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From Joseph Farah (read the wole thing): The Founding Fathers knew that even the best designed government wouldn't work if the people were not righteous, moral and God-fearing ? if they didn't love liberty and cherish it. To practice self-government...

Start-up Firm Building New Space Capsule System

No links to this YET - but the October issue of Popular Science reports on a firm called T/Space which is developing, with NASA backing, and some project collaboration with Rutan's Scaled Composites, a capsule system called the CXV or Crew Transfer Vehicle capable of carrying three or four astronauts to low Earth orbit, and returning for a wet landing, like the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo had.

The launcher is an aircraft launched propane & liquid oxygen rocket. The whole emphasis has been on economy and simplicity of design - and seems to be making some real progress - possibly having things ready to go b\y '08 or '09 - an unheard of timeline for NASA projects.

Best of all, this will be privately owned/operated, flying as contractors to NASA, or whoever else wants/needs to get to orbit. Meanwhile, NASA is proceeding with its plans for vehicles to replace the shuttles also apparently based on a larger, more advanced capsule design for personnel, and a heavy lift cargo launcher, for well, cargo. NASA doesn;t plan to be ready to fly before 2012 at best, so the T/Space CVX could fill a gap to help keep the International Space Station in business until then.

The folks at T/Space emphasize that they are NOT building a shuttle replacement - but perhaps a modern replacement for the truly antiquated Soyuz technology.

This is truly good news - the US must maintain an effective capability for space, if for no other reason, to prevent a default ceding of the ultimate high ground to China, Russia, or whoever else goes after it.

Maybe this is something that the Louisiana voters can ask their delegation about: Army's engineers spent millions on Louisiana projects labeled as pork. Before Hurricane Katrina breached a levee on the New Orleans Industrial Canal, the Army Corps of Engineers...

Oh, Jesus Christ....

Virgin plans oil refinery

The highly successful independent entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has apparently once again decided that there is a need that is not being met, so he has resolved to go into the refining business. If he does this with his usual competance and panache, he'll pull it off and introduce an outside bit of competition to the established oil companies and cartel.

Think you are upset about high gas prices? Maverick British entrepreneur Richard Branson is so furious he wants to build his own oil refinery...."If we don't start now to get more refineries built then fuel prices could literally rocket to $US100-$US200 (per barrel of oil) and the world economy would come to a grinding halt," Branson said in an interview on financial news network CNBC overnight.

He should know about rocketing a bit, from being involved in the private spaceflight venture Virgin Galactic. The Chief has of course heard of virgin pressed olive oil, so why not Virgin Oil?

Rick Rescorla Was a Soldier

If you were to tread one post for 9-11, the Chief suggests strongly that this would be the one! Rick Resorla was security head for Morgan Stanley in the WTC. He predicted an attack on the building through the parking garage before it happened. After security on that was beefed up, he actually predicted air attack via crashing airliners as the next method to be used.

As if that isn't enough, there is an exceptional record of service and heroism in the life of this Cornwall born naturalized American that is well worth remembering as exemplifying the best. He served with distinction in the Royal Army, and then in the US Army 7th Cav in Viet-nam.

Check Greyhawk's post in the Mudville Gazette out - it's well worth it. Check out the links there, and don't forget to sign the petition for Rick to get the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

UPDATE: History Channel tonight running an excellent program "THE MAN WHO PREDICTED 9-11" - about Rick Rescorla. By the way, you can see Rick Rescorla's picture on the cover of the book We Were Soldiers Once, and Young.

A Soldier, indeed.

Mystery Bulge in Oregon Still Growing

This type of bulging is one of the key indicators of some form of volcanic activity. Most of the Cascades volcanic mountains are candidates for eruption. St. Helens continues to percolate, and this recent finding indicates activity in the vicinity of the Three Sisters volcanic formation(s).

Bulge as viewed using radar interferometry.

A recent survey of a bulge that covers about 100 square miles near the South Sister indicates the area is still growing, suggesting it could be another volcano in the making or a major shift of molten rock under the center of the Cascade Range.

This site is remote enough to probably not be a disaster, even if it erupts, but it's still something neat enough to keep some track of.

Doug Wiken has a comment on Mount Blogmore where he downplays lying under oath when the issue of Bill Clinton?s impeachment was brought up. Then he dismisses immoral behavior:We can be appalled by Clinton?s lack of sexual discretion and can...

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