cpl43uk.bsky.social
AstroSpace Advisor, Former Chief Scientist UK Space Agency, Visiting Prof (Uni of Leicester), #BristolAstroSoc, #Astro, #Space #Astrophotographer, #Park-run #ProgRock, #Sci-Fi, (he/him)
751 posts
1,300 followers
198 following
Regular Contributor
Active Commenter
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Never!!!
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Amazingly i worked briefly with Paul during my 2 yr stint at the old BNSC in the late 90’s and i never realised his connections with BH - he was such a self-effacing individual…
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My take aways a) Isaacman missed a bullet by being rejected b) Trump missed a bullet by replacing him with someone who’ll follow orders c) Musk still controls “last man standing” business model for his rockets vs anyone else d) NASA doesn’t need another astronaut in charge.
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It will certainly be the slowest “spectacular” in history!
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👍
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But i didn’t disagree 🤔 NASA got bewitched by a sweet deal and I’m not sure anyone there took the time to figure out it’s longer term implications. They were just relieved not to be relying on Russia? I don’t recall the media at the time complaining…
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Sadly so did many scientists…
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I’m not sure that even this covers how much the company sank into getting the vehicle to work in the first place but yes it’s all part of the mix.
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Yes but it was never a commercial relationship in any real sense. One company was prepared to sacrifice its own investment to secure the deal and accepted less contractual money vs true costs in a “last man standing” strategy. His product delivered and NASA was hooked… they blinked. Can’t fault Elon
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Can they withhold tax revenue? How long can the rust belt states survive without the fiscal successes of the West and East Coasts?
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Yeah but its the gas that will collide, not the stars and so the place will light up (literally) with new hot and rather explosive little babies but way past our cares or concerns!!!
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Indeed. A let-down that underscores devastation in time, energy and careers. This has been a wake-up call just as impactful as the NATO shenanigans. We will look to new alliances, even some surprising ones.
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Caught between a rock and a hard place. Both funding lines here affect relationships with international partners. Cancelling either trashes these. Tread carefully when making choices that only lead to benefits for USA.
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Most enjoyable! A new career beckons 😉
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This assumes they’ll even do “science” when they get there rather than a flag planting, some PR, some golf (for Trump’s entertainment) and fluffy outreach… but i guess they’ll need to add something to fill out the time…
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I agree but i do think Space can address some of our global challenges and our younger generation can shape it to be more effective in doing this. But it requires a change in mindset in government.
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The headlines will no doubt focus around Mars settlements but there’s agreement those who will experience the possible consequences of Space2075 (the young) need to be in the discussion. I think many here will look to ecosystem sustainability rather than Dan Dare… #space
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I hate to say it but i feel all academics need to reflect on burning the candle at both ends and seek to re-establish the primacy of peer review processes to determine space science priorities rather than get sucked into geopolitical projects and taking side benefits that cloud the process.
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I expect White House to nominate a no nonsense MAGA-friendly project manager tasked with only one job- get USA to Mars before China and so build a Trump legacy for his history tours… all else will be sacrificed including science. Think “General Groves”🤔
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We must have the same collections 🤣
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Yeah they need to seed the atmosphere with biological contamination (thru no attention to planetary protection guidelines) so they can kill any need for life science missions in the future…
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Yes but Falcons are easy to build and Starlink needs Starship to survive. Don’t expect lots of available Starships either since Musk will need them for Mars or hyper air transport.
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Not sure why everyone assumes its “to fund Musk”. This is a Trump play to get his name in History (Mars) vs China - Musk is his tool. Blame Trump. This is down to him and his administration. If Bezos or others step up they’ll get some too etc etc… MAGA space nerds will be ecstatic.
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Personally i’d have stuck to more use of commercial robotics and AI and not an obsession with beating other folks putting boots on the ground and then wondering what to do next. 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
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Yes but Planetary Society tries to have cake and eat it? The human boots on Mars will be declared by Trump as “responding to science needs” (cos PS advocated it) -so they just ”trim science elsewhere”.
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And human boots on Mars irrespective of the science…
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No its not the tight mass budget. The science instruments are complex, unique and multi redundant. That is where the costs go. Serviceable would be better. We don’t yet have that tech. Some missions like HWO might benefit. Most would not.
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A) You assume the launcher will be made available to others and at cost (or some such). I don’t. B) Scientists are not sitting around with bags of cash waiting to exploit numerous Starship opportunities. Meanwhile you’ve just trashed international science partnerships for the next 10 years.
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If this stands then they have just trashed their relationship with European Space Science.
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I haven’t updated to the new beta version and i read lots of issues with the Graxpert python script. Just use Graxpert in standalone for a bit longer…
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Usual mindless hype about something that will probably lead just to more video streaming of Love Island style fanflicks. Curious to know why self driving cars will reduce traffic delays…
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Toilet break …
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Ditto
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It’s what we amateurs have been doing for years!
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Expect startups to claim this as a near term tourist opportunity!!
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The sacrifices of parents- and i bet the kids don’t even remember that when they grow up and leave home🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️