The Definitely Not Russian Military Forces in Ukraine took out at least two Ukrainian Mil 24 choppers with surface to air missiles. You know, like regular folks tend to have.
When the Recent Unpleasantness began in Crimea, many people tried to justify Russias actions by claiming that there was an active neo-Nazi presence in Ukraine that was threatening “ethnic Russians.” Behold:
In eastern Ukrainian, Jews leaving a synagogue were told to “register” with pro-Russian militants. They were supposed to provide a list of property they own and pay a registration fee “or else have their citizenship revoked, face deportation and see their assets confiscated.”
The “logic” that supported a Russian annexation of Crimea to “save” the “ethnic Russians” would now support the annexation of eastern Ukraine and likely the surrounding bits of Russia by Israel. I wonder if Putin would agree.
Sadly… not NASA.
The Ukraine Internet Party has nominated Darth Vader to run for President of Ukraine. Sure, why not.
A Google translation of the UIP’s page about this says:
“I am ready to take responsibility for the fate of the state if countrymen will have me such a high honor. Only I can make out of the republic – the empire to return to its former power, lost territory and pride in the country “- said the Lord of the Sith Darth Vader .
Sure, why not.
This should be interesting…
The logic that allowed Crimea to be taken from Ukraine and annexed by Russia allows the Tatars to split from Crimea. Unclear what the Tatar plot of land is, however. It’d be especially entertaining if they got hold of the region around Kerch…
Well, there’s this:
But with all the back-and-forth sanctioning, at some point it’s virtually certain that the Russians will at least float the notion of cutting off American astronauts from flying on the Soyuz. This would cut off American access not only to the ISS, but to space as a whole.
You know what? Good.
We are entirely too dependent upon others for our space access. Having the Russians shut us down would for the US to turn to ourselves for space access. We’re almost there as it is… the SpaceX Dragon has made it to the station and back several times unmanned; it shouldn’t be long before it can make it there manned (perhaps December 2015). There’s the Boeing CST-100 capsule, which has undergone some considerable design work and pre-prototype testing. There’s the Orion “Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle” capsule being built by NASA & LockMart, and appropriate for a government effort, is not due out for years (manned flight in 2021, maybe). There’s the Sierra Nevada “Dream Chaser” lifting body spaceplane, an aerodynamic test vehicle of which has been drop-tested; an orbital flight may occur in November 2016.
Within a few years, the US should be able to fly our own astronauts into space again without having to hitch a ride with someone else. But what if by the time we do so, the Russians have changed the locks on the doors of the ISS?
Well… good.
The ISS is a serious disappointment. The crew is too small to do a whole lot more than maintenance; they’re certainly not building Mars-bound spacecraft at the ISS. There’s no rotating section for artificial gravity, something any self respecting space station should have. And it’s freakin’ expensive. Imagine what NASA could achieve *IF* it didn’t have to pay for ISS operations, but kept the same budget *and* had good leadership (fat chance, I know). NASA would do well to wash its hands of the ISS and devote its attention to, say, a partnership with Bigelow to finally get his “space hotel” built. Rather than building its own space station, NASA could simply rent or lease a few modules on the space hotel.
So, Russia, do us a favor. Cut us off.
A few days ago the Ukrainians released footage taken by a drone aircraft showing Russian military forces setting up shop on Ukrainian territory. A Russian solider is shown clearly trying to zap the plane with a green laser, probably in an attempt to blind its optics:
[youtube cdU611LWqwA]
A snippet from that sequence has been zoomed-in to show what appear to be the muzzle flashes of at least two machineguns, perhaps shooting at the drone:
[youtube yP-if5vGI7I]
Remember these? Ah, good times….
[youtube MNxEDomUlXw]
[youtube ZH5kFqlTPls]
5 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Tuesday, surrender or get stomped.
