TitanLakes

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• Commented on New Space Plane Ready For Flight

  I notice that the X-37B has only a nine minute launch window. Perhaps they are planning a rendezvous?...

• Commented on NASA Budget Links

  @Patrick: It does look like outlays are set to decrease in 2011. I could be wrong, but I believe Recovery Act money is supplemental to the outlays. That would hold total outlays essentially flat between 2009 and 2010, but there...

• Commented on NASA Budget Links

  I have to say that I'm quite surprised by this budget. Ares I cancellation was expected, but I never expected Orion to be canceled. After the Augustine Report came out, I had thought heavy lift would be kept on life...

• Commented on Obama Backs New Launcher and Bigger NASA Budget

  My understanding is that the 2010 budget requires approval by Congress for any changes to the Constellation Program, including terminations. Unfortunately, that means that a large chunk of the 2010 money might just get wasted on doomed programs. I still...

• Commented on Waterworld Found

  This is a very strange world. How did something like this come to be so close to its parent star? This is definitely a world and a system worthy of further study....

• Commented on <strike>10</Strike> 9% of the 21st Century Has Been Used Up

  The thought has been crossing my mind a lot lately, with 2010 almost here, that we are in the future now. The reality is, of course, a lot more mundane than the 2010 of science fiction, though that's not a...

• Commented on Lakes and Fog on Titan

  I haven't had much time to keep up with things lately, unfortunately, but I'm glad to catch this. Titan and its lakes have really captivated my imagination, as one could guess by my handle. For me, there is no place...

• Commented on Video: Avatar, Augmented Reality, and NASA

  I don't have a problem with NASA going to the mass media, and in fact, I would encourage it. Right now that seems to be the best way to reach people. I'm not saying NASA should just go out and...

• Commented on Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Meeting Report

  I think this group is asking the right questions. Willpower and resolve are not enough. The issues of sustainability, economic viability, and the development of necessary enabling technologies need to be addressed directly, and given priority....

• Commented on Kiwis In Space

  The capabilities of Atea-1 are very modest, but I do hope they are right that there's enough of a market that they can turn this into a profitable business. I noticed that they have a larger Atea-2 under development too....

• Commented on Atlantis Lands to end a Near Flawless Mission

  That was a great landing. The VAB roof camera was my favorite view this time. It would be nice if they would stream that camera on the Internet. I was wondering what was up with the "slightly low" calls at...

• Commented on Human Missions to Asteroids

  Getting fuel from asteroids would be great at some point in the future, but right now fuel depot technology is a long way from being operational, and technology to mine asteroids and make fuel is even farther from reality. I...

• Commented on Help Choose The Best Aerospace Innovation Challenge Public Service Announcement About NASA

  I liked the B.E.A.R. video because it helps to show NASA as being more than astronauts, but as being made up of people who do things that are directly relevant to people's lives. The biggest problem with the ad is...

• Commented on One-Off Rockets

  The article I read on the "Time" website did not make the difference between Ares I and the I-X clear, in my opinion. I don't think the video is that great either. A lot of people who see the article...

• Commented on Avatar: A Stunning New World That NASA Is Ignoring

  I think part of the problem with MSL relates back to the cancellation of the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. The lack of the MTO limits the bandwidth available for data return. If MRO isn't operational when MSL lands, the bandwidth situation...

• Commented on Is There A 10% Budget Cut In NASA's Future?

  In the article, it says that, according to a "senior administration official, the "agencies were given 'global' instructions to cut their budgets by 5 to 10 percent to help reduce the record $1.4 trillion deficit." Since this is a generic...

• Commented on Promoting The Flexible Path

  I'm going to put in a plug for LEO. I think we're on the cusp of commercial HSF getting itself established. I would like to see NASA concentrate on maximizing the use of the ISS for research, working to nurture...

• Commented on Avatar: A Stunning New World That NASA Is Ignoring

  Connecting with adults is a tricky thing. For those adults with an active interest in NASA and space activities, all that is really needed is to stick information on the Web, and not make it too hard to find. When...

• Commented on STS-129 Launched

  That was a very clean launch. Very impressive. The Shuttles seem to be flying better than ever right now. I believe that makes five Shuttle launches this year, which is a decent flight rate. Congratulations to everyone involved....

• Commented on LCROSS: Yes, We Found Water - A Significant Amount

  I was starting to get really pessimistic about the results, so I think this news is fantastic. Mega-congratulations to the LCROSS team on their sucessful and historic mission. This should open the door to further missions to explore the lunar...

• Commented on ESA/NASA Mars Agreement Signed (Update)

  The metric conversion issue has bothered me for a long time. Every time it seems like progress is starting to be made, this country turns around and regresses again. There's no doubt that the measurement issue hurts the international competitiveness...

• Commented on Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project Video: Two FR-900 Drives Operational

  Kudos for getting those tape drives running. I have a real fondness for old hardware. I wish I had enough money to open up my own technology museum....

• Commented on Time Magazine's Best Invention of the Year

  I have to say that I like the choice of picture for this article. It makes a nice juxtaposition. I like that diver in the background, too....

• Commented on Time Magazine's Best Invention of the Year

  I stopped giving credence to Time's "of the year" picks some time ago. The text article says it "can launch human beings to cosmic destinations we'd never considered before." The Ares I itself isn't intended to launch anything beyond LEO,...

• Commented on 2012: Stupidity For The Masses

  If we're lucky, "2012" will end up in the so bad it's good category. I've always liked "When Worlds Collide," though. The last time I saw it was in November 2002. It was on late at night during the Leonids...

• Commented on Ares 1-Y is Toast

  @Ben the Space Brit: I can understand why the J-2X would be chosen for development, since it would avoid needing to cluster several smaller engines. There seems to be a lack of operational LH2 upper stage engines more powerful than...

• Commented on New FAA Regs for Commercial Reentry

  The PDF for the PEIS is 443 pages long! I'm not even going to try to read all that. From the Executive Summary, it looks like the purpose is to provide a boilerplate Environmental Impact Statement. So, instead of doing...

• Commented on Lunar Lander Challenge Prizes Awarded

  Masten's 19 cm accuracy is very impressive. Congratulations to the Masten and Armadillo teams. They definitely earned their prizes....

• Commented on USA: Looking For Ways To Hang On

  USA employees had better be sharpening up their resumes and CVs and be looking for alternative work. They'd better not be counting on a Shuttle extension either. I personally would have preferred to keep the Shuttles flying a few more...

• Commented on Ares 1-Y is Toast

  It bothers me that the J-2X wouldn't be ready for flight as of March 2014. I haven't been able to find an estimate of when it might be ready. Some people must have thought there was a chance it would...