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| 681 - Ares 1-Y ? |
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Here is a cool video of the proposed Y test flight, which has now almost certainly been canceled. This may mean they are simply going to cover all the bases in different ways, or it may (most likely) mean further delays in this rocket program.
The Ares rockets and hardware are solid ideas, but sadly they are suffering from some of the worst NASA effect ever seen. The cost of the Ares 1 alone is estimated to be over $35 billion. It is a fairly small rocket, that uses basically well developed old school technology. Granted everything is being modified to some extent, but really does it take 5+ years and $35 billion+ to toss shuttle parts together into a new rocket? It seems really excessive. However, there is no reason why this rocket system should not get cheaper with time. As long as it is used regularly, that is. The Shuttle could have been cheaper also, if it were used more often. But without the orbiter to maintain, and the overall huge size of the shuttle system, it is mind boggling how the Ares 1 rocket could even come close to being as expensive as the shuttle. Maybe the Ares V, which will be the largest rocket ever when (if) it starts to fly, should cost a ton. I understand that fully. Perhaps it would only fly two times a year. But each launch of that system (unlike with the shuttle) could place a telescope into orbit with an 8 to 16 (according to realistic proposals) meter mirror in it.
Ares 1Y
There may be a test in 2012, called Ares 1-X prime, that will test a full scale booster, the emergency launch escape system (a rocket that pulls the capsule away in the event of an emergency abort at lower altitudes and airspeeds), but nothing else. The 1-Y would have tested all of the above, plus a real upper stage without an engine, and a real Orion capsule (or C.E.V.)
The Universe Today
More rocketry posts here..> |
posted by R2K @ Thursday, November 05, 2009  |
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| 678 - When your car is sinking, dont call someone on the phone for help. |
| Tuesday, November 03, 2009 |
Get out of the car on your own. They simply can't get to you fast enough. And if you are calling anyone, 911 would be the best number because they can directly contact the fire department or police. If you have enough time to make a call, you should be able to get out.
This is a sad confirmation that panic kills. |
| posted by R2K @ Tuesday, November 03, 2009 |
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| 676 - Human family tree |
| Monday, November 02, 2009 |
This interactive phylogenetic tree is pretty interesting to check out. Obviously there are a bunch of blank spots to be filled in.
Human Origins Tree |
| posted by R2K @ Monday, November 02, 2009 |
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| 675 - Interesting anti-abortion pages |
| Sunday, November 01, 2009 |
These are pro life blogs that mix in plenty of lies trying to support their side. This came to my attention while working on Anencephaly. It is a waste of time to break down all of the lies, misconceptions, and ridiculous collision of morals and ethics as a result of living life on the word of the Bible. Most interesting at this time is the citing of Anencephaly cases as proof that scientists and doctors are wrong, evil atheists, and that prayer works. A baby with this disorder may seem somewhat normal, with a well developed body and a human face. Indeed in the pictures they use, the baby is bundled up around the head, hiding the fact that they have almost no brain, and likely no skull or skin covering what little brain there is. In other words, they don't want people to appreciate how severe the deformation is in these cases. Mortality is 100%
I understand the personal choice of letting things happen naturally, according to the will of God , but then how do they explain the heroic medical treatments needed to keep the baby alive? It is shameless hypocrisy.
The last post on the blog about this poor little girl is pretty revealing:
"There is a young couple who recently lost their baby boy to anencephaly (Baby Isaiah) and cannot afford to pay for a funeral. The estimated cost is $7000 and the money just isn't there. There are two ways that you can help: (1) is to pray for them, and (2) is to make a donation to help the family. If you would like to help by sending them a monetary gift, please click here to donate to Isaiah's fund."
I wonder how Jesus would feel about a $7000 funeral...
It is very hard to criticize parents who have to deal with a deformed child. But since they have made it their mission to distort the truth, and since they attack the very same medical system that they turned to time after time, they are open targets.
Baby Faith
Pro life resources
Potty about Jesus (wtf?)
Lies about prayer curing disease
Baby K |
| posted by R2K @ Sunday, November 01, 2009 |
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| 673 - Tiger Cowries |
| Friday, October 30, 2009 |
My first hobby, at a very young age, was shell collecting. |
| posted by R2K @ Friday, October 30, 2009 |
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| 668 - Paranormal activity |
| Monday, October 26, 2009 |
I have been trying to figure out the source of the problems in the film Paranormal Activity...
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I knew it. |
| posted by R2K @ Monday, October 26, 2009 |
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| 666 - (The mark of the science illiterate president) |
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When do scientists come forward and clearly inform people (such as the president) that the H1N1 death rate is similar to the normal seasonal flu? If anything, the panic caused by this will place a burden on healthcare resources. At least the sale of vaccines in huge amounts, at a profit, will help stimulate the economy...
Americans are very good at worrying about things that are small and simple, but very bad at worrying about big things that are confusing. Pollution vs. mad cow, nuclear war vs. gay marriage, or obesity vs. H1N1.
Obama declares H1N1 state of emergency! Stock up on water and batteries while you can! Buy Xmass gifts early this year, you may not live to see December!
(*I just noticed that as soon as I made this post, all of the adds to the left changed over to cover "black america" and "medicine half price!"*) |
| posted by R2K @ Sunday, October 25, 2009 |
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| 665 - J. Evans Prichard - "Understanding Poetry" |
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"To fully understand poetry, we must first be fluent with its meter, rhyme and figures of speech, then ask two questions: 1) How artfully has the objective of the poem been rendered and 2) How important is that objective? Question 1 rates the poem's perfection; question 2 rates its importance. And once these questions have been answered, determining the poem's greatness becomes a relatively simple matter.
If the poem's score for perfection is plotted on the horizontal of a graph and its importance is plotted on the vertical, then calculating the total area of the poem yields the measure of its greatness.
A sonnet by Byron might score high on the vertical but only average on the horizontal. A Shakespearean sonnet, on the other hand, would score high both horizontally and vertically, yielding a massive total area, thereby revealing the poem to be truly great. As you proceed through the poetry in this book, practice this rating method. As your ability to evaluate poems in this matter grows, so will, so will your enjoyment and understanding of poetry." |
| posted by R2K @ Sunday, October 25, 2009 |
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| 659 - Navy Exploding Balloon (no boy in the balloon) |
| Sunday, October 18, 2009 |
I would guess they put hydrogen in there? Methane can also be used for lift. |
| posted by R2K @ Sunday, October 18, 2009 |
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