I believe some people call it 'down the rabbit hole'. When you start clicking things online you never know where you'll end up - having tea with the mad hatter, or arguing with the Queen of Hearts.
I experienced something comparable while doing a little background research for the Chapters book-signing event (see this link). Looking into the many and varied efforts people are putting into private space travel ventures is like old-style barn dancing - who will be your partner next time around? And the next? I looked again at SpaceX on Wikipedia (bless their cyber-socks) and clicked on a link that said 'private spaceflight'. Way down the bottom of that page under the exciting 'External Links' section I found two intriguing companies called 'Starchaser Industries' and 'Astrobotic'. Who could resist finding out about names like that? Starchaser is building its own rocket to launch two people up to 100,000 feet - that's about 30 km - not quite 'real' space which is 100 km, but still impressive. Here's what it looks like:
And they're recruiting astronauts to fil the navigator's seat! Need I mention that it's based in the UK, in Cheshire to be exact, where they make such good cheese.
Sadly, Astrobotic's page didn't load. Oh - wait a sec - I tried again and here's a picture of one of their planetary exploration rovers.
Anyway, you get the idea. I spent a few other web crawls finding out about the advantages of orbital tethers, LEO refuelling depots, the Outer Space Treaty of 1951 and its ramifications for private space investors, and the Mars Society. It's all out there. Isn't it wonderful that so many people are taking the initiative? My favourite of the week is the Danish engineer who is building Denmark's first manned space program in his (rather large) garage, along with some buddies. They're called Copenhagen Suborbitals. Look!
The most dazzling item these Danes have produced? A steam-powered fuel pump! Yes. Watch their video on how they designed it. (Did you know you can produce steam by throwing hydrogen peroxide at potassium permanganate? No boiler required.) Innovation, and the simpler the better. Brilliant people.
I'll be adding a whole list of similar links after the book signing that's at Chapters, Thunder Bay, Friday October 25th at 7pm.
What fascinates me with all these is the standard science-fiction starter question: "What if...?" In this case, what if some of these amazingly creative, perseverant people are successful? Wouldn't the world be a better place if people like you and me were travelling the airless corridors of the sky above our heads? If it wasn't just the governments of a very few nations sending their ex-Air Force pilots and top scientists? Granted, most of the private space ventures with more chance of success are funded and run by billionares such as Elon Musk (developer of PayPal and Tesla Motors) with his SpaceX, and Richard Branson with his Virgin Galactic. Not exactly your average Joe Public. Still, even many of these are enabling many others to join in a Space Race characterised by friendly competition and inspiring goals, rather than the Cold War era frantic race for orbit and the Moon which has left us so little lasting legacy.
I remember reading a great SF novel about a disgraced alcoholic astronaut and some keen, bright teenagers who build a spacecraft out of a disused railway tanker-truck (and many other bits and pieces) and fly it to Mars and back. But I can't remember the title or the author's name! Can anybody help me? It's about the only attempt at fiction I can recall on this subject. My only real gripe with the storyline is that it involves an unrealistic method of propulsion invented by the astronaut's reclusive, genius relative. (As another rabbit-track, maybe the author was thinking of this attempt by NASA researchers to squeeze the fabric of the universe behind and in front of the spacecraft and propel an object in a bubble of warped space-time.)
On the subject of propulsion, here are two more "What-ifs":
Well, that's enough of that for now. I must get back to work. I have a large barrel in my garage filled with baking soda, and I am about to pour in the vinegar, strap into the flight seat and open the skylight for lift-off....
(just kidding!)
I experienced something comparable while doing a little background research for the Chapters book-signing event (see this link). Looking into the many and varied efforts people are putting into private space travel ventures is like old-style barn dancing - who will be your partner next time around? And the next? I looked again at SpaceX on Wikipedia (bless their cyber-socks) and clicked on a link that said 'private spaceflight'. Way down the bottom of that page under the exciting 'External Links' section I found two intriguing companies called 'Starchaser Industries' and 'Astrobotic'. Who could resist finding out about names like that? Starchaser is building its own rocket to launch two people up to 100,000 feet - that's about 30 km - not quite 'real' space which is 100 km, but still impressive. Here's what it looks like:
 |
| Thunderbirds Are GO! |
Sadly, Astrobotic's page didn't load. Oh - wait a sec - I tried again and here's a picture of one of their planetary exploration rovers.
 |
| Shiny rocket cones! I like! This is the liquid oxygen tank. |
I'll be adding a whole list of similar links after the book signing that's at Chapters, Thunder Bay, Friday October 25th at 7pm.
What fascinates me with all these is the standard science-fiction starter question: "What if...?" In this case, what if some of these amazingly creative, perseverant people are successful? Wouldn't the world be a better place if people like you and me were travelling the airless corridors of the sky above our heads? If it wasn't just the governments of a very few nations sending their ex-Air Force pilots and top scientists? Granted, most of the private space ventures with more chance of success are funded and run by billionares such as Elon Musk (developer of PayPal and Tesla Motors) with his SpaceX, and Richard Branson with his Virgin Galactic. Not exactly your average Joe Public. Still, even many of these are enabling many others to join in a Space Race characterised by friendly competition and inspiring goals, rather than the Cold War era frantic race for orbit and the Moon which has left us so little lasting legacy.
I remember reading a great SF novel about a disgraced alcoholic astronaut and some keen, bright teenagers who build a spacecraft out of a disused railway tanker-truck (and many other bits and pieces) and fly it to Mars and back. But I can't remember the title or the author's name! Can anybody help me? It's about the only attempt at fiction I can recall on this subject. My only real gripe with the storyline is that it involves an unrealistic method of propulsion invented by the astronaut's reclusive, genius relative. (As another rabbit-track, maybe the author was thinking of this attempt by NASA researchers to squeeze the fabric of the universe behind and in front of the spacecraft and propel an object in a bubble of warped space-time.)
On the subject of propulsion, here are two more "What-ifs":
- An ion thruster is under development which could make manned interplanetary travel faster. It's called VASIMR, which stands for (take a deep breath) : Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket. Read about it here. Wikipedia says: "Costa Rican scientist and former astronaut Franklin Chang Díaz created the VASIMR concept and has been working on its development since 1977". All it needs is a lightweight power source and a bit more development. Oh, and perhaps a wealthy billionaire to get it built and into orbit!
- Orbital tethers. Imagine two satellites attached by a 4km tether. Each one could be at a different altitude above the Earth, and thus would be in a different orbit, placed under different gravitational force. The transfer of momentum that can then take place is a keen topic of study for some of those bright mathematicians, because it holds potential for cutting down drastically on the amount of chemical rocket fuel required to change a spacecraft's orbit - perhaps allowing craft to begin their journey to Mars or the Moon at a much lower cost. A conducting tether in orbit around Earth can also generate electricity, or if a current is passed through it, will exert a force on the spacecraft that it's attached to! The possibilities of that are huge.
Well, that's enough of that for now. I must get back to work. I have a large barrel in my garage filled with baking soda, and I am about to pour in the vinegar, strap into the flight seat and open the skylight for lift-off....
(just kidding!)
I am not advocating that churches stop worshipping when and how they do. But I am suggesting that if churches want to engage the public, additional services should be planned that specifically address the needs of the non-Christian public. The self-service attitude and atmosphere of many churches does a disservice to the gospel of Jesus and to the image of a loving and caring God.
ReplyDeleteI happen to find some agreement with what you're saying about inward-looking churches... the main thing is that you may be posting on the wrong blog. It sounds like you were halfway through a conversation with someone totally different. But you're a welcome visitor to this blog, even if it was by mistake! And God bless you.
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