3. Perhaps we should add a 'no gizmodo' clause to the posting guidelines?

Re:Simple, as in "leverages existing systems" by khallow · 2008-07-15 08:04 · Score: 3, Informative · on NASA Engineers Work On Alternative Moon Rocket

For starters, there is thrust oscillation. In theory, that is an issue for the Shuttle, Ares V, and DIRECT (what is called "Jupiter" in this story), but these other vehicles have much more mass relative to the sold rocket motors' (or SRM) thrust and two unsynchonized solid rocket motors. This issue won't even be properly tested until the first 5-segment Ares launches some time around 2013.

Second, the Ares I and V use a new 5 or 5.5 segment variant of the SRM and a new rocket engine under design called the J-2X. DIRECT uses the 4 segment SRM just like the one used on the Shuttle and the well tested RS-68 motor.

Finally, using DIRECT, there are no mass issues with the CEV. But Ares I can barely lift the CEV. Already signficant redundancy has been stripped from the lunar version of the CEV and they apparently still have a too heavy heat shield. That means that the choice to use the Ares I is at the expense of adding risk to lunar missions which are already much higher risk than launching people into space is.

Re:Boring... by Jerf · 2008-07-09 09:54 · Score: 1 · on Robots Aim To Top Humans At Air Hockey

OK.

Yeah, I'll grant it's not fully autonomous, but I guarantee you I can use it to beat you at a game of hockey.

Stoopid For The Masses by DynaSoar · 2008-06-27 04:55 · Score: 1 · on NASA Tests Hypersonic Blackswift

Consider: Fox News is "breaking" this. If that doesn't peg your BS meter, check your wiring.

A NASA analyst is not necessarily someone who works for NASA doing analyses, it can also be someone who analyzes things having to do NASA. James Oberg is a NASA analyst, probably one of the best, and doesn't work for them. Still, even if the talking head was a NASA employee, even as some kind of analyst, chances are they have nothing directly to do with the project.

DARPA released footage of this thing months ago. Here's a still of it taken from Aviation Week's photo stores. I found it on Defence Pakistan. http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/8/ab8c59d3-5d59-43c2-8806-e75d8adfd82d.Large.jpg

The only reason Fox is running this and no one else is, is because everyone else knows there's very little to say about it at this point besides "golly gee whiz!" which is all Fox did. When they take it for a real (declassified) spin, we'll all hear about it in words with multiple syllables.

Nice looking bird. But I think the Boeing Bird Of Prey still gets the prize for looking like evil in flight.

Not even in the same class as the SR-71 by paganizer · 2008-06-26 19:34 · Score: 4, Informative · on NASA Tests Hypersonic Blackswift

now, don't get me wrong. this is a cool bird. but I wouldn't say it was cooler than the SR-71.

I've found a few better articles and videos, here, here , here & here.

It's probably designed to be the replacement for the "blackstar" program, which doesn't exist, but is hands-down the very coolest thing out there, the only thing cooler would be a functioning Orion spacecraft.

But this looks like it might have the capability of taking the place of the blackstar "mothership", although I bet with less performance & payload; as this isn't designed to be a Mach 3+ cruise nuclear bomber, that's understandable. but those cold-war birds have got to be tired by now, and looking forward to retirement. i think one would look great in my driveway as a static display.

I do wonder what they are going to use to replace the orbital component, which was probably based on the X-20. Maybe a NASP? The X-43?

Also: it's a heavy mission by kaptain80 · 2008-06-02 07:59 · Score: 5, Informative · on Shuttle Launch Pad Damaged During Discovery's Launch

STS-124 is carrying Kibo, making it a rather heavy liftoff. It would have taken Discovery a little longer than usual to get away from the pad, subjecting it to a longer duration acoustic/vibration environment.

Also, it wasn't that far off the pad when the bricks were flying off according to this image. (Same photo as TFA, but a little farther out)

Re:Recent NASA announcement on ISS resupply by FleaPlus · 2008-04-25 10:30 · Score: 2, Interesting · on Further Details From Soyuz Mishap

I also just came across some interesting related commentary here:

http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=5989&catid=49

NASA needs the Falcon 9/Dragon combo to attain crew service capability if the agency is to have a US based option for sending astronauts to the ISS sometime during the period between the end of the Shuttle program in 2010 and the start of Ares I/Orion operations in 2015. So far, all the designs reviews (e.g. here, here, and here) have found no fundamental flaws in either the Falcon 9 or Dragon designs. Assuming aerospace engineering does not involve black magic, this should mean something. Currently COTS is funding F9/Dragon (and also the Orbital Taurus II) only for cargo services. Increasing COTS funding to accelerate development of the Dragon for crew transport would seem a reasonable gamble, especially considering it would cost a fraction of what is going into the Ares/Orion program.

On the other hand, if Falcon 9/Dragon succeeds there will most likely arise overwhelming pressure to kill Ares I/Orion to save billions dollars in further development and operational costs. (NASA could alter its lunar exploration architecture to use the Dragon instead of Orion, e.g. see this powerful option.) Jeff Foust and Rand Simberg comment on recent statements from Mike Griffin as he tries to deal with this situation:
/-- COTS contradictions? - Space Politics
/-- Griffin's COTS Contradictions - Transterrestrial Musings

[Update: Jon Goff also discusses the gap and COTS issues: Gap Math - Selenian Boondocks - Apr.8.08.]

Recent NASA announcement on ISS resupply by FleaPlus · 2008-04-25 10:24 · Score: 1 · on Further Details From Soyuz Mishap

They expect to rely heavily on Soyuz spacecraft once the shuttles are retired in 2010.

One bit of hope is that NASA announced a few days ago that instead of using the Russian Progress vehicles for cargo transport to the ISS after 2010, they'll instead use US commercial providers. They haven't yet committed to using commercial providers for crew transport, but I imagine they're waiting to see how the sector performs first.

NASA Aims for All-Commercial ISS Resupply

NASA will base U.S. resupply of the International Space Station on the untried vehicles of the Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) program, and will not buy cargo services from Russia after the space shuttle fleet retires.

U.S. space agency officials are set to begin discussions with Congress this week on continued use of Russia's Soyuz crew-launch vehicles following the final shuttle flight in 2010. But they won't ask for permission to keep using Russian Progress vehicles.

Instead, NASA plans to pay a U.S. commercial provider for delivery of at least 20 metric tons of cargo to the ISS between 2010 and 2015. Under the COTS program, SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corp. are splitting almost $500 million in NASA seed money intended to spur development of a commercial route to the ISS. ...

Administrator Michael Griffin has sent a proposed amendment to Capitol Hill specifically excluding Progress vehicles from a request to continue using Soyuz capsules to deliver crew to the ISS after the shuttle retires. Griffin had no immediate comment, but William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for spaceflight operations, says NASA believes one of the commercial vehicles in development under the COTS program eventually will be able to meet its ISS-supply needs.

Until a COTS vehicle is available, Gerstenmaier says, the U.S. agency plans to rely on prepositioned spare parts to be sent up before the shuttle retires. Two "contingency flights" among the 10 remaining shuttle missions to the ISS are slated to deliver station spares too large to get to orbit otherwise, he says.

Re:The thing is by ShieldW0lf · 2007-11-14 15:11 · Score: 1, Insightful · on The Nuclear Power Renaissance

That or the fact that no one has ever beamed energy from a satellite to a terrestrial site. Ever. Remember that thing called "an atmosphere?" So we're talking lasers, right? You want to show me where the prototype exists to convert a very-high-powered laser beam to an electricity source? Just one will do. Go on. Show me one example.

Won't sell because of a power conspiracy? Give me a break. If a company could do this already, they'd be launching satellites on a daily basis. Think about it for a moment: you could be the company that supplies most of the world's power while waving the banner of environmental responsibility. But *no one* has even built *a prototype* because of your supposed cabal?

I think your tin foil hat needs to be cleaned; you've been wearing it far too long already.

If you'd read the study, which I linked to, which was commissioned for the US government by the DoD:

For the DoD specifically, beamed energy from space in quantities greater than 5 MWe has the potential to be a disruptive game changer on the battlefield. SBSP and its enabling wireless power transmission technology could facilitate extremely flexible "energy on demand" for combat units and installations across an entire theater, while significantly reducing dependence on vulnerable over-land fuel deliveries.

Also, you could also look at the story that was on the front of slashdot a scant few weeks ago:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/solar101107.xml&headline=NSSO%20Backs%20Space%20Solar%20Power%20&channel=space Of course, any human being that doesn't recognize this late in the game that the agenda of the US government is in large part driven by the interests of oil companies probably isn't going to be able to digest any of this, but what the hell. Here, have some pearls.

HiFire scramjet project? by asky · 2007-06-17 01:44 · Score: 1 · on First Ever Scramjet Reaches Mach 10

Getting to the core of this story is definitely a real challenge, and we may not get it until Aviation Week http://www.aviationweek.com/ reports on it. However, connecting the dots together, this may be the first test flight of the HiFire project, a joint USAF/NASA/Australian effort.

AvWeek ran an article on March 18 this year entitled "The HiFire Flight Tests Will Help Integrate Aeronautics and Space Technologies". (URL was really long, possibly session dependent.) From that article: The HiFire payloads will dive into the atmosphere at Mach 4-8 to obtain data directly applicable to new hypersonic flight vehicles. The tests are to begin in the outback of southern Australia.

The AvWeek article further explains that HiFire will "directly support technology needs for the X-15" and that the X-51 is "the jewel in the crown of hypersonics".

Following Paul Allen, but still good news by WindBourne · 2007-04-11 04:29 · Score: 1 · on Gates to join Simonyi in Space?

It is funny that Paul appears to the be the true visionary. Paul jumped into doing internet over cable in 1991. In addition, he jumped into the space race (backing burt rutan) back in 2003.

But the good news on this, is that it could create a true space race amongst the wealthy who will fund this. Combine this with Bigelows annoncement of going to the moon and it looks like we will be on the moon by 2015 with BASES.

Re:Trans-Atlantic Abort Mode SSTO by Animats · 2006-12-27 14:26 · Score: 2, Insightful · on Space Plane to Offer 2 Hour Flight around the World

in quite a few cases, it might well be worth it- a multi-billion dollar merger, a head of state's emergency meeting, etc, etc.

Unlikely. That's what phones are for. Mergers aren't rush jobs, anyway; they take weeks to months to set up, half the time they fall through, and most of the time they lose money for the stockholders. There are some efforts underway to design a supersonic business jet, but the price has to be no more than 2x that of a comparably sized Grumman Gulfstream for it to sell. They're trying to get the operating cost down to business class fare levels, which, for a 14-seat plane, isn't bad.

Warren Buffet once went on an Alaska cruise, during which one of his companies had a crisis that kept him on a satellite phone for hours. He's interested in buying fifty of the supersonic bizjets for his NetJets rental operation. If they work.

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