The misadventures of Commander Merlin and the crew of RV-103
Wednesday September 18th 2013

Posts Tagged ‘HSF’

Mismatched Models

Mismatched Models

Most advocates of Human Space Flight programs always model HSF with the airplane model.  Government subsidized at first and eventually private for profit companies would take over.  Airplane companies that got too dependent on the government subsidies failed, but airlines [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 7

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 7

First of all my apologies.  I had to take care of some duties at home that prevented me from posting the newest question at the regular time.  Because of that, answers will be accepted for this week’s questions until next Monday night at midnight EST. The HSF Trivia [Read More]

Two is One and One is None.

There is an old saying, “Two is one and one is none.”  It means that if you have only one critical item, and that item breaks, then you have none.  Having two of the same critical item ensures that work can continue if one breaks.  Many of you have been in [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 6

The HSF Trivia Week Five question was: Which Launch Complex/Pad was used during the Mercury Program? The answer is: Launch Complex 14 was the site where American astronauts were launched into Earth Orbit during the Mercury Program. The winner was Abby L.  Congratulations [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 5 and the First Grand Prize Winner!

Well last week’s question turned out to be a bit tougher to answer.  Though some got close, no one got the right answer.  Some mentioned “fruit flies,” but they are not “animals” but insects.  Some mentioned Albert II, launched aboard a [Read More]

“Don’t Cry Because it’s Over, Smile Because it Happened.” The “We Made History” Event at KSC

A little over a week ago, I attended the “We Made History” event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center.  The event was to celebrate the Space Shuttle Workforce’s accomplishments over the last 30 years.  The turnout was fantastic with over 8,000 former [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 4

Above: The first feline to train in weightlessness on the Vomit Comet. The HSF Trivia Week Three question was: Which Shuttle orbiter was first to use a drag chute and on what mission? The answer is: Space Shuttle Endeavour on her maiden flight, STS-49. Congrats to M. [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 3

HSF Trivia Week Two question was, “How long are the Solid Rocket Booster recovery ships and what are their names?” The answer is: 176 feet long and the two ships are called, Freedom Star and Liberty Star. Congrats to J. McDade and J. McAllister.  Both winners will be [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 2

HSF Trivia Week One question was, “Which astronaut received the first haircut in space and on what mission?” The answer is: Skylab 2 astronaut Paul Weitz who received a trim from Pete Conrad, who used  primitive Flowbee-style clippers in 1973. Congrats to J. [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 1 and Rules of the Game

While we wait for NASA to actually begin a Human Space Flight Program again, the crew of RV-103 and I thought it would be a good idea to find a way to pass the time.  So, Gypsy suggested we have a Human Space Flight Trivia game for all the readers.  Go For Launch! has [Read More]

America’s Human Space Flight Program 1961 to 2011: An Epitaph

July 21st, 2011, just 42 years and one day after the first landing on the Moon, I sat and watched America’s Human Space Flight Program come to an end after more than 50 years.  As the final “Wheels Stop” was announced by the Commander, I watched in tears [Read More]

More Bitter Than Sweet

What can you say?  It is the end.  The last launch of the most successful American Human Space Flight Program, in fact the most successful HSF program in world history, after thirty years.  Fourteen people have given their lives riding these magnificent birds striving to [Read More]

Interview Updates

The Space Show interview and parts of the CBS interview are now online. You can download The Space Show interview here or you can download it from iTunes. You can view parts of the CBS 60 minutes interview here.  The entire 60 Minutes interview will be broadcast later this [Read More]

Our “New” Human Space Flight Program Explained

Mr. Steven White, a regular reader since April of 2010, created a wonderful video explaining Obama and Senator Bill Nelson’s new Human Space Flight Program that is supposed to replace Constellation.  As you know, Constellation was to take us back to the Moon and [Read More]

Rocketman to Appear on the Space Show After Launch Friday.

Friday, July 8th, I will be appearing on The Space Show with Dr. Livingston 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm EST shortly after the last launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis.  Dr. Livingston and I will be discussing my reflections on the launch, and what it was like to work in the Space [Read More]

Fading Away Into Mythos

Mythos is a Greek word meaning story or legend.  Many myths throughout culture were just that, myths.  But, sometimes, those myths actually had some truth to them.  How does a real event become a myth?  How does something that we accept today become a legend or myth to [Read More]

Shuttle Launch Director’s Message to His Firing Room Team.

Mike Leinbach, the launch director at Kennedy Space Center, ran the final launch simulation the other day in prepreation for the final Space Shuttle launch scheduled for July 8th.  He took a minute or two to speak to his entire Firing Room Team and most eloquently summed [Read More]

Now the Republican Presidential Candidates Are Abandoning Our Nation’s Human Space Flight Program

Last night in the New Hampshire Republican Presidential debates, all the candidates were asked, “…whether they would continue Federal Funding for Human Space flight.”  Not one single candidate raised their hand.  Not a single one! You can read the story [Read More]

Yuri’s Night: Celebrating 50 Years of Human Space Flight

50 years ago, a young man named Yuri Gagarin climbed aboard a modified Russian R-7 inter-continental missle in the Soviet Union and made history.  Every April 12th is Yuri’s night and is celebrated by space enthusiats throughout the world.  This year is special [Read More]

Rocketman to be Interviewed on The Space Show

On Wednesday, November 3rd, Rocketman will be the subject of a 1 1/2 hour interview conducted by Dr. David M. Livingston on the podcast The Space Show.  The live interview will start at 10 PM EST and end at 11:30 PM EST.  “The Space Show® focuses on timely and [Read More]

Latest Topics

Goodbye and GodSpeed Discovery RV-103.

Goodbye and GodSpeed Discovery RV-103.

What can I say, but that it is an end to a major chapter in our lives.  Today I turned over the keys to our great and [Read More]

CollisionTEC: A Review

CollisionTEC: A Review

Towards the end of Mission #2, RV-103 had a mishap with a pole, as detailed here.  Last month, I finally got an [Read More]

Breaking News: Obama proposes an end to NASA’s Planetary Science Program

Breaking News: Obama proposes an end to NASA’s Planetary Science Program

“Word has leaked out that in its new budget, the Obama administration intends to terminate NASA’s planetary [Read More]

Mismatched Models

Mismatched Models

Most advocates of Human Space Flight programs always model HSF with the airplane model.  Government subsidized at [Read More]

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 7

Human Space Flight Trivia Week 7

First of all my apologies.  I had to take care of some duties at home that prevented me from posting the newest [Read More]

Recent Comments

Rocketman had this to say

Mr. Obama has not impressed me as a person that learns from his mistakes too often. Read the post

astronautics_student had this to say

When the president axed CxP, he wound up with a huge backlash from congress. Does he think this will turn out any Read the post

lowly contractor 2 had this to say

Now they're starting to realize that just because something has a 'science' label that doesn't mean the general public Read the post

Rocketman had this to say

This blog has already cost me several employment opportunities because I've pointed out what is being done to our HSF Read the post

Rocketman had this to say

I agree. The HSF debacle is just a microcosm to what is being done to our country. Our nation is truly facing an Read the post

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