SpaceX isn’t the only company recovering rockets for reuse. Story here. Rocket Lab out of New Zealand is doing the same, thought differently and on a much smaller rocket.
Speaking of SpaceX, they had another launch over the weekend as well. Space launches are becoming a weekly, if not daily occurrence. This is great news. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
Story here. This makes perfect sense. You’d never get enough solar power for large scale power generation. Until we get fusion, a nuclear fission reactor is the only reasonable way to power large scale human development on the Moon and Mars. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
Modeling friend Jim Bates has been a boon to my modeling. He pushes and challenges me, and I do the same to him. We frequently (daily) talk modeling. His recent discussion with his modeling friend Tim Nelson, whom I met in Chattanooga at the Nationals, has had a profound effect on me.
Many of us put off doing the projects we want to do until we “get better” Tim challenged Jim with “so what is your plan to get better?” It is a great question, and a profound one. The answer can be, “well I plan to model more.” That is ok, but it really doesn’t reach the core of the question. What is you plan for getting better in those areas you want to improve so that you can build what you want to build.
Naturally this entails both risk and failure. The risk of doing things outside your comfort zone, and the inevitable result that you will fail. This is something that we, as humans, are naturally adverse to. We are risk adverse. It is bred into us and is a very useful survival instinct.
However, because it is so deeply ingrained in us, it effects areas where its Darwinian usefulness is not applicable, such as in a hobby, such as modeling. Thus in order to get better in modeling, we have to fight tens of thousands of years of instinct.
Thus, we have to do more than just “model more. We have to have a plan. What do you want to build? What skills do you want to develop. What can you plan to build that will help you get there? Are you willing to accept that your initial efforts may be subpar?
We are coming up on the new year. I am sure every reader will be happy to see 2020 in the rear view mirror. However, I challenge myself and each of you….what is your plan to get better? Make a plan. I am starting to. More on that in the future.
I love aggressor schemes. I always have, particularly the ones the USAF and USN use in their aggressor squadrons. The USN has just revealed the schemes for the Super Hornet which is moving into the aggressor role. Article here. Scroll all the way through.
Is still chugging along. I remember as a kid the photos from Voyager 1 and 2. They are an inspiration for us to keep exploring. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
A review from 2019 in FineScale. One of the few reviews of this kit I’ve been able to find.
ESA loses another rocket and 2 satellites. Story here. If you needed any more proof of the superiority of private enterprise, SpaceX is example #1. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
It appears that the ESA’s competitor to the SpaceX Falcon 9 won’t fly until mid-2022. Heck, at that point, Elon and company will be on their way to Mars. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
