Next Big Future: Confirmation of geomagnetically trapped antiprotons which can be trapped with superconductors enable antimatter enabled space applications

This Letter reports the discovery of an antiproton radiation belt around the Earth.

This is one heavy duty post.  What it means is that this antimatter may be collectible using technology we now have or will have in the near future.  In addition, the applications for the antimatter include high performance propulsion systems that may have interstellar capability.  Wow!

One gets accustomed to be skeptical of all new claims.  But I have read about stuff similar to this before. What makes this different is the amount of antimatter that may be available in our own cosmic backyard.  That may make it accessible to us, if we so choose.

From the pdf file source link in the Next Big Future post:

Antiprotons trapped in Earth’s inner radiation belt have been observed for the first time by the PAMELA satellite-borne experiment 

also

PAMELA was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 2006 June 15 on board the “Resurs-DK1” satellite.

and

Since launch, PAMELA has collected an unprecedented number of antiprotons
and positrons, as reported in recent publications 

Ares 1-X Test Rocket Launch

Why was development stopped on this rocket?  The first stage solid rocket worked great in this test.  The rest could have done just as well in subsequent tests.  The technology is mature, no need for new stuff.  This was doable.  So, why was it stopped?  Money?  I don't think so.

This wasn't a heavy lift rocket.  It was designed to get astronauts into orbit.  Could this rocket have delivered crew to the ISS?  The Falcon 9 is scheduled to rendezvous with the ISS on its next test flight.  This Ares I should have been able to do that, too.

Heavy lift can be deferred.  The manned component should have had higher priority.

Spacex is working on heavy lift.  In addition, there are other unmanned platforms already in existence.  Why not use those other options?

Rep. Paul introduces bill to cancel $1.6T in debt held by Federal Reserve

Rep. Ron Paul on Monday introduced legislation that would lower the federal government's debt by canceling the roughly $1.6 trillion in debt held by the Federal Reserve.

Didn't I say that before?  Yes, I think I did.

There was much anguish over the default threat, but the threat was minimal.  The real threat, which is insolvency, has not been addressed.  Paul's idea was to cancel the debt.  However, others suggested making a coin and depositing it with the Fed.  My idea was to use the coin to pay off the debt, thus lowering the debt, and making room for new debt, so as to remain under the debt ceiling.  I did not advocate this as a wise procedure, but it could have been legal and it would have ended the immediacy of the threat.  The negotiations could have continued.  

Cold Fusion Now: Are you a Believer?

The following guest posting has been written by a retired intellectual property attorney with 35 years of experience: David J. French LLB, BEng, PEng.

• Believers in this field are, however, those who feel that there is really something here worth exploring.
• The shadow of doubt and accusations of unreputable behavior heaped on the original Cold Fusion premise by critics, have taken their toll.
• For Believers there is no doubt: there is really something here worth exploring. They look forward to the day when this new technology will revolutionize life for human beings on the planet Earth.

I have no doubt that there is something here worth exploring.  However, I do have some doubt that the final result will be optimal.  That is just the way things are.  But that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least try.  I consider my attitude to be of rational optimism.

Mon, Aug 1st Space Show

The guest was Dr. Haym Benaroya.  What got my interest here was the part about the moon.  The Space Show seems rather downbeat, probably because of public policy is disastrously bad these days.  Not only that, there just doesn't seem to be all that much interest in space.

One other problem that got pointed out was the fact that most Americans don't seem to have the appreciation that China and India has for engineering.  It creates a problem for the future, as most engineering students here come from these two nations and then they go back home.  We are, in effect, training our future competitors. This results from a lack of interest in engineering from the local populations.

Update:

I think that we've got a societal problem.  People are more interest in the idea of a thing as opposed to actually doing it.  Completely unrealistic attitudes.  This was also reflected in the budget battles, with respect to actually being able to fund these level of expenditures, and to have the wrong priorities.

Kirk Sorensen: Fissile Material has the Midas Touch

The energy content in fissile material means that it is worth six times its weight in gold. But its monetary magic doesn’t end there: fissile material has the Midas touch. In other words, fissile material can not only generate revenue, but can keep generating that golden revenue time after time after time.

This struck me as quite significant in terms of space colonization.  If you are going to make space colonization work, you need an economic basis.  This could be a way to do that.

A way to synthesize methanol

I got the link to the video from Next Big Future.   It reminds me of a post that I did last December on synthesis of methanol.  That post was referencing a Japanese study which suggested using nuclear power to synthesize methanol from carbon dioxide and seawater.  My post had a twist on that by having solar power do the job, but this is a better idea.

Since the LFTR's can produce energy fairly cheaply, synthesizing methanol this way can be even cheaper than Zubrin's idea, which was discussed earlier today.

Zubrin: Tripling America’s Fuel Production

This idea makes so much sense that it is guaranteed never to see the light of day.

• America needs another liquid fuel source
• Equivalent to $2.00 a gallon gas
• Readily available
• Can be made from any carbon material
• Cleaner and safer
• Could create millions of jobs if the conversion from gasoline to methanol took place
• Would create a more competitive fuels market

I couldn't believe the number of negative comments.  Are people daft?

Powerline prize winner: The Spending is Nuts

It is not too bad.  Actually, it is quite good.  Maybe I shoulda thought of something like that.



With that, I bid you good evening.

Rossi – Let the eCat Speak For Itself

Independent E-cat news

Rossi answers his critics on his blog. Actually, it doesn't really matter to me what the general public thinks about his product.  However, it is in his own best interest as a businessman to have the best possible impression out there in the public.  Therefore, from the business point of view, I think his attitude is not in his own best interest.  He obviously feels otherwise.

He may want to define someone like me as an "imbecile".  That may very well be from a purely technical viewpoint. However, it appears to me that he doesn't have all that much common sense.  For if he did have a very great product, as many people as possible should know that and believe that.  The market for his product would be assured and he would in short time become a very rich man.

Although he may get rich from this device, it is well to note that the Wright Brothers didn't get all that rich from their invention.  The invention of heavier than air flight was one of the most significant events in history.  Just saying.