Mars is hot

At least as far as scientific investigations are concerned.  NASA just landed its fifth rover on Mars.  China is going to land their first sometime in the coming months. Even the UAE has sent a probe to Mars. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)

Space 2021

A really nice article analyzing China’s space ambitions as well as the competition from other regional powers. If you read between the lines there are some real opportunities for the US to engage in cooperation in this arena with other non-Chinese space agencies. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)

Congratulations, NASA

I give NASA a fair amount of crap for their poor manned space flight record.  However, credit where credit is due, the landing of the Perseverance giving us two working rovers on Mars is amazing.  Good job, guys.

Another Mars landing

Thursday February 18th, hopefully, we will land another rover on Mars. Story here. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger who would be glued to NASA TV.)

SpaceX again

Frankly, it feels like I post about SpaceX once a week.  I probably do.  However, that is really due to the continued success the company has in driving the US space program forward. In the latest instance, SpaceX has been chosen by NASA to launch the components of the “lunar gateway”, a small space station to orbit around the moon.  The launches are scheduled for 2024. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger) 

China is serious about space

Thank gosh Elon must is, because the US government doesn’t seem to be. China has a probe and lander approaching Mars. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)

Finally

Finally, I am living in the time of routine commercial spaceflight.  I thought I would see this after 1969. Never imagined it would be 50 years later. Latest story here. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger, who I am sure would be as pleased as I am.)

Space Radishes

Radishes have been grown and consumed on the ISS for the first time.  This is the first time any vegetable other than leafy greens have been grown and consumed in space.  Success here hold out hope that long term spaceflight can be at least partially sustained by in transit farming. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)

Remember when I said the US should

sell NASA to Elon Musk for a dollar?  It is because of things like this, and this. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger, who’d be as mad as I am at idiocy like this.)

Sell NASA to SpaceX

For a dollar.  Then give SpaceX 3/4 of the budget we give NASA each year.  The government saves money, and we get a competent space program. Story here.