Tag Archives: history

Single Stage to Orbit, Eventually

A tip of the hat to Anthony Stevens, whose recent op-ed started me thinking about this week’s topics. I’ll be talking about ideas that didn’t work out, or haven’t yet; three cool single-stage-to-orbit vehicles, including one that flew; and, finally, … Continue reading

Posted in Back to the Moon, Onward to Mars, Discursive Detours, Series | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

JWST: Names, Claims and Attitudes

NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) December 25, 2021. By July of 2022, the JWST had settled into position at the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point: about 1,500,000 kilometers, 930,000 miles from Earth. Then, after deploying its heat shields … Continue reading

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Georgia O’Keefe, a Light, the Moon and a Steeple

Georgia O’Keefe painted “New York Street with Moon” on 47th Street in Manhattan. That’s been what art critics, scholars and reporters have been saying for decades. Except for one, in an article in Sky and Telescope’s most recent issue. Astrophysicist … Continue reading

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Sharing My Catholic Faith Story: Mostly Online

It’s been a while since I talked about what I’m doing here and why I’m doing it. And even longer since I talked about Nancy H. C. Ward’s “Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies.” The book’s a … Continue reading

Posted in Being a Writer, Being Catholic, Book Reviews, Discursive Detours | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

War, Peace and a Civilization of Love

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day. In my country, it’s a time to remember folks who have served in America’s military. Today I’ll talk about why countries have military forces, and why I think it’s a good idea. Even though I don’t … Continue reading

Posted in Discursive Detours | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments