hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

dicktice · 2006-07-26 09:04:31

No time to read the last 5-6 huge and vindictive posts this morning, but in scanning through them I'd say that GCNR resembles a professional critic. You know, the columnist in the theatre section of a city newspaper who's current in all aspects of the profession, but hasn't been able to come up with a single original play of his own? I admire good ole GCNR as a perveyor of facts, but his put-downs seem to me too often arrogant--even insulting. I often wonder if it's just a case of: Them that can't, teach?

flashgordon · 2006-07-26 10:36:53

I myself am not going to read in detail all the latest posts in this thread, but, I've been recently noting how every time I point out the immaturity of people, all of a sudden the whole world is just rosy! There is definitelly a denial; is Gcnr wrong about conspiracy theories then? Yes and No; as I remarked to one friend of mine who also told me I'm crazy for thinking there's a lot of crazies out there; this world is to big for a James Bond scenario(meaning some guy about to take over the world); and! it is so big that there is bound to be some cheating and conspiracy(i'm tempted to name this one really big one, but even I flinch at pointing that one out! Well, actually, since I'm using parantheses, I can point it out here; Jesus Christ! Yes, the sun of god; that's right! the 'sun' of god; sun gods were plentiful long before 'Jesus Christ' who by the way was never mentioned for hundreds of years till the Roman Empire decided to unify the empire by a single 'Sun' god.)

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology … sis-1.html

Palomar · 2006-07-26 16:49:09

*Speaking in general and not directed towards anyone here: There's plenty of arrogance to go around in the space exploration community, imo. Personages and/or groups neglect their supporters. There's the seemingly never-ending parade of strutting Little Napoleans who come out of left field thinking they have All The Solutions to successful space exploration [95% of which is regurgitated ideas copped from others]. Rejected wannabe visionaries who "get even" by harrassing others. Arrogance can even manifest itself in not wanting to hear the opposition and resenting not having one's ears tickled. Sure there are some opponents who have ulterior selfish motives; but it's not so difficult to pick them out from a genuinely questioning [even if a bit critical] voice.

Who needs preaching to the choir?

So long as someone seems sincere and thoughtful, is consistent in their opinions and backs it up with facts, they should be given a fair hearing.

flashgordon · 2006-07-26 18:18:15

vagueness, the main weapon of the dark side of the force and the dark place where evil resides.

dicktice · 2006-07-26 18:37:51

Flash: A couple of years ago I started the "Dr. No Syndrome" thread (look it up) in which I claimed that Osama bin Laden and Co. were out to spoil new and recovering nations' efforts at democracy. He's "the sergeant we love to hate," in other words. The ultimate consequence in my view, if we keep our cool, will be to bring about mutually protective policies between the currently mismatched nations of the World.

flashgordon · 2006-07-26 20:23:45

I put a reply in Civilization and Culture about what I think DickT is getting at with respect to Bin Laden.

Rxke · 2006-07-27 01:18:29

I put a reply in Civilization and Culture about what I think DickT is getting at with respect to Bin Laden.

Ah. Disregard my reaction there, then. Though it might've been less confusing if you put up a quote there

Reaction to this thread: I was following it, and didn't like where it was going, verilynot.

I even seriously considered to leave New Mars because of this very thread and the reaction it had on me (!)

Though now I'm a happy chappie again

I'm glad with your reaction, Marsman. GCNR *does* have a very important role here, IMHO, even if I don't always agree with him, (harsh) critique is A Good Thing (TM)

Though GC's style is sometimes a bit too... errr... ad hominemistic I can see how a poster could get offended if he sees his or her dreamworld being torn to shreds oftentimes rather unforgivingly.

But it's true. Too much dreamers unwilling to face the facts of life... Don't get me wrong: dreaming is good, but you need a cold-shower/reality-check now and then...

What I like about Bigelow: he took NASA tech, that was sitting there (budgetary reasons) andis making it mature. And he's open for business, so altspacers and regular agencies can be customers, so he has at least some chance for economical survival. RTM and beyond could in time be a customer, if he makes sure his stuff passes stringent qualityrequirements and documentations (NASA may want to just buy a module or two and kick the tyres, on the ground and in orbit, and give the thumbs up.... or not. It would still cost them, but less than building stuff themselves from the ground up...

Oh: Heehee: 'why did Burt call a suborbital jalopy SpaceShipOne?'
well... Why did NASA call a atmospherical test item without photontorpedoes Enterprize?

clark · 2006-07-27 06:24:54

Hey I'm an opinionated blowhard. So is GCN. One side has a theory, the other side has a theory. And the battle of the wiffle bat intellect ensues!

Time proves all men wrong. Patience will let you enjoy it.\

I think what is often missed though is a fundamental difference in perspective. Some have an over riding belief in what they know from science. I respect that.

And then there are others who have an over riding belief in humanities ability to overcome all obstacles. I believe that.

I think in terms of bigelow, some on the other side really need to take a step back. Bigelow, like a growing number of others, are not like the historical alt-space. They are building actual hardware, or have deployed actual hardware. They are improving steadily. They are not just holding conferences and showing slides of paper dreams.

these developments have blossomed in the last ten years because the technology and the economics have finally approached the point where the first phase of private space development is feasible (look at old case studies, and most of predictions are correct, just off by an order 10-20 years).

dicktice · 2006-07-27 08:36:24

Flash: My observation doesn't warrant such sophisticated commentary. Plainly, Earth's not about to experience an "Alien Invasion from Outer Space" in the foreseeable future. In science fiction stories of the genre, this always seems to unify Earth's nations against the common threat of domination, or worse. Osama bin Laden, in best tradition of that first James Bond film, "Dr. No," provides the missing extra-national element, bent upon world submission to an alien fundamentalism. And it would seem, the nonbelieving nations are drawing together in mutual defense against this "alien" threat, however reluctantly. Who cares what it takes--if it results in a common awareness of our unique worth, as cognizant beings, capable of propagating intelligent life beyond our Earth?

Marsman · 2006-07-27 11:39:22

I sent an email asking Bigelow what the deal was with getting something up as a corporate sponsor logo thing and they sent me this reply(I'm thinking of putting the MarsDrive logo up there in the future)-

Probably the easiest way for you to get your name/website logo up will be to submit jpeg versions as pictures as part of the Fly Your Stuff program.

Logos and/or Web site addresses can be sent as a picture for the normal fee of $295 per picture. Purchase three or more pictures and/or items and the cost of each item goes down to $265.50.

The picture will be printed on a card that is 3.5" x 5". Text you provide will be added to the bottom of the image, along with an identification number. The photo will be printed out as a 300dpi jpeg either from a printed photo you provide or an uploaded jpeg or tiff file.

For more on the "Fly Your Stuff" program, go to http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/fly_stuff/.

Thanks again!

Rxke · 2006-08-06 02:28:55

Wow, see the 'fun stuff' floating around in there!

http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/out_the … ox_big.jpg

http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/out_there/video2.php (WMV video)

Looks a bit chaotic, doesn't it?

SpaceNut · 2006-08-09 21:37:05

Other items to note
Bigelow Spacecraft Carries NASA 'GeneBox' for Tests in Orbit

Nasa news release

But what else has been happening...

Inflated craft is holding up, but fate of guests remains uncertain

Genesis I craft carries four Madagascar hissing cockroaches and roughly 20 Mexican jumping beans.
The jumping beans have hatched and grown while the roaches are in different places in different pictures.

publiusr · 2006-08-11 16:16:13

One of the reason I do come to this website is to see GCN rant. He has the ability like no other to poke holes at Alt.space ventures and make it funny.

He does at that. One thing I will say for Bigelow is that his craft is more of a true spaceship--even in its stripped state--than Rutans. He has something of his own in orbit. I'll give him credit. He and Musk and Kistler have Hardware. I respect that.

I respect GCN as well. One of the reasons I wish Buran had been our STS and vice versa is that:

Space station freedom would have been done as megamodules.

Buran might have been returning bulk loads from 100 ton free-flying space-maufactur-pharma firms.

A gov't demonstrated market in a new medicine with great promise would have encouraged the Primes to invest real money--as opposed to bored millionaires with just enough money to get them into trouble, and broke.

That is one reason I want heavy lift and a gradual increase in the size of rockets to get some real facilities up there--cost-benefit be damned. We need a real beachhead and ISS aint it. It is 20 tons at a time too slow.

Gov't must lead the way. Once interst can be garnered then private business will follow along a respectable scale.

We got container ships thanks to Brunel and the Great Eastern--not to the America's cup and yachts.

Remember that.

SpaceNut · 2006-11-22 09:00:33

Bigelow Orbital Modules: Accelerated Space Plans Like its predecessor, Genesis 2 is being groomed for flight.
That craft would offer 180 cubic meters of habitable space that could support a three-person crew and be on-orbit in a late 2009-2010 time frame. Bigelow and Lockheed Martin are probing the production and supply of Atlas rockets as a merchant supplier of launch services.

Lockheed Martin is working with Bigelow to explore the feasibility of using the Atlas V as a potential passenger capsule for Bigelow would likely be launched aboard the Atlas V 401 configuration system to launch passengers to a Bigelow-built space habitat. Demonstrating human-qualified system upgrades could be done by pre-testing those upgrades on commercial or government missions prior to flying the first passengers.

John Creighton · 2006-11-25 11:54:17

Lockheed Martin is working with Bigelow to explore the feasibility of using the Atlas V as a potential passenger capsule for Bigelow would likely be launched aboard the Atlas V 401 configuration system to launch passengers to a Bigelow-built space habitat. Demonstrating human-qualified system upgrades could be done by pre-testing those upgrades on commercial or government missions prior to flying the first passengers.

Hmmmmmmm….Interesting. If they can pull it of the US will have two manned launchers and people will again question if the Stick was the right move. Of course it is hard for me to believe that the Atlas V can be made as safe as the stick. The question then may be how did we arrive at a point where it is alright for tourists to take more risks when traveling to space then astronauts.

cIclops · 2006-11-25 14:44:52

[Hmmmmmmm….Interesting. If they can pull it of the US will have two manned launchers and people will again question if the Stick was the right move. Of course it is hard for me to believe that the Atlas V can be made as safe as the stick. The question then may be how did we arrive at a point where it is alright for tourists to take more risks when traveling to space then astronauts.

If .. if ... if .. meanwhile Griffin builds the new infrastructure.

SpaceNut · 2007-01-16 07:47:28

Genesis 2 liftoff delayed, Space station test launch reset for April due to complications with Russian booster

This is due to the unit that just came down out west...

070105_genesis_hLarge.hlarge.jpg

SpaceNut · 2007-01-31 21:37:01

Human Rated Atlas V for Bigelow Space Station details emerge

A partnership between Lockheed (now ULA) and Bigelow was announced in September to study in detail the feasibility of use of the Atlas V to bring space tourists and other paying passengers to the Bigelow station.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is continuing to study and promote the use of the Atlas V for commercial passenger transportation, including space tourism and transportation to the proposed Bigelow Aerospace orbital station.
ULA has recommended to Bigelow that it place their space station in a 264nmi circular repeating ground track orbit at 41 degrees inclination that would provide daily launch opportunities.
The repeating ground track would bring the station over the same locations on the Earth every day, and would provide crew landing opportunities four times per day at the Utah Test Range or Edwards AFB with minimal cross-range requirement.

Putting up the Ritz; Can pneumatic buildings breathe life into space tourism?

C M Edwards · 2007-02-01 16:04:12

We're going to have another man-rated Atlas! We're going to have another man-rated Atlas!

8)

SpaceNut · 2007-02-12 22:26:42

It keeps working just fine in orbit, Seven months into its open-ended orbital shakedown cruise. PRIVATE SPACE MODULE ORBITING IN "TIP-TOP SHAPE"

Placed in a high-inclination orbit by a commercial Russian rocket, the module's altitude has slipped 6 miles (to 340 miles) under the effects of air drag. "At this point we are predicting that the vehicle will maintain its orbit for well over 10 years," Ingham stated.
"Structurally, Genesis I is in tip-top shape. From pressure data, we can determine that the expandable envelope and pressurized structure remains perfectly intact, and from the numerous exterior photographs we download daily, we cannot detect any degradation of the orbital debris shield or discoloration due to the elevated UV exposure we see in space."

dicktice · 2007-02-13 19:07:34

I like the vibes I'm getting from this Bigelow bunch, as their project continues to show that inflatable prototype space habitats are indeed practicable.

SpaceNut · 2007-04-17 20:21:56

Bigelow to offerSpace station developer to offer custom modules

The future modules, known as Sundancer and BA 330, once docked together, will be available to lease for $88 million a year, or $7.9 million a month. The modules will be fitted with what Bigelow calls "generic hardware" and specialist laboratory-class furnaces.

Now add in a free ticket to get to it and watch people line up...

Grypd · 2007-04-18 04:06:38

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#76 2006-07-26 09:04:31

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#77 2006-07-26 10:36:53

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#78 2006-07-26 16:49:09

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#79 2006-07-26 18:18:15

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#80 2006-07-26 18:37:51

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#81 2006-07-26 20:23:45

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#82 2006-07-27 01:18:29

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#83 2006-07-27 06:24:54

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#84 2006-07-27 08:36:24

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#85 2006-07-27 11:39:22

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#86 2006-08-06 02:28:55

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#87 2006-08-09 21:37:05

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#88 2006-08-11 16:16:13

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#89 2006-11-22 09:00:33

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#90 2006-11-25 11:54:17

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#91 2006-11-25 14:44:52

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#92 2007-01-16 07:47:28

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#93 2007-01-31 21:37:01

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#94 2007-02-01 16:04:12

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#95 2007-02-12 22:26:42

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#96 2007-02-13 19:07:34

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#97 2007-04-17 20:21:56

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#98 2007-04-18 04:06:38

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#99 2007-06-29 02:49:55

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

#100 2007-07-05 20:32:41

Re: hot damn! Bigalow is up there!

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