Hundreds gather at Flat-Earth conference https://t.co/YQ3fDCArLY— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) November 28, 2018
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Suckers born every minute
That's why AGW works politically. People can be led to believe the most absurd things.
Aerospike engines: Why aren't they being used?
They are more efficient than conventional designs. Since mass ratios are so important in rocketry, the more efficient type of engine would be a big advantage, so why not use them?
The video goes into the subject and answers the question. The answer seems to be about money.
Note: There are a lot of posts about the experimental X-33 programs that nearly became operational. It featured Aerospike Engines, and would have been a single stage to orbit spacecraft--- the first of its kind. The Skylon concept would also feature aerospike engines.
An idea came to mind to use these in a staged system, but I note that the ISP really isn't an advantage. Yet, the aerospike is said to more efficient. Perhaps an explanation for why it doesn't give better ISP numbers at sea level can give the reasons why. I don't have one.
Since Elon Musk has shown that a launch booster can be recovered, then the use of aerospike engines may boost performance even further. But Musk won't pursue this line of development.
Update :
The only thing I found on this subject that can give an explanation is that the aerospike is more efficient at all altitudes, whereas a typical bell nozzle is not. Hence, it may be possible to be better overall even if it isn't at certain altitudes.
But I am not convinced of that. Another reason for aerospikes not being used is that they may have a problem with overheating. Hard to cool an engine like this.
The video goes into the subject and answers the question. The answer seems to be about money.
Note: There are a lot of posts about the experimental X-33 programs that nearly became operational. It featured Aerospike Engines, and would have been a single stage to orbit spacecraft--- the first of its kind. The Skylon concept would also feature aerospike engines.
An idea came to mind to use these in a staged system, but I note that the ISP really isn't an advantage. Yet, the aerospike is said to more efficient. Perhaps an explanation for why it doesn't give better ISP numbers at sea level can give the reasons why. I don't have one.
Since Elon Musk has shown that a launch booster can be recovered, then the use of aerospike engines may boost performance even further. But Musk won't pursue this line of development.
Update :
The only thing I found on this subject that can give an explanation is that the aerospike is more efficient at all altitudes, whereas a typical bell nozzle is not. Hence, it may be possible to be better overall even if it isn't at certain altitudes.
But I am not convinced of that. Another reason for aerospikes not being used is that they may have a problem with overheating. Hard to cool an engine like this.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Houston, the Insight has landed
And now they can do a lot of science. Whoop-de-doo.
It might be better if they figured out a way to get water around there. Plus habitats and so forth. What happens if they find life on Mars?
Then they'll say we cannot go there because we will spoil it all. Balderdash. Balls to the wall, I say. Balls to the wall.
It might be better if they figured out a way to get water around there. Plus habitats and so forth. What happens if they find life on Mars?
Then they'll say we cannot go there because we will spoil it all. Balderdash. Balls to the wall, I say. Balls to the wall.
NASA's InSight beams back breathtakingly clear photo of Mars https://t.co/FWHJHcIc4n via @nypost— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) November 27, 2018
Friday, November 23, 2018
NASA's InSight Mars Lander, All Systems Are Go for Monday Touchdown
Insight's mission is to:
This is a science mission, of course. It doesn't seem to pave the way for colonization. That may depend upon others, as NASA doesn't seem interested in that.to place a stationary lander equipped with a seismometer called SEIS produced by the French space agency CNES, and measure heat transfer with a heat probe called HP3 produced by the German space agency DLR to study the planet's early geological evolution....InSight's primary objective is to study the earliest evolutionary history of the processes that shaped Mars. ...InSight mission's goal is to improve the understanding of this process and, by extension, terrestrial evolution, by measuring the planetary building blocks shaped by this differentiation: a terrestrial planet's core, mantle and crust... ( source: Wikipedia )
For NASA's InSight Mars Lander, All Systems Are Go for Monday Touchdown https://t.co/8XUarLce75 via @SPACEdotcom— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) November 23, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Making Mead
Since I don't drink alcoholic beverages, it was unfamiliar. Somebody mentioned this as a way to make an alcoholic beverage out of honey. It got my attention, since I had considered the possibility of beekeeping on the property out west. This kind of thing could be used as a way to make some money. ( maybe ) Or, one could use it oneself. ( lol )
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Mars cannot be colonized?
Bill Nye says "no". Funny thing, unless I am reading this wrong, Limbaugh doesn't think it could be done either. After re-reading it, yes, Limbaugh doesn't believe it can be done.
Too bad for Limbaugh. He's definitely wrong on that one. But here's one thing that should be remembered--- it probably won't be done the way Elon Musk wants to do it.
You need to go to the Moon first. Live off the land, so to speak. Learn from that, and then you may be ready to move on to Mars, Venus, and other places.
Limbaugh says the libs want to get away from us, but we should be trying to get away from them instead.
Too bad for Limbaugh. He's definitely wrong on that one. But here's one thing that should be remembered--- it probably won't be done the way Elon Musk wants to do it.
You need to go to the Moon first. Live off the land, so to speak. Learn from that, and then you may be ready to move on to Mars, Venus, and other places.
Limbaugh says the libs want to get away from us, but we should be trying to get away from them instead.
Bill Nye Puts the Kibosh on Millennials’ Mars Dreams https://t.co/EKHOpFDafH via @rushlimbaugh— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) November 20, 2018
3D manufacturing on Moon
Screws and gears.
You can also make glass and solar panels with moon dust. Place these at the lunar poles where you can find water and other volatiles, such as ammonia and methane, and you could have a viable colony.
But you could only do it if somebody at the top wants it done.
You can also make glass and solar panels with moon dust. Place these at the lunar poles where you can find water and other volatiles, such as ammonia and methane, and you could have a viable colony.
But you could only do it if somebody at the top wants it done.
3D printed screws from fake moon dust https://t.co/OhXnwhNVHZ— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) November 20, 2018
Monday, November 19, 2018
Why go back to the Moon?
Let's look back at why President Kennedy wanted to go to the Moon.
An analysis of the speech is here.
Key points of the analysis:
An analysis of the speech is here.
Key points of the analysis:
- Fear of Sputnik, and the breakneck speed of advancement of that time prepared the audience in advance for the ambitious undertaking that the President advocated. America must lead that effort, he said.
- The march of progress will go on whether we lead it or not.
- Framed within the context of the Cold War, and inextricably linked to it, it was hard for opponents to be critical of the President's goal.
- Need to be challenged--- "We go to the moon not because it is easy, because it is hard."
- There will be sacrifice of life and treasure, but the sacrifice will be worth it.
- It is like the reason given for climbing Mt. Everest, "it is there".
- Finally, the speech was said to be well executed and effective.
How does that speech compare with the present? There is no Cold War, but there could be a conflict of some kind on the horizon with China. The march of progress has gone on indeed, and is much more broad based than just space. The US is in danger of being left behind across the board, in my opinion. As for the need for a challenge, it is probably more necessary now than ever. This country has become too inured to the easy way out. We need the challenge so that we don't become too soft.
Mt. Everest is still there, and so is the Moon. Why not go? We may be surprised at what we find.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
The Case for Moon First
It is an online book.
If there is such rich deposits of ammonia and water, plus with everything else we know, there could indeed be a case for going to the moon before going to Mars.
It makes a great deal of sense to at least try to find out if these rich deposits exist at the lunar poles.
Updated:
A video found in the book describes how a landing pad can be constructed.
If there is such rich deposits of ammonia and water, plus with everything else we know, there could indeed be a case for going to the moon before going to Mars.
It makes a great deal of sense to at least try to find out if these rich deposits exist at the lunar poles.
Updated:
A video found in the book describes how a landing pad can be constructed.
Off grid post, 11.17.18 ( cabin fever )
One problem that may be encountered out on the desert is a variant of cabin fever. Cabin fever may be a variant of boredom. It can be encountered in space, too.
Many years ago, there was this program about such phenomenon. Nobody could understand why a boat was abandoned in the middle of the ocean. It was speculated that the people on that boat went nuts, because of the uniformity of the surroundings imposed a type of sensory deprivation on them, driving them mad. They may have jumped overboard and drowned themselves.
Human beings require stimulation. In the absence of it, the mind may invent things that may be very much like psychotic delusions. In other words, madness.
There are such things as sensory deprivation tanks, which are designed to test this phenomenon. It has been confirmed that the experience is not a pleasant one. If someone spends too much time in one of those things, they could go nuts.
Literature on the subject includes some stories about how Artic explorers were able to deal with the isolation. One way is to stay busy. Staying busy keeps one's mind occupied, and is a way to ward off the cabin fever.
I write this after taking a completely unnecessary, and uneconomical trip of a couple hundred miles yesterday afternoon. It seems that my work off grid has slowed almost to a complete stop. It is ironic then, that my trip was a hundred miles in that direction and back.
A question for me is can I control my own tendencies to do counter productive things? Perhaps it wasn't useless trip, as I learned a little from it. On the other hand, was it really worth it? This costs money, and I don't have money to spare.
Many years ago, there was this program about such phenomenon. Nobody could understand why a boat was abandoned in the middle of the ocean. It was speculated that the people on that boat went nuts, because of the uniformity of the surroundings imposed a type of sensory deprivation on them, driving them mad. They may have jumped overboard and drowned themselves.
Human beings require stimulation. In the absence of it, the mind may invent things that may be very much like psychotic delusions. In other words, madness.
There are such things as sensory deprivation tanks, which are designed to test this phenomenon. It has been confirmed that the experience is not a pleasant one. If someone spends too much time in one of those things, they could go nuts.
Literature on the subject includes some stories about how Artic explorers were able to deal with the isolation. One way is to stay busy. Staying busy keeps one's mind occupied, and is a way to ward off the cabin fever.
I write this after taking a completely unnecessary, and uneconomical trip of a couple hundred miles yesterday afternoon. It seems that my work off grid has slowed almost to a complete stop. It is ironic then, that my trip was a hundred miles in that direction and back.
A question for me is can I control my own tendencies to do counter productive things? Perhaps it wasn't useless trip, as I learned a little from it. On the other hand, was it really worth it? This costs money, and I don't have money to spare.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Ion propulsion and Vasimr
Bob Zubrin says that the Vasimr isn't as good as proven ion engines for space propulsion.
Is that really true?
I have some doubts. After studying it a bit this morning, it looks like Vasimr will produce more thrust than the best ion engines.
As for Zubrin's criticism on the size and power requirements, 100k kilowatt system is probably going to be necessary if you use thermoelectric for your electricity source. This is dumb. Nobody would use 100k kilowatts just to produce such a small thrust, but then again, Zubrin may be making a claim that isn't so.
The Vasimr engine has been tested at 100k watts, if I am not mistaken. Two of them packaged together will require 200k watts. That's watts, not kilowatts. You would need kilowatts if you used thermoelectric because it is so inefficient. Also, what sense does it make to make heat to make electricity, then turn around and use that electricity to make heat????????? Of course this is wildly inefficient. That is why I am questioning Zubrin's claims. Nobody would design such a crazy thing.
Actually, the best thing to do is use solar panels. The ISS uses 200k watts worth of them. That will run a Vasimr. If the Vasimr could be used to tow the ISS to a higher orbit, then may the ISS can be used for a space station at EML-1. That station could be used as a waypoint for missions to the lunar surface, and to points beyond.
Just my two cents. Worth a try. If you are going to retire the ISS anyway, why not try the experiment?
Is that really true?
I have some doubts. After studying it a bit this morning, it looks like Vasimr will produce more thrust than the best ion engines.
As for Zubrin's criticism on the size and power requirements, 100k kilowatt system is probably going to be necessary if you use thermoelectric for your electricity source. This is dumb. Nobody would use 100k kilowatts just to produce such a small thrust, but then again, Zubrin may be making a claim that isn't so.
The Vasimr engine has been tested at 100k watts, if I am not mistaken. Two of them packaged together will require 200k watts. That's watts, not kilowatts. You would need kilowatts if you used thermoelectric because it is so inefficient. Also, what sense does it make to make heat to make electricity, then turn around and use that electricity to make heat????????? Of course this is wildly inefficient. That is why I am questioning Zubrin's claims. Nobody would design such a crazy thing.
Actually, the best thing to do is use solar panels. The ISS uses 200k watts worth of them. That will run a Vasimr. If the Vasimr could be used to tow the ISS to a higher orbit, then may the ISS can be used for a space station at EML-1. That station could be used as a waypoint for missions to the lunar surface, and to points beyond.
Just my two cents. Worth a try. If you are going to retire the ISS anyway, why not try the experiment?
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Focus Fusion update
Doggone it. I almost forgot all about this project. It is still ongoing, and yes, they seem to be making some progress.
It is a world wide collaboration now, so a breakthrough might happen in more places than one.
Here is a link to the milestones in their research. I learned about this concept in the early days of my BNO blog. ( about 2010 or so).
At the present time, Dr. Lerner's team is preparing to do experiments with a beryllium anode ( or is it cathode?).
They have progressed through some materials, with the results that apparently matched expectations. Each new material is expected to be an upgrade from the last. The last one was tungsten. I am not up to speed on the research ( obviously ), so there's a bit of catching up to do.
It is a world wide collaboration now, so a breakthrough might happen in more places than one.
Here is a link to the milestones in their research. I learned about this concept in the early days of my BNO blog. ( about 2010 or so).
At the present time, Dr. Lerner's team is preparing to do experiments with a beryllium anode ( or is it cathode?).
They have progressed through some materials, with the results that apparently matched expectations. Each new material is expected to be an upgrade from the last. The last one was tungsten. I am not up to speed on the research ( obviously ), so there's a bit of catching up to do.
Off grid post 11.4.18 ( roof for trailer )
Updated,
11.13.18:
The roof over the trailer project has been postponed indefinitely. I would say cancelled, but it is possible that it could be built in the future, but not now. However, the odds are against building it. Unless something happens that changes my mind, that is.
original post:
Not a whole lot going on right now, but there is one big thing. If I put a roof on, I have to commit to staying for a couple years longer at this location.
A roof could cost upwards of a thousand, depending upon a few factors.
Yesterday, I practiced digging a hole with an auger bit. This hole should be deep enough for a 4x4 post. I would need 4 more for the current plan.
That's the big thing.
The little things still involve water and energy. I made a few changes to lifestyle that may limit water usage. This part of my project is coming along nicely.
Still haven't got things figured out with respect to the energy usage. Even though I have kept that way down, it is still more than I can expect to have available from solar panels out there.
Wind would work out there, but not here. So, I won't try a wind turbine idea here.
The time table gets pushed back and back and back. Two more years is a long time. Anything can happen in that amount of time.
11.13.18:
The roof over the trailer project has been postponed indefinitely. I would say cancelled, but it is possible that it could be built in the future, but not now. However, the odds are against building it. Unless something happens that changes my mind, that is.
original post:
Not a whole lot going on right now, but there is one big thing. If I put a roof on, I have to commit to staying for a couple years longer at this location.
A roof could cost upwards of a thousand, depending upon a few factors.
Yesterday, I practiced digging a hole with an auger bit. This hole should be deep enough for a 4x4 post. I would need 4 more for the current plan.
That's the big thing.
The little things still involve water and energy. I made a few changes to lifestyle that may limit water usage. This part of my project is coming along nicely.
Still haven't got things figured out with respect to the energy usage. Even though I have kept that way down, it is still more than I can expect to have available from solar panels out there.
Wind would work out there, but not here. So, I won't try a wind turbine idea here.
The time table gets pushed back and back and back. Two more years is a long time. Anything can happen in that amount of time.
Mission table
Updated:
11.13.18:
8:00 am:
A book is cited for some of the material on the page. That book is not cheap. To buy it new is 200 bucks. A used one is about 120. Too rich for my blood.
7:00 am:
Interesting quote that I will lift off this page:
The boil-off problem, with hydrogen as propellant, may be minimized if the propellant is stored in a cold place. A place like the LaGrange points could work for this purpose.
11.12.18:
Now I found it. It looks like a bit more delta-v than Mars. If you can get to Mars, you should be able to get to Ceres and back to Mars. Don't know about launch windows or such. By the way, this kind of thing is going to take a lot of time, or a lot of energy. If it is a lot of energy, then nuclear looks like the most likely thing. However, that may be a lot easier said than done.
original post:
Many years ago, I came across this thing. If you want to travel through the solar system, you need to know the delta-v requirements. I am not educated enough to know how to calculate these things, but luckily someone else is, and we have a nice little table to look at, and use it to ponder over the possibilities.
I was looking for delta v for a mission to Ceres from Mars. So far, I haven't found it.
11.13.18:
8:00 am:
A book is cited for some of the material on the page. That book is not cheap. To buy it new is 200 bucks. A used one is about 120. Too rich for my blood.
7:00 am:
Interesting quote that I will lift off this page:
In fact, transport class rocket ships working routes in orbital space can have mass proportions not far different from transport aircraft flying the longest nonstop global routes.
A jetliner taking off on a maximum-range flight may carry 40 percent of its total weight in fuel, with 45 percent for the plane itself and 15 percent in payload. A moonship, the one that gets you to lunar orbit, might be 60 percent propellant on departure from low Earth orbit, with 25 percent for the spacecraft and the same 15 percent payload. The lander that takes you to the lunar surface and back gets away with 55 percent propellant, 25 percent for the spacecraft, and 20 percent payload.
(These figures are for hydrogen and oxygen as propellants, currently somewhat out of favor because liquid hydrogen is bulky, hard to work with, and boils away so readily. But H2-O2 is the best performer, and may be available on the Moon if lunar ice appears in concentrations that can be shoveled into a hopper. Increase propellant load by about half for kerosene and oxygen, or 'storable' propellants.)
The boil-off problem, with hydrogen as propellant, may be minimized if the propellant is stored in a cold place. A place like the LaGrange points could work for this purpose.
11.12.18:
Now I found it. It looks like a bit more delta-v than Mars. If you can get to Mars, you should be able to get to Ceres and back to Mars. Don't know about launch windows or such. By the way, this kind of thing is going to take a lot of time, or a lot of energy. If it is a lot of energy, then nuclear looks like the most likely thing. However, that may be a lot easier said than done.
original post:
Many years ago, I came across this thing. If you want to travel through the solar system, you need to know the delta-v requirements. I am not educated enough to know how to calculate these things, but luckily someone else is, and we have a nice little table to look at, and use it to ponder over the possibilities.
I was looking for delta v for a mission to Ceres from Mars. So far, I haven't found it.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Pacific Northwest National Labs overview of molten salt reactors
Here's a link to a video about molten salt reactors.
Nuclear energy is a complex subject. You have to study it intensely in order to understand it. Even though I believe in it, even I could learn more about it.
Unfortunately, I am letting myself be distracted with things like current events, and not with learning about this potentially great technology source. It is not a new source, as it has been known for decades. The thing that could be new about it is the willingness to embrace this approach for a better, more reliable energy source. If only that could happen....
Great new Pacific Northwest National Labs overview of molten salt reactors such as ThorCon.https://t.co/vecZpnpIGr https://t.co/vecZpnpIGr— Thorcon Power (@ThorconPower) November 5, 2018
Monday, November 5, 2018
Why "Green" Energy Will Never Replace Fossil Fuels
So, what is the solution? More fossil fuels?
Fortunately, there is a solution, and that is molten-salt reactors. They can run on any fissionable fuel, which includes nuclear waste from existing reactors. From that waste alone, they could power this country's electrical needs at the current level for decades to come, without mining an ounce of uranium. Ninety nine percent of the waste will be used up, and the rest will decay into harmlessness in 300 years. That may seem like a long time, but you could encapsule the waste in concrete and sink it into the deepest part of the oceans. It could stay there until the end of time, and nobody will be the wiser.
Why "Green" Energy Will Never Replace Fossil Fuels https://t.co/Qw3LTmEokp via @powerlineUS— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) November 5, 2018
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Electric Planes?
A battery in a plane makes little sense to me. If there is one thing that batteries are not good for, and that for moving a plane. This technology may make the battery closer to the goal of being able to power a plane, but it is still a dumb idea.
It is better to make carbon neutral fuels from nuclear power. But that is too obvious, so there will be no effort on that method.
This was really a dumb article. It is sad to see something like this written that is supposedly connected to a high prestige organization like MIT. I am really worried about our country when stuff like this gets passed off as state of the art, and gets treated as a serious proposal. We are in a world of poop if this kind of gimmickry isn't reversed.
It is better to make carbon neutral fuels from nuclear power. But that is too obvious, so there will be no effort on that method.
This was really a dumb article. It is sad to see something like this written that is supposedly connected to a high prestige organization like MIT. I am really worried about our country when stuff like this gets passed off as state of the art, and gets treated as a serious proposal. We are in a world of poop if this kind of gimmickry isn't reversed.
A powerful new battery could give us electric planes that don’t pollute - via @techreview https://t.co/WYNletmEnr— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) November 3, 2018
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Moon Direct
Robert Zubrin has an article out which about a moonbase. To summarize briefly, his idea is to make a space only vehicle that goes between the lunar surface and low earth orbit. Since it doesn't have to re-enter the atmosphere, it doesn't need shielding, and therefore would be light weight. This would eliminate the need for a large rocket, and allow the moon to be aggressively explored using mostly existing technology.
Of course, the big hangup is always with the government. If the government contracted out the building of an updated lunar module, then the project might be expedited. It does seem to have the advantage of being feasible in an early timeframe, but you have to get the government moving in that direction.
On the other hand, you already have Elon Musk proposing a new rocket that can land on Earth as well as the Moon, or Mars.
Which ever way it is done, somebody is going to have to commit to it, and it may have to be the government, because Elon Musk wants Mars, but the Moon is a lot closer. Policy makers ought to consider the options and decide soon. It is still early in the Trump administration.
Of course, the big hangup is always with the government. If the government contracted out the building of an updated lunar module, then the project might be expedited. It does seem to have the advantage of being feasible in an early timeframe, but you have to get the government moving in that direction.
On the other hand, you already have Elon Musk proposing a new rocket that can land on Earth as well as the Moon, or Mars.
Which ever way it is done, somebody is going to have to commit to it, and it may have to be the government, because Elon Musk wants Mars, but the Moon is a lot closer. Policy makers ought to consider the options and decide soon. It is still early in the Trump administration.
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