The US Congress has prohibited NASA from buying Russian flights. The conservatives are trying to force Russian policy changes with regard to the Chechen conflict and sales of nuclear plants to Iran.
The Russians can provide cheap flights with proven hardware. Resupply flights with the unmanned Progress ships have been flawless. So have the manned Soyuz crew replacement missions. Congressional politics is the problem.
The space shuttle program was ruined in its early days by too many government/military/nasa requirements, in short they wanted it to be a "jack of all trades",
I don't know the formula for success, but the sure formula for failure is to try to please everyone!
Also, I think the moon is fairly low in metals, so mining it to build spacecraft isn't a great plan unless you want to build them out of rock. Building a moonbase by remote control would be pretty awesome though.
Studies have shown that high quality concrete can be made from lunar soil with the addition of water. The researchers used actual moon rocks brought back in the 1970's to validate their work. Near-surface water was found near the lunar north pole a few years ago. I seem to remember both Japanese and European follow-up missions being planned and funded.
If that water proves to be a usable resource, then construction won't require materials from Earth. Machines-yes, materials-no. Small rovers and the like are on the drawing boards.
Water will supply oxygen. The lunar soil is mostly Silicon (oxides) and Aluminum (oxide), so metals are available as well. What hasn't been found is Nitrogen (for breathing) and Carbon (for use by plants). Neither of those is hard to get to the moon, given the relatively small quantities needed in a manned moon base.
Congress has prohibited NASA from buying Russian resupply and crew rotation flights, for US/Russian political reasons (e.g. Chechen war, nuclear sales to Iran). The administrator is IMHO just turning up the heat on Congress to both fund the new CEV and to buy more Russian flights in the interim.
The Shuttle can be used to build out the rest of the Station with hardware/construction flights.
Just 12 actual assembly flights are planned by NASA. The Administrator lumps supply flights into the total. He also ignores the Russian resupply and crew flights. The US Congress has stopped NASA from buying Russian supply and crew flights for some political reason. I think they are linked to the Chechen war or the Iranian nuclear contracts. I forget.
Yes, I understand that. At any given pressure inside your dome, you can fly more easily on the mooon, due to the lower surface gravity on the moon. Mars has a lower surface gravity than Earth, but the moon's is lower still.
I think it would be cool, too. I just wanted to point out that it is easier to do on the moon, and cheaper to get there, and cheaper to build to the dome.
digging through solid nickle-iron is pretty tough isn't it? Short of a Thermic Lance (google search on that) I'm puzzled what would do the job. I thought Nickle-Iron meteorites were about as hard as stainless steel.
Our moon is easier to get to, and has a lower gravity. So it's easier to "fly" on the moon. Also, since the moon has no atmosphere, there wouldn't be any wind loads on the structure. It would need a blanket of dirt to protect against very small meteorites, but then again, the dirt wouldn't impose much of a load.
Are our efforts going to be directed towards improving the environment, or will we blithely ignore obvious destruction of it? I prefer a nicely tended garden to well and truly poisoned patch of dirt.
Do I come across as a happy zombie? And will all meds make all people zombies? There are people with horror stories about most meds: I tried several before I came across the combination that I now use. I didn't like various side effects, so I switched. Don't get me wrong: THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANY THAT WORK FOR YOU. You might hate them all. Then again... well... good luck.
And as an Englishman, you can easily get into most any country in the world, and can work "off the radar".
In Japan and most of Asia you can get good work teaching conversational English. There is some concern about piercings and tats for most jobs, but if you're tutoring hip young folks, then the tats and piercings are a big plus. And it's like that for most out-of-normal idiosyncrasies: they just get you into niche.
the thing is this: you have to be there (Tokio, or Hong Kong or wherever) to pick up on those situations.
another job you may like is that of an international courier. These are people who, at the drop of a hat, are called to the airport to accompany a shipment by air. Sometimes it's an important document in a pouch, other times it's a vital piece of evidence in a legal matter, and sometimes it's a $5 part that's holding up an expensive project.
you can email me at
scotty7319.onetime@binaryblitz.com
if I start getting trash mail at these "onetime" addresses I shut them off, so I'm not very worried about spammer getting hold of the addresss. Use the word "slashdot" in the subject to bypass spam filtration.
by the way, I wonder what nationality you have. I hope I'm not being rude here, but I sense from your use of English that you grew up in USA or Canada.
I only bring this up because there are many nationalities that can travel more easily than Americans, these days.
So I'd be very interested to know what nationality you currently have.
there are groups of folks who have meeting concerning various computer programs such as programming languages, operating systems, and other technical subjects.
BUT there are also groups of folk that discuss programs like spreadsheets, Photoshop (art programs), music topics and related software. What the heck, there are even user groups that discuss "new to computers" issues! They meet in libraries, and on-line. look them up in Google.
Friends you have. Online, here on slashdot, you have folks that identify themselves as your friends and fans! and I'm not coming accross as hateful am I? I hope I'm being friendly!
And when it comes to that, this discussion group (slashdot) is very similar to many user groups.
What's a youth hostel? And how do you get jobs when you don't speak the local language? For most jobs you need a bank account because they don't pay you cash in hand. And opening a bank account isn't the easiest thing in the world.
Youth hostels are a cheap place to stay. check them out via google and youth-travel web sites.
In my travels, I found that jobs are available for Americans in most countries, even if you don't speak the language. In any case, English is spoken in Cape Town in South Africa, England, Scotland, Wales, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, most of Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan and on many islands like Trinidad, Jamaica, and st. Barts. In addition, many English-only Americans find work in Amsterdam, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Greece, and other countires which either cater to tourists, or where the locals need to learn conversational English, or need translations (such as for user guides). In China, jobs as English instructors are given to people who just have a USA passport, and no education whatsoever. The companies then put the picture of their new "instructor" on their advertising. In many countries you can find young men/women who want to live with Americans just on the chance of marraige, and a green card.
none of those places require bank accounts to get jobs.
Look, if you're poor and unhappy in your job, then at least find a job that has some chance of being enjoyable. Maybe a job in an interesting country. What the hell, poor and happy is always better than poor and unhappy.
I don't have individuality, nor intelligence. If I had intelligence
I can read. Your command of English contradicts your very assertion. And I read some of your other Slashdot stuff: you're fine when it comes to knowledge and analytical capabilities.
I don't give a shit about anyone else.
Again, I read some of your stuff, and you're OK in this department.
Many credit unions will let you open an account for $50 (a deposit). They then give you an ATM card for free. The atm card almost always has a Visa or Master Card number on it, which you can use just as you would a credit card.
Lots of people lie about having a degree. I don't, but I've never heard of any business checking whether a person has a degree that's listed on their resume.
My best jobs (and I've had lots) have come via references form friends. Try making friends in user group meetings, and doing open-source work. You'll get leads on jobs.
I too have depression, and take some meds (there are lots) both for depression and for ADHD. It helps a lot. I suggest that you try all the available meds before giving up.
Slashdot Mirror
The Russians can provide cheap flights with proven hardware. Resupply flights with the unmanned Progress ships have been flawless. So have the manned Soyuz crew replacement missions. Congressional politics is the problem.
I don't know the formula for success, but the sure formula for failure is to try to please everyone!
(That's not an exact quote, but you get the idea)
Studies have shown that high quality concrete can be made from lunar soil with the addition of water. The researchers used actual moon rocks brought back in the 1970's to validate their work. Near-surface water was found near the lunar north pole a few years ago. I seem to remember both Japanese and European follow-up missions being planned and funded.
If that water proves to be a usable resource, then construction won't require materials from Earth. Machines-yes, materials-no. Small rovers and the like are on the drawing boards.
Water will supply oxygen. The lunar soil is mostly Silicon (oxides) and Aluminum (oxide), so metals are available as well. What hasn't been found is Nitrogen (for breathing) and Carbon (for use by plants). Neither of those is hard to get to the moon, given the relatively small quantities needed in a manned moon base.
Congress has prohibited NASA from buying Russian resupply and crew rotation flights, for US/Russian political reasons (e.g. Chechen war, nuclear sales to Iran). The administrator is IMHO just turning up the heat on Congress to both fund the new CEV and to buy more Russian flights in the interim.
The Shuttle can be used to build out the rest of the Station with hardware/construction flights.
Just 12 actual assembly flights are planned by NASA. The Administrator lumps supply flights into the total. He also ignores the Russian resupply and crew flights. The US Congress has stopped NASA from buying Russian supply and crew flights for some political reason. I think they are linked to the Chechen war or the Iranian nuclear contracts. I forget.
I think it would be cool, too. I just wanted to point out that it is easier to do on the moon, and cheaper to get there, and cheaper to build to the dome.
digging through solid nickle-iron is pretty tough isn't it? Short of a Thermic Lance (google search on that) I'm puzzled what would do the job. I thought Nickle-Iron meteorites were about as hard as stainless steel.
Our moon is easier to get to, and has a lower gravity. So it's easier to "fly" on the moon. Also, since the moon has no atmosphere, there wouldn't be any wind loads on the structure. It would need a blanket of dirt to protect against very small meteorites, but then again, the dirt wouldn't impose much of a load.
I've heard this before, and I wonder: just how would you hollow out a block of nickle-iron?
Are our efforts going to be directed towards improving the environment, or will we blithely ignore obvious destruction of it? I prefer a nicely tended garden to well and truly poisoned patch of dirt.
If there's intelligent life out there with mod points left, mod the parent up, please.
You mean to say we're not doing well enough here on Earth? ! ! I'm Shocked! Shocked I say!
So long as we don't disrupt the lives of other sentient beings. Speaking of which, it would be nice if we did better here on Earth...
The real question is whether we will start to directing / regulating this terraforming to repair past degradations of the biosphere.
We can make Earth such a nice place that we don't need per se to go to Mars. That seems to me to be a really good goal: Replenish the Earth.
long live the king! (mp3)
more services
more control over folks that seem threatening
more privacy for themselves.
the thing is: most Americans are pragmatic; they settle for a good beer and cheap cable tv
... and lots of folks tell me to sell my pictures. Never had a problem with this. Let's hope the silly stuff stops before it infects everyone!
And as an Englishman, you can easily get into most any country in the world, and can work "off the radar".
In Japan and most of Asia you can get good work teaching conversational English. There is some concern about piercings and tats for most jobs, but if you're tutoring hip young folks, then the tats and piercings are a big plus. And it's like that for most out-of-normal idiosyncrasies: they just get you into niche.
the thing is this: you have to be there (Tokio, or Hong Kong or wherever) to pick up on those situations.
another job you may like is that of an international courier. These are people who, at the drop of a hat, are called to the airport to accompany a shipment by air. Sometimes it's an important document in a pouch, other times it's a vital piece of evidence in a legal matter, and sometimes it's a $5 part that's holding up an expensive project.
you can email me at scotty7319.onetime@binaryblitz.com
if I start getting trash mail at these "onetime" addresses I shut them off, so I'm not very worried about spammer getting hold of the addresss. Use the word "slashdot" in the subject to bypass spam filtration.
love to hear from you.
good luck and cheers
I only bring this up because there are many nationalities that can travel more easily than Americans, these days.
So I'd be very interested to know what nationality you currently have.
BUT there are also groups of folk that discuss programs like spreadsheets, Photoshop (art programs), music topics and related software. What the heck, there are even user groups that discuss "new to computers" issues! They meet in libraries, and on-line. look them up in Google.
Friends you have. Online, here on slashdot, you have folks that identify themselves as your friends and fans! and I'm not coming accross as hateful am I? I hope I'm being friendly!
And when it comes to that, this discussion group (slashdot) is very similar to many user groups.
OK, if things are that bad for you, why do you "stick by your guns"? Why not give the meds a chance? Do you prefer to be unhappy and "right" or what?
Youth hostels are a cheap place to stay. check them out via google and youth-travel web sites.
In my travels, I found that jobs are available for Americans in most countries, even if you don't speak the language. In any case, English is spoken in Cape Town in South Africa, England, Scotland, Wales, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, most of Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan and on many islands like Trinidad, Jamaica, and st. Barts. In addition, many English-only Americans find work in Amsterdam, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Greece, and other countires which either cater to tourists, or where the locals need to learn conversational English, or need translations (such as for user guides). In China, jobs as English instructors are given to people who just have a USA passport, and no education whatsoever. The companies then put the picture of their new "instructor" on their advertising. In many countries you can find young men/women who want to live with Americans just on the chance of marraige, and a green card.
none of those places require bank accounts to get jobs.
Look, if you're poor and unhappy in your job, then at least find a job that has some chance of being enjoyable. Maybe a job in an interesting country. What the hell, poor and happy is always better than poor and unhappy.
I don't have individuality, nor intelligence. If I had intelligence
I can read. Your command of English contradicts your very assertion. And I read some of your other Slashdot stuff: you're fine when it comes to knowledge and analytical capabilities.
I don't give a shit about anyone else.
Again, I read some of your stuff, and you're OK in this department.
Many credit unions will let you open an account for $50 (a deposit). They then give you an ATM card for free. The atm card almost always has a Visa or Master Card number on it, which you can use just as you would a credit card.
My best jobs (and I've had lots) have come via references form friends. Try making friends in user group meetings, and doing open-source work. You'll get leads on jobs.
Good Luck!
Good Luck, friend