Let's not forget that military people don't have to pay for food, clothing, or shelter. That makes the vast majority of their salaries disposable income.
As for food, mess hall/deck food is widely variable mostly depending on the caliber of the cooks and the number of people being fed at one time.(one reason submariners had the best, relatively speaking). Palatable food depended on whether commissary awards were at stake. As for clothing, only one set of dress blues was free. Everything else was automatically deducted from my paycheck until the account balance was zero. I received $15 per month to cover $30 pants, $25 shirts and I did my own washing since the ship's laundry didn't give a rat's ass about how clean or how they smelled. As for shelter, I lived in a 30" x 26" x 78", five sided box. The fifth side was curtained, basically a coffin. This was "home" for 4 years, 11 days (but who's counting) My only consolation resulted in my applying for 2 - 3 days leave when we went to sea for the upcoming import period, usually some exotic disease infested, overcrowded, smelly country that was a whole lot better than being aboard a ship.
Government contractors don't have to prove anything, they already have the contract. The trick is in the bidding. With enough lies and barely enough money, you can get past that hurdle too. The real trick is getting the contract renewal. For most contractors the first is usually their only. The really good contractors or the really corrupt ones (is there really a difference) not only get the renewals, they get them without bidding as is the prerogative of the government.
Not for a government. The Iridium satellite is a commercial endeavor, hit by a (defunct?) Russian military satellite. Military satellites do have armoring to some extent coupled with (limited/unlimited maneuvering?) and refueling capabilities makes them formidable.
Large format film canisters can be brought back with the craft. Thus eliminating the need to jettisoning the canisters from space, floating by parachute, aerial pickup, possibly losing the package for ever or to the "enemy"
The USPTO like the rest of the government is out if control. Protecting inventors is NOT the issue. Controlling inventions and the inventors is. Any idea that wrests power and money from the "established" power/ money structure is to be disuaded at any and all costs. This is the reason Nikola Tesla's inventions were shelved and classified. Tesla's inventions were so profound that only after control was ceded to the banksters and utility magnates that it flourished. Not for the benefit of the end users, but to the benefit utility companies and their financial backers. I know you will say, "The reason for business is to make profit." You're right, however, there is profit and there is outright theft. Case in point; the phone company, way back when it was a monopoly, rented the phone lines to its customers for years and decades. Long after the cost of installation and maintenance was paid, the money kept rolling in. Since the advent of cellular technology, wires to a degree have become obsolete, yet services fees constantly increase with the increase in user-ship. India and China have more cell phone users combined than the total population of the US. Yet, there is no marked drop in pricing worldwide. Then there is the case of Stan Meyer, he invented an engine that ran on water. The powers that be tried to buy him out(he refused), threatened him,(he still wouldn't budge), then they had him killed, Oh, excuse me, he died of food poisoning(?). End result, his invention was seized by the government and classified for national security. National security meaning, the oil companies and their financial backers would lose hold of the oil monopoly. No one will know the enormity of the situation for a long time, if ever. The adage still applies, Time wounds all heels, therefore, it is possible that the information will be brought out.
After watching the youtube video and reading various articles, I believe it to be black, to avoid detection; has a higher payload to fuel ratio; carries one big ass camera/sensors; has an operational ceiling that leaves the SR-71 in the dirt; is maneuvered like a UAV.
Also, I get my exercise by jumping to conclusions.
Although there are a few satellites of a military bent launched from Kennedy Space center, most are west coast launched. Plausible activity "may" cover a recoverable tele-presence unit.
Most military satellites are in a circum-polar orbit. Launched from Vandenberg AFB. Possibly a supply and retrieval vehicle for the ISS. Military does not give data about its operations. however, watching the sky might reveal something. Whether it returns before the next shuttle launch (if there is one) should be one tell tale (if announced). Since it will return to Vandenberg or Edwards there is no telling.
Slashdot Mirror
We can always nuke the oil leak in the Gulf and put half the planet into orbit.
Like I said...
LEO not GEO.
My orbital recovery system seems to be what is needed.
We can nuke it like "they" want to do with leaking oil wells.
Remember the Golden Rule, he who has the gold, makes the rules.
You mean like this?
This
Tell that to the Vietnam veteran!
'Health care costs are eating the Defense Department alive,' Mr. Gates said."
I beg to differ, Halliburton, Blackwater(Xe), and all the other military contractors are eating the Defense Department alive.
Let's not forget that military people don't have to pay for food, clothing, or shelter. That makes the vast majority of their salaries disposable income.
As for food, mess hall/deck food is widely variable mostly depending on the caliber of the cooks and the number of people being fed at one time.(one reason submariners had the best, relatively speaking). Palatable food depended on whether commissary awards were at stake.
As for clothing, only one set of dress blues was free. Everything else was automatically deducted from my paycheck until the account balance was zero. I received $15 per month to cover $30 pants, $25 shirts and I did my own washing since the ship's laundry didn't give a rat's ass about how clean or how they smelled.
As for shelter, I lived in a 30" x 26" x 78", five sided box. The fifth side was curtained, basically a coffin. This was "home" for 4 years, 11 days (but who's counting)
My only consolation resulted in my applying for 2 - 3 days leave when we went to sea for the upcoming import period, usually some exotic disease infested, overcrowded, smelly country that was a whole lot better than being aboard a ship.
What would the Military-Industrial Complex do?
Watch This Suckers
did ANY of the parents sign ANY documents acknowledging the consequences of banned candy (band candy?)?
In Soviet Russia, the government controls the commerce.
In America, commerce controls the Government.
Government contractors don't have to prove anything, they already have the contract. The trick is in the bidding. With enough lies and barely enough money, you can get past that hurdle too.
The real trick is getting the contract renewal. For most contractors the first is usually their only. The really good contractors or the really corrupt ones (is there really a difference) not only get the renewals, they get them without bidding as is the prerogative of the government.
Not to mention, try to find a broker that will let you sell short on the pink sheets...
With enough "white" on the pink sheet, you will.
They have logs of transactions
They have logs and I have rope, let's hang a few and see what falls out if their pockets
That will take some investigation.
Investigations by the same people who bailed them out before.
See first response, repeat until desired result.
Launch capabilities. Armor is expensive to lift.
Not for a government.
The Iridium satellite is a commercial endeavor, hit by a (defunct?) Russian military satellite.
Military satellites do have armoring to some extent coupled with (limited/unlimited maneuvering?) and refueling capabilities makes them formidable.
Large format film canisters can be brought back with the craft. Thus eliminating the need to jettisoning the canisters from space, floating by parachute, aerial pickup, possibly losing the package for ever or to the "enemy"
The USPTO like the rest of the government is out if control.
Protecting inventors is NOT the issue. Controlling inventions and the inventors is.
Any idea that wrests power and money from the "established" power/ money structure is to be disuaded at any and all costs. This is the reason Nikola Tesla's inventions were shelved and classified. Tesla's inventions were so profound that only after control was ceded to the banksters and utility magnates that it flourished. Not for the benefit of the end users, but to the benefit utility companies and their financial backers.
I know you will say, "The reason for business is to make profit." You're right, however, there is profit and there is outright theft.
Case in point; the phone company, way back when it was a monopoly, rented the phone lines to its customers for years and decades. Long after the cost of installation and maintenance was paid, the money kept rolling in.
Since the advent of cellular technology, wires to a degree have become obsolete, yet services fees constantly increase with the increase in user-ship. India and China have more cell phone users combined than the total population of the US. Yet, there is no marked drop in pricing worldwide.
Then there is the case of Stan Meyer, he invented an engine that ran on water. The powers that be tried to buy him out(he refused), threatened him,(he still wouldn't budge), then they had him killed, Oh, excuse me, he died of food poisoning(?). End result, his invention was seized by the government and classified for national security.
National security meaning, the oil companies and their financial backers would lose hold of the oil monopoly.
No one will know the enormity of the situation for a long time, if ever. The adage still applies, Time wounds all heels, therefore, it is possible that the information will be brought out.
After watching the youtube video and reading various articles, I believe it to be black, to avoid detection; has a higher payload to fuel ratio; carries one big ass camera/sensors; has an operational ceiling that leaves the SR-71 in the dirt; is maneuvered like a UAV.
Also, I get my exercise by jumping to conclusions.
Stop thinking Moonraker.
Although there are a few satellites of a military bent launched from Kennedy Space center, most are west coast launched. Plausible activity "may" cover a recoverable tele-presence unit.
Sats are thin skinned vehicles.
Says who?
Most military satellites are in a circum-polar orbit. Launched from Vandenberg AFB.
Possibly a supply and retrieval vehicle for the ISS. Military does not give data about its operations. however, watching the sky might reveal something. Whether it returns before the next shuttle launch (if there is one) should be one tell tale (if announced). Since it will return to Vandenberg or Edwards there is no telling.
Never happen. Halliburton is not invested in Mars.