Space Forum / Space Policy / April 2004

AFAIK, this is the first time ever, anywhere, that an aerospike
of any sort has propelled a vehicle in flight. Or have I missed
something?
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2004/04-23.html

http://www.bouldernews.com/bdc/local_business/article/0,1713,BDC_2461_2796698,00.html
Ed Lu praises the virtues of commercial space.
Rusty Schweickart notes that asteroids are much more resource rich than
the moon and says they'd make good stepping stones to Mars.

I just ran across this series of articles on his blog, and thought some
of you might be interested.  Links:
http://www.denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2004/04/SpaceNavies.shtml
and

Point Summary of Proposed Theoretical Adjustments to Project Orion in
Space:
1.    It is not a pusher-plate but a type of cannon that should contain
the blast. The cannon could be described as a pusher-plate with walls

This doesn't look too great:
http://www.heavens-above.com/issheight.asp?Session=kebgcfmghoafbocliiklbpbl
To my eye, it looks as they've got about a year, give or take, maybe more
take than give, before things get really exciting with respect to reboost.

Just an out of interest question. If the space station is the biggest best
thing built in space instead why dont they send that to mars but take a few
years going there.
I read that it goes at approximate 390 km already.

Dear Friends,
I have been working on major project these last three months, a web article
entitled "The US-A program (Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellites - RORSAT)
and radio observations thereof". It is now finished to the degree where I

Suborbital Institute Congratulates Scaled Composites, Applauds FAA
Action
April 7, 2004
Norman, OK -- The Suborbital Institute today congratulated Scaled

My girlfriend was just offered a great one year position in London,
England.  I'd love to live in London with her, but would want to be
doing something productive myself.
Does anyone know of any companies or research groups doing interesting

I may be a skeptic - having been expelled from UT Austin's Aerospace
Engineering a semester short of my Ph.D for having found a faster,
safer, more efficient Earth to Mars trajectory - but I doubt very
seriously that any reforms at NASA will last even into the next

From http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20040413-070653-7068r.htm :
 Study: NASA's leaders must push safety
 OJAI, Calif., April 13 [2004] (UPI)
 A private analysis of the U.S. space agency says the key to

I understand that Kistler has set a price of $17 million per launch.  At
10,000 lbs to LEO, that works out to $1700/lb.  Currently Kistler is going
after private investment funds (although it did recently get $50 Million
in pre-launch funds from NASA).  So it has to pay back the ...

Do you think the russians will succeed on being first to put people on Mars
first for their proposed 3 month trip ?
Personally, I think they may pull it off this time around...
What are peoples thought on there plan ????????

I tried posting this to tech, but it wasn't (not yet) accepted, so
I'll tries policy.
What is the minumum delta V requirement for a ballistic trajectory
from the lunar pole to the lunar equator?

I there have been thinking about the way in which technology is going to effect the future of space.   In particular I have been reading about nano carbon pipes that are 14-18 times stronger than steel etc.
I am surprised that this technology isn't being invested in or being used ...