Feb 012010
 

So far there have been Aircraft Documents, Aircraft Drawings, Spacecraft Documents, Spacecraft Drawings, Aerospace Projects Review and Justo Miranda’s “Reichdreams” series. I will soon be doing much the same with a few military manuals and general non-aerospace historical documents that might be of interest. I have a half dozen or so small-format “comic book” style instructional manuals on things such as anti-tank warfare and using your Vulcan anti-aircraft cannon that I will be making available. Since these are pretty small items, the prices will be appropriately small… maybe two bucks.

<> If you have anything along these lines just taking up space that you’d be interested in loaning, renting or selling to me (or if you know of a source for such), let me know what you have.

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 Posted by at 11:14 am
Feb 012010
 

Now that America has apparently ended its days as a spacefaring nation, here’s a look at the other end of history… when America was looking forward to being a spacefaring nation. This is the afore-mentioned Juno V (predecessor to the Saturn I), fitted out as an Orbital Return Carrier to launch a capsule with a crew of a whopping sixteen. The capsule is certainly… optimistic. I’m especially entertained by the windows on what is essentially the re-entry heat shield. Located within the conical aerodynamic fairing in front of the capsule are the abort motors, as well as a full airlock.

There once was a time when the United States Government dared to envision a future of progress. Now all they seem able to see is a future of stagnation.

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 Posted by at 10:45 am
Feb 012010
 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet_department_nasa/

In short, Ares 1, Ares V, Orion all cancelled. Shuttle to end after five more flights, ISS to drag on for a few more years – requiring Russians to fly Americans, since we won’t have a means of getting to orbit ourselves.

<> Yes, Constellation was behind schedule and over budget. But now it’s cancelled… meaning all the money spent was *wasted,* and all the time spent was *wasted.* And unless the entepreneurs really step up, or if the USAF has something secret hidden away somewhere, this is pretty much the end of the road for American manned spaceflight.

 Posted by at 10:31 am