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Posted on: 2012: A Shorter History of some bad hypothesis
at 11/23/2009 7:07pm

Using either a Dyson sphere or a manned Mars base as lifeboats are no answer to the impact hazard.

As accretion must ... more(+)

vladdrac wrote:But were still here....here. Bad part is that impact big enough, could vaporize earths atmosphere among other spectacular things. And we are not here for any other reason save celestial mechanics. Planets are numbers on a roulette wheel. Earths Biosphere has generated an organism with the capacity to prevent extinction, at least by asteroid or comet. Given enough time, humans might even learn to build their own mobile replica of Mother Earth...The Starship Earth. If you encounter enough intelligent species on other planets doing the same thing for their biosphere that you are doing for your's....we'll know there is a God. If each individual member of every intelligent species in the universe could be lickened to a parallel processor I would give up trying to be smarter than it. Its Collective Consciousness 'knows' virtually everything. Playing such a role seems way better than becoming extinct due to an inability to cooperate.

Using either a Dyson sphere or a manned Mars base as lifeboats are no answer to the impact hazard.

As accretion must take place in other planetary systems as well, it is a good question how many semi-intelligent species may have become extinct.

E.P. close(-)

Posted on: Looking for civil debate on Moon vs. Mars
at 11/23/2009 12:23am

I don't think you can have a civil debate on Moon vs. Mars.

You have seen it asserted that China is interested in ... more(+)

I don't think you can have a civil debate on Moon vs. Mars.

You have seen it asserted that China is interested in Mars. It is not.

Some people can not stop living in the 1950's. Mars is not Earth like, and the transportation costs are horrendous.

The only compelling reason for going to the Moon is to build man tended comet and asteroid impactor detection systems.
Whoever provides that service will take the leading role in space.

Others can not stop living in the 1960's, when the US went to the Moon alone.

Construction of such impactor detection systems is what I think is the main focus of China's long term space planning right now. They will do it alone if they have to, but would prefer not to, and likely won't have to. There are other nations besides the US.

The CZ5 will be the cheapest launcher to orbit, and will be capable of fulfilling China's heavier launch needs.

That leaves the US with the option of engaging or loosing any leadership role in space.

E.P. Grondine
http://manandimpactsintheamericas.blogspot.com/ close(-)

Posted on: Nazi Stealth Jet Could Have Won War for Hitler
at 11/22/2009 11:16pm

In mentioning the attrition, we should remember the sacrifices of the US daylight bomber crews, and particularly the ... more(+)

In mentioning the attrition, we should remember the sacrifices of the US daylight bomber crews, and particularly the number of German aircrew they killed, and German planes destroyed.

Also, it would appear to me that in planning their attack on the US at Pearl Harbor and the European colonies, Japanese military leaders must have concluded that Soviet Forces would be defeated at Stalingrad. But Germany did not have control of the air at Stalingrad. Britain had already cost them enough pilots and aircraft to prevent that.

All in all, mankind was quite lucky that chemical weapons were not used in World War 2, in particular Tabun and Sarin by Hitler. But that is another story...

E.P. Grondine
A History of Cosmonautics, volumes 1-4 close(-)

Commented on: Plan for Human Mission to Asteroid Gains Speed
at 2009-11-23 17:59:47

Hi Leonard -

Very few people realize how bad the impact hazard is, and what a driver it will be for space exploration ... more(+)

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Commented on: Plan for Human Mission to Asteroid Gains Speed
at 2009-11-23 17:54:23

Undoubtedly any asteroid mission could be done with Ares 3/Jupiter/Direct better than it could with the Ares ... more(+)

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Commented on: Cosmonaut Konstantin Feoktistov, First Scientist in Space, Dies at 83
at 2009-11-23 17:44:04

Spasiba, Chevalyk.

Feoktistov graciously drew me a picture of the nuclear powered version of the TMK and its com ... more(+)

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Commented on: Meteor Explosion Lights Up Sky Over Utah
at 2009-11-19 23:57:18

First off Sitchin's "Niburu" does not exist:

http://dailygrail.com/node/8165

go to sitchiniswrong.com to find out how ... more(+)

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Commented on: Huge Explosion Was Biggest Space Rock to Strike Earth Since 1994
at 2009-11-02 12:14:34

Hi Leonard -

Nice story. In 1997 no one would have reported it.
I assume you are going to the AGU session on the ... more(+)

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