Space Forum / Space Station / July 2003

Are you related to any of these people?
Erskine G
137 Richardson St Middle Park 3206
Mobile Service   0409 546 112

"Why I won't invest in rockets for space tourism ... yet"
This is the title of a piece by Denis Tito in this week's AW&ST.  Here's
a key excerpt, often a topic for discussion around here.
  You see, I am willing to risk my money on a technical concept and

Al Feinberg
Headquarters, Washington           July 16, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-4504)
NOTE TO EDITORS: N03-069

Could the X-37 be converted for use as a near term CRV? (I'm asking
technically not finacially) I know it's small but it looks like it could fit
three people sitting down. It only needs to be a lifepod after all.
It's actually quite interesting to compare the cost of the OSP to the ...

I've been alternately dismayed and amused by NASA's seeming need to
claim everything they do is somehow a first, or historic, or a
milestone.  Today's ISS on-orbit status contains the following:  "Today,
continuous manned occupancy of the ISS reaches 1000 days.  What a

I can't go on living any longer.  I can't control my sexual desire for
little boys.  There's only one way to deal with it.  Tonight I will kill
myself.
Alan Erskine

A friend sent me this reference.  These groups often talk about reducing
costs.  Here's some insight from 20 years ago.  Warning - not your
typical journal article as Jimmy Durante is quoted in it.  Good stuff
and an enjoyable read.

The true cause of the 51-L catastrophe cannot be established
by edict, nor is it negotiable politically.  It is determinable in
the courts.  (Below reposted because of popular demand.)
==============================================

Al Feinberg
Headquarters, Washington               July 18, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-4504)
John Ira Petty

Well I'm gonna tell you something, when I first heard about the Columbia
disaster I started celebrating.  I said f.ck the Americans, f.ck the
Shuttle, f.ck it all to Hell.  Yes Sir.  I really let it all hang out, all
my hatred for America.  I took all my clothes off and I took out ...

ISS On-Orbit Status 18 Jul 2003
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except as noted previously
or below.  Day 85 in space for the Increment 7 crew.
CDR Yuri Malenchenko performed the scheduled search for the missing cables

Planning for including US Node 3 continues (covertly). The Italians have the
pressure shell completed and 95%+ of the flight software is done. The ECLSS
and ITCS racks, etc. built at MSFC are more or less on track. The problem US
Node 3 ( gift from Italy to the US for time on orbit) ...

Also the Italians have proposed building a Hab module. They are offering two
options, a  short module and long module. The long module is a bit like the
old US Hab concept. The short module is about the size of US Node 3. The
Italians want to do all of it (software, hardware etc. ...

Hi folks. I've been looking at the evolution of the space station project and I
thought I would avail myself of the expertise found here. I've been wondering--
if the US had undertaken ISS without the Russians (presumably at a 28.5 degree
orbit and following the current design ...

The subject libel was aided and abetted by my son Dan.
I understand that Dan (who like Berndt and Balettie had
no first-hand experience at the Challenger launch site in
the months and years prior to that disaster) is now active