Patrick Chiles's Blog, page 24
October 9, 2012
Pardon Our Mess…
The site’s under destruction construction. Just playin’ with themes. Ping me if you like (or not).
October 8, 2012
Leaving Home
35 years after its launch, has Voyager 1 finally left the solar system? It’s not as clear-cut as you might think: cross Pluto’s orbit, the Kuiper Belt (where I guess Pluto technically belongs), and even the Oort Cloud (from where comets come), and you’re still not there. Barriers still have to be crossed, essentially signals [...]
September 26, 2012
News From The Fuuuuture
In the latest edition of USA Today: “Colorado has received a $200,000 federal grant to investigate building a spaceport east of the city, the Fort Collins Coloradoan reported. Backers say space travel could cut trip time between Denver and Australia from 20 hours to five.” Being USA Today, it’s pretty light on details so I [...]
September 25, 2012
Can You Keep A Secret?
How is a secret spaceplane not a secret spaceplane? When we know about it ahead of time, that’s how: Next month, the X-37B will blast off again aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.The exact timing of the October launch is unknown and subject to change due to weather [...]
September 22, 2012
“RID THE WORLD OF THOSE SAVAGES”
Perhaps the most succinct instruction that anyone could give our military. If only it had come as marching orders from the CinC instead of a eulogy from the widow of a fallen SEAL: “It is easy to write a book about being a Navy SEAL, but it is very hard to write an obituary for [...]
September 20, 2012
When Pigs Fly
In which I kinda, sorta, defend the President. Now pick yourself up off the floor. Obama caught a lot of grief from conservatives over the decision to end the space shuttle program, when in reality this decision was made (correctly) by George W. Bush in 2007. Once enacted, it couldn’t be easily undone – supply [...]
September 19, 2012
It’s Called Freedom
Driving home today, I’m listening to NPR (yes, that happens from time to time) and heard a story that was equal parts fascinating and infuriating: Why Does China Want a Mural in Oregon Destroyed? Seems they’re a little upset about a private citizen exercising his free speech rights to commission a mural which depicts a [...]
Perspective
Related to yesterday’s post: luck favors the prepared. 
September 18, 2012
End of the World Roundup
Well, you can’t say nobody warned us. Jesus told the disciples, to paraphrase, “There shall be wars, and rumors of wars. Do not concern yourselves with these things.” Or if you prefer fire raining down from Heaven, dogs and cats living together…mass hysteria! Like I said, it’s not like we haven’t been warned. And much [...]
September 16, 2012
Into The Fuuuture!
Since I’m obviously biased, this article from NewScientist will have to speak for itself: One day “intelligent” passenger aircraft will cruise across oceans in low-drag, energy-saving formations, like flocks of geese. So said European plane-maker Airbus at its annual technology look-ahead conference last night. … Airbus added that emissions could be cut by using a [...]
