Category Archives: Discursive Detours

A catch-all category

Starliner, Dream Chaser, and Beyond: The Sky is Not the Limit

When I was young, the future was exciting: cities on the Moon, computers that can fly spaceships, and more. Then we tried making those dreams a reality; which we’ve been doing. In part. One goal of this week’s Starliner test … Continue reading

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Science, Religion, and Saying Goodbye to the 19th Century

I think the notion that someone can either be a Christian or appreciate the cosmic scale and wonders of God’s creation is fading. Sincerely believing in a conflict where champions of science and reason opposed the dark forces of religion … Continue reading

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Two Pilots, Flight Technician, Iranian President Dead: Briefly

A helicopter carrying two pilots, a flight technician, and at least five other folks crashed yesterday. They’re all dead. One of them was Iran’s president: which made the aviation accident international news. I am not happy that at least eight … Continue reading

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Spaceplanes: A New Analysis

This article makes a case for spaceplanes being both possible and — in the long run — an economic necessity. It’s not my current topic, partly because I was talking about this sort of thing last week:

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Boeing Starliner in Context: Apollo, Shuttles, and American History

For some reason, I expected Monday’s Starliner launch to go ahead on schedule. It didn’t, which is probably a good thing. But the delay, and staying up far later than I usually do, waiting for a news conference that I … Continue reading

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