It isn't static electricity, but NASA hasn't given up on uses for cables or the energy they can harness. From the October 2003 issue of Discover Magazine: NASA is funding a joint project with the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to create "ProSeds." In it's simplest form, this is a wire tethered by a cable to a second stage Delta 2 rocket. The wire dangles into Earth's ionosphere and "sucks up electrons." The resulting current causes an electromagnetic "drag" - kind of like a break - that pulls the rocket into a lower orbit. By running a current the other direction, the drag could be reversed and the rocket could be "pushed" into a higher orbit. At least theoretically. There are other proposed applications for the technology, including moving a space station between orbits.
Sure, they may be the first to go, but CEO's seem to have the nasty little habit of cashing their stock options in before the company goes downhill too far, and then they get all those nice layoff benefits the rest of us don't get. And then they "leverage" their contacts and get hired at another company to do it all over again. How many times have we seen this?
Golden parachute, anyone?
Regarding the porn employment option: don't quit your day job just yet. I was employed as an, er, entertainment phone operator. Yep, phone sex. And it was easier to get paying calls a year ago. The market seems to be slowly drying up:-/ as the level of disposable income goes down. Even smut isn't immune to recessionary economics!
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It sounds like you're referring to Lagrange points. There's a nice schematic here:2 0point% 20L1.htm
http://www.ottisoft.com/samplact/Lagrange%
It isn't static electricity, but NASA hasn't given up on uses for cables or the energy they can harness. From the October 2003 issue of Discover Magazine: NASA is funding a joint project with the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to create "ProSeds." In it's simplest form, this is a wire tethered by a cable to a second stage Delta 2 rocket. The wire dangles into Earth's ionosphere and "sucks up electrons." The resulting current causes an electromagnetic "drag" - kind of like a break - that pulls the rocket into a lower orbit. By running a current the other direction, the drag could be reversed and the rocket could be "pushed" into a higher orbit. At least theoretically. There are other proposed applications for the technology, including moving a space station between orbits.
Perfectly happily self employed, thanks for your concern. But extremely frustrated on behalf my community, my country and our collective future.
Sure, they may be the first to go, but CEO's seem to have the nasty little habit of cashing their stock options in before the company goes downhill too far, and then they get all those nice layoff benefits the rest of us don't get. And then they "leverage" their contacts and get hired at another company to do it all over again. How many times have we seen this? Golden parachute, anyone?
Regarding the porn employment option: don't quit your day job just yet. I was employed as an, er, entertainment phone operator. Yep, phone sex. And it was easier to get paying calls a year ago. The market seems to be slowly drying up :-/ as the level of disposable income goes down. Even smut isn't immune to recessionary economics!