martin

Recent Actions

• Commented on Falcon 9 Nails Orbit - First Stage Slams Hard into Atlantic

  Congratulations SpaceX and all those involved! This is awesome! And I cross my fingers that Elon Musk's financial problems don't hinder progress. Why are people comparing SpaceX to Wright Brothers and Goddard? The Wright Brothers and Goddard are people. SpaceX...

• Commented on Bolden Vs Armstrong and Cernan: Clash of the Titans Round 2

  Maybe the "younger" people who are truly knowledgeable about the field are in hiding. Or maybe there are just not that many. I'm surprised that my question at nasa space flight, http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21549.0, was not answered. Not sure what to make...

• Commented on Space Policy: New Message, Old Voices

  Keith Wrote: "Editor's note: Call NASA. They can tell you. You will not believe anything I post." Why would I not believe you? Please take a look at topic Re: DIRECT v3.0 - Thread 4 « Reply #1204 on: 04/08/2010...

• Commented on Space Policy: New Message, Old Voices

  I'm 43. A couple of years ago I started my own very small company in the field of aerodynamics. Ross (of DIRECT) states in his bio at SpaceFlight that he is 35. Not sure if that is true or when...

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  "However, although the Shuttle C would obviously be cheaper to develop than DIRECT, I'm still not convinced that there is any consensus on as to which HLV concept will be decided on." Can you please clarify. Do you mean Shuttle...

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  OK, I wrote inline (meaning inline cargo) and you wrote Direct, but I assume we are talking about the same thing. Noting that my expertize is not with operations or the infrastructure required for a LV, I will take your...

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  I stated that redesigning the SLWT from the ground up (i.e. they reduced the factor of safety) cost $175 million in mid 1990 dollars. This included solving the problems with welding the new allow. And you did say changing tank...

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  First, I asked why DIRECT costs were inaccurate. You did not address that. You gave your opinion on why DIRECT is flawed. Second, as you stated, you're basing your opinion on the assumption that DIRECT will be carrying a crew....

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  OK, I did some digging. In "Space Shuttle, the History of the National Space Transportation System" the total cost to develop and certify the super light weight tank (SLWT) is approximately $172.5 million. And, the contract value for section J-17...

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  "The Shuttle-C will be a direct upgrade to the existing Space Shuttle Orbiter system with only the Orbiter replaced with engines and a cargo carrier. Everything else remains the way it is now." Hmmm, the current ET for the Shuttle...

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  I'll admit I'm still laughing hard about this. This is like an April Fools joke, but a few days late. OK, an Orion Lite will be developed and placed on a human rated EELV. And a Shuttle C will be...

• Commented on Is A Human Space Flight Compromise Emerging?

  "This is all about cost right now. Accurate costs." LOL, and someone has accurate costs on sidemount? Oh my, I seriously doubt that....

• Commented on On the Bus to Crazy Town with Rep. Bishop

  Cool, maybe you can help shed some light on this for me. The Ares-1X nose/capsule has three conical shaped segments making up the outer mold line (Not including LAS sting). The Ares is an ogive. At supersonic speeds an ogive...

• Commented on On the Bus to Crazy Town with Rep. Bishop

  "The point of the flight was the verify the aerodynamic modeling software that NASA had developed." I think it is great that the Ares-1X folks were able to get the rocket off before the program was placed on cancellation notice....

• Commented on VSS Enterprise Flies Over Mojave

  Is this a replacement for human spaceflight? Of course not. But it is a step forward. The other day I went to Fry's electronics and saw that 2TByte disk drives cost $150. Amazing how technology advances. And space flight is...

• Commented on Buzz Aldrin's Take On What Needs to be Done - Update

  Wow, from the picture shown above, I didn't realize the sidemount would be so far forward. At supersonic speeds, isn't the flow between the ET and sidemount going to slow down due to the shock structure between the ET and...

• Commented on Titan 1 Information Request

  That reference was great. Thanks!...

• Commented on Titan 1 Information Request

  If the effort is going to be invested into moving the Titan I, why not move it up the road to the Hiller Aviation Museum? And, what will happen with the Shuttle WT model?...

• Commented on Titan 1 Information Request

  Museums are a great resource. Have you tried calling some of them? Someone there may be able to give you more information than you ever dreamed of or direct you to relevant documents or contacts. There are the big names,...

• Commented on A HotFire for Falcon 9

  Tinker, your comment "Is it going to take a native South African to show you how to be Americans again" disgusts me. What, immigrants are not Americans?...

• Commented on Daily Space Policy Reaction

  I'm aware of what you posted. I'm also know some of the people who did the original aero on the HL-20 and I'm aware of some of the wind tunnel data. I'm not aware of any high fidelity test or...

• Commented on Daily Space Policy Reaction

  People keep mentioning the feasibility of the HL-20, but, to date I'm not aware of, nor have been made aware of, any high fidelity testing or analysis of the HL-20 on any launch vehicle. If someone knows of any, please...

• Commented on A HotFire for Falcon 9

  I don't disagree and obviously SpaceX is showing some inexperience. But, I do know that SpaceX has consulted with experts in the field. It's not like they are doing everything in house and alone. And, I hope people don't think...

• Commented on Developing Senate Legislation on NASA

  In regards to extending the shuttle, wow $1.1 billion per flight. That would be OK if our deficit were lower or our economy was stronger, but they are not. We've gone from 5 Shuttle flights to 2. Can someone tell...

• Commented on Developing Senate Legislation on NASA

  Oops, my bad. That's $1.2 billion in addition to the $0.98 billion. So, given 2 flights a year that comes out to $1.1 billion per flight!! Ouch....

• Commented on Developing Senate Legislation on NASA

  Here is one part I find interesting. "(d) SPACE SHUTTLE CAPABILITY RETENTION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to the extent practicable NASA shall operate the Space Shuttle program at a flight rate of no more than 2 missions in any...

• Commented on Developing Senate Legislation on NASA

  These are my thoughts and don't necessarily represent "true" answers. First, I think a few Senators, politicians, and managers have been asleep at the wheel and are now being woken up. At least I hope they are waking up. Well,...

• Commented on Developing Senate Legislation on NASA

  I read S3068. And I get the feeling that Senator Hutchinson and Senator Kyl don't really have the knowledge to write bills such as this. Scary. And the following statement from the bill really sent shivers up my spine. "In...

• Commented on Obama Heads To The Space Coast

  Thanks, OK, so $26 billion in 1969 dollars is approximately equal to $150 billion in todays dollars....

• Commented on A HotFire for Falcon 9

  LOL, of course I'm saying SpaceX is using the technology developed by NASA and DoD. Remember, it was you who was going against AeroMac's statement that SpaceX and other commercial providers could not be where they are without existing NASA...