Comments on: Last nights on Earth http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/ All that flavorful brownness in one savory packet Sat, 30 Nov 2013 11:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: International Space Agency http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-146542 International Space Agency Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:41:27 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-146542 <p>If you are interested in Human Space Efforts, please check out the secure public website for the "Real" International Space Agency (ISA). ISA Secure Public Website: <a href="https://www.international-space-agency.org">https://www.international-space-agency.org</a></p> If you are interested in Human Space Efforts, please check out the secure public website for the “Real” International Space Agency (ISA). ISA Secure Public Website: https://www.international-space-agency.org

]]> By: Salil Maniktahla http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-105411 Salil Maniktahla Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:15:57 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-105411 <blockquote>This is all good and great but does anyone know if there have been any improvements in propulsion systems lately? Not to knock on the current mission but its basically like the old one except for the establishments of the base. Which is pretty badass I must admit. But even so, I find new types of spacecraft to be an even more exciting aspect of NASA's research. Nuclear propulsion is in the works I hear.</blockquote> <p>There have been many advancements in propulsions systems, from aerospike engines (which were slated to be put on the HSST, which got cancelled some time ago) to ram- and scramjet systems that would (hypothetically) allow a vehicle to take off and land horizontally, under powered flight, much like a regular airplane, yet attain hypersonic speeds (although probably not escape velocity).</p> <p>"Nuclear propulsion" is a fairly ambiguous term. That would cover everything from the old Project Orion type stuff from the 1970's (basically a big steel plate with a freakin' battleship on top, and you set off nukes underneath it. Not very efficient, or very comfortable, but it's pretty fast) to the it-ain't-never-gonna-happen fission-pile powered rockets some random scientist came up with, to Bussard ramjets that are also just a really long way off.</p> <p>Are you maybe talking about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter_catalyzed_nuclear_pulse_propulsion">this</a>? This shows some promise, and who knows? It could open up the solar system to serious exploration.</p> <p>I have to admit, I'm very happy at the prospect of the space shuttle finally getting shelved. I'd written an article for a campus political mag back in college (that's 1992 to you kids) about how the shuttle needed to be retired. I never thought it would limp along for another 15-20 years! If that frees up funds for the development of a true reusable vehicle, then I'm all for it.</p> This is all good and great but does anyone know if there have been any improvements in propulsion systems lately? Not to knock on the current mission but its basically like the old one except for the establishments of the base. Which is pretty badass I must admit. But even so, I find new types of spacecraft to be an even more exciting aspect of NASA’s research. Nuclear propulsion is in the works I hear.

There have been many advancements in propulsions systems, from aerospike engines (which were slated to be put on the HSST, which got cancelled some time ago) to ram- and scramjet systems that would (hypothetically) allow a vehicle to take off and land horizontally, under powered flight, much like a regular airplane, yet attain hypersonic speeds (although probably not escape velocity).

“Nuclear propulsion” is a fairly ambiguous term. That would cover everything from the old Project Orion type stuff from the 1970′s (basically a big steel plate with a freakin’ battleship on top, and you set off nukes underneath it. Not very efficient, or very comfortable, but it’s pretty fast) to the it-ain’t-never-gonna-happen fission-pile powered rockets some random scientist came up with, to Bussard ramjets that are also just a really long way off.

Are you maybe talking about this? This shows some promise, and who knows? It could open up the solar system to serious exploration.

I have to admit, I’m very happy at the prospect of the space shuttle finally getting shelved. I’d written an article for a campus political mag back in college (that’s 1992 to you kids) about how the shuttle needed to be retired. I never thought it would limp along for another 15-20 years! If that frees up funds for the development of a true reusable vehicle, then I’m all for it.

]]> By: Rajni the Monkey http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-105148 Rajni the Monkey Wed, 06 Dec 2006 05:28:09 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-105148 <blockquote>As a somewhat new reader/glancer at this site, which I think is great, I have noticed that there seem to be a lot more photos of glam desi women than just about anything else.</blockquote> <p>Right now, on the front page, there is only one photo of a desi woman with few clothes on but many more photos of desi men in a similar state.</p> As a somewhat new reader/glancer at this site, which I think is great, I have noticed that there seem to be a lot more photos of glam desi women than just about anything else.

Right now, on the front page, there is only one photo of a desi woman with few clothes on but many more photos of desi men in a similar state.

]]> By: good name http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-105145 good name Wed, 06 Dec 2006 05:25:09 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-105145 <p>That's one cool photo - it's informative and artistic. As a somewhat new reader/glancer at this site, which I think is great, I have noticed that there seem to be a lot more photos of glam desi women than just about anything else. I certainly prefer this one of Sunita Williams to some of the others I've seen.</p> That’s one cool photo – it’s informative and artistic. As a somewhat new reader/glancer at this site, which I think is great, I have noticed that there seem to be a lot more photos of glam desi women than just about anything else. I certainly prefer this one of Sunita Williams to some of the others I’ve seen.

]]> By: namitabh bachchan http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-104943 namitabh bachchan Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:33:25 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-104943 <p>I'm a little saddened by this article -- not that I disapprove of scientific advancement -- because I am reminded of Kalpana Chawla.</p> I’m a little saddened by this article — not that I disapprove of scientific advancement — because I am reminded of Kalpana Chawla.

]]> By: Ashi http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-104901 Ashi Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:58:15 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-104901 <p>Great story to post! I enjoyed reading the bios of all the astronauts. More than Sunita's story, Joan Higgenbottam's story is more inspiring in that she never considered herself astronaut material and laughed off the suggestion. Yet she was obviously was.</p> Great story to post! I enjoyed reading the bios of all the astronauts. More than Sunita’s story, Joan Higgenbottam’s story is more inspiring in that she never considered herself astronaut material and laughed off the suggestion. Yet she was obviously was.

]]> By: Jai Singh http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-104878 Jai Singh Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:00:23 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-104878 <blockquote>This is all good and great but does anyone know if there have been any improvements in propulsion systems lately?.....Nuclear propulsion is in the works I hear. </blockquote> <p>New Scientist article about revolutionary hyperdrive concept <a href="http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg18925331.200">here</a>.</p> <p>Ongoing debates about a proposed "relativity drive" <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/blog/fromthepublisher/2006/10/emdrive-on-trial.html">here</a>.</p> <p>PDF paper about microwave propulsion <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/av/shawyertheory.pdf">here</a>.</p> This is all good and great but does anyone know if there have been any improvements in propulsion systems lately?…..Nuclear propulsion is in the works I hear.

New Scientist article about revolutionary hyperdrive concept here.

Ongoing debates about a proposed “relativity drive” here.

PDF paper about microwave propulsion here.

]]> By: Neal http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-104856 Neal Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:04:30 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-104856 <blockquote>If this is not jingoism, I don't know what is? What would be so terrible about India having a more advanced capability? </blockquote> <p>From a purely prosaic perspective, this would definitely represent a world in which the US was emphatically NOT the sole superpower anymore. As a citizen of the United States, I'm not particularly excited about that prospect. Even aside from military concerns, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the United States to maintain a more robust presence in space than its competitors. If nothing else, there's money to be made up there!</p> If this is not jingoism, I don’t know what is? What would be so terrible about India having a more advanced capability?

From a purely prosaic perspective, this would definitely represent a world in which the US was emphatically NOT the sole superpower anymore. As a citizen of the United States, I’m not particularly excited about that prospect. Even aside from military concerns, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect the United States to maintain a more robust presence in space than its competitors. If nothing else, there’s money to be made up there!

]]> By: Ritam http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-104844 Ritam Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:24:39 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-104844 <p>This is all good and great but does anyone know if there have been any improvements in propulsion systems lately? Not to knock on the current mission but its basically like the old one except for the establishments of the base. Which is pretty badass I must admit. But even so, I find new types of spacecraft to be an even more exciting aspect of NASA's research. Nuclear propulsion is in the works I hear.</p> This is all good and great but does anyone know if there have been any improvements in propulsion systems lately? Not to knock on the current mission but its basically like the old one except for the establishments of the base. Which is pretty badass I must admit. But even so, I find new types of spacecraft to be an even more exciting aspect of NASA’s research. Nuclear propulsion is in the works I hear.

]]> By: shalu http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/12/04/last_nights_on/comment-page-1/#comment-104841 shalu Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:12:14 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=4007#comment-104841 <p>Siddhartha,</p> <p>Nice play on words. Is that you beside the other, earthly, Sea of Tranquility?</p> <p><a href="http://nymag.com/homedesign/greatrooms/16546/">http://nymag.com/homedesign/greatrooms/16546/</a></p> Siddhartha,

Nice play on words. Is that you beside the other, earthly, Sea of Tranquility?

http://nymag.com/homedesign/greatrooms/16546/

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