Tritium

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• Commented on News Embargo Inconsistencies

  @Tinker: Excellent point, mate! This is a fine example of just how great NASA's science missions are (mostly out of JPL), but they do not promote the importance of these discoveries enough. It seems like all the sex-appeal is in...

• Commented on Video: J-2X Rocket Engine Test

  Is it just me, or did there seem to be some type of acoustical pulses / oscillations occuring at regular intervals at the exhaust nozzle (close-up inset pic)? Or, did it have something to do with the water suppression system?...

• Commented on NASA's SLS Procurement: So Far, Sole Source Only

  Oh, give me a friggin' break. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING will make anyone here on this site happy. It was my understanding that the ENTIRE point of SLS was to leverage Space Shuttle dervied architecture (especially propulsion) to develop new HLV. In...

• Commented on Bolden is "Rooting" For Chinese Success in Space

  I swear you guys must be delusional. Name me one friggin' aspect of Chinese aeronautical and/or space "cooperation" that will aid us from a scientific, technological or industrial experience "quid pro quo" standpoint????? Absolutely NOTHING. Any technological exchange will be...

• Commented on SLS Design Unveiled

  So let me get this straight. We finally get a launch system that the President AND Congress support, and NASA says it can build (with the available budget). And despite all this...all you folks can do is whine, poke holes,...

• Commented on Another Earth?

  Tinker, you probably meant to type it, but in case not...the star is not 36 "years" away, but rather 36 Light Years away. Which, given current and postulated near-term future capabilities means it might as well be on the other...

• Commented on DARPA's 100 Year Starship

  The day someone can convince me of a compelling business case for private industry to invest in ANY beyond Earth orbit, long-duration exploratory/scientific mission...is the day I will become a believer. Until then, Commercial Space will be ruled by the...

• Commented on More Sour Grapes From Mike Griffin

  As much as I love this site, I am always curious as to why Mike Griffin seems to be NasaWatch's personal whipping boy. Did the man make some mistakes? Yep. Is he human? Yep. He also is one of the...

• Commented on SpaceX - Becoming a Market Leader?

  IMHO, so many of you experts appear to be unfairly biased against S. As much as I myself wish SpaceX to succeed, the Falcon Heavy is a disaster waiting to happen. 3-cores with 27 total liquid fueled engines on just...

• Commented on Gene Cernan Is Stuck In The Past

  For all those jumping head over heels for Commercial Space... Firstly, I do believe that Commercial Space enterprises will play a key role in expoiting NEO, with the launching of both private AND government satellites, as well as potential space...

• Commented on The Rhetoric Heats Up - Establishment vs NewSpace

  I must admit, I always shake my head when I read posts admonishing "the fact" that we have NO NEED for a Heavy Lift Vehicle at this time. Since when has our NASA Space Program ever been dictated by the...

• Commented on Kepler Co-Investigator Spills The Beans: Lots of Earth-like Planets

  Well, of the many possibilities of "where is ET", and answer to the Fermi Paradox, author Greg Bear posited one chilling scenario. I highly recommend his "Forge of God", and "Anvil of Stars" duology. It seems even Stephen Hawking has...

• Commented on Kepler Co-Investigator Spills The Beans: Lots of Earth-like Planets

  Kevin, your disdain for Fox News is palpable. Editor's note: "Kevin"? Who is that? As for my distain for Fox News - where do I start with those biased twits? However, I think you are being unfair to them in...

• Commented on Obama and Glenn Meet To Talk Space

  Commerical Space providers are a nice solution for many LEO activities. But that is where the buck stops. They have ZERO incentive to perform the research and science necessary to extend human presence beyond LEO, because there is no profit...

• Commented on The Senate NASA Compromise: A Hinge of History?

  VASIMR is not going to get us to Mars or beyond without using high power density nuclear reactors. And as far as I can tell, there is little to no research going into they type of space-based nuclear power generation...

• Commented on NASA Reauthorization Bill Provides ATK with a Glimmer of Hope

  In-Line Shuttle Derived Heavy Lift Vehicle, or Bust! Forget the damn Side-Mount. In-Line has more flexibility and opportunity for growth....

• Commented on Senate Prepares To Throw Road Block At NASA Policy

  I hate to say this, especially since I voted for Obama (I am an independent)...but I think we are going to need another Reagan to reconstitue America after Obama's finished with Her, just like we needed Reagan after Carter. IMHO,...

• Commented on Charlie Bolden: Stealth Middle East Diplomat?

  What I find amazing is the complete absence of any information pertaining to renewed development on space nuclear reactors and also possibly nuclear thermal propulsion (for perhaps a 3rd stage). If Obama's plan in any way involves the VASIMR engine...