tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post8261429470645865866..comments2024-03-28T08:06:43.198-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: Is a 50 Year Old Treaty Holding Back Private Space?SiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-7217649911537602182018-01-08T08:24:12.179-05:002018-01-08T08:24:12.179-05:00That's what Flat-o-Day said (they're payin...That's what Flat-o-Day said (they're paying for the landing pad).SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-3039546880700545162018-01-08T07:58:12.312-05:002018-01-08T07:58:12.312-05:00And they should also be paying for SLC-13, which i...And they should also be paying for SLC-13, which is their landing pad. Although like ULA, SpaceX does launch payloads for the government, and with their political connections I question whether their payments for use of the facilities are commensurate with the costs to the government for providing same. Not that Uncle Sugar would play little financial games when dealing with major campaign donors...Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-48505740376008116202018-01-07T15:37:09.740-05:002018-01-07T15:37:09.740-05:00They're paying all costs for 39A. Flat-Day sa...They're paying all costs for 39A. <a href="http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2014/04/14/spacex-takes-over-ksc-pad-39a/7711859/" rel="nofollow">Flat-Day</a> says they've signed a 20 year lease for 39A. The same article says it's "similar to how the company operates at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 40," but I didn't specifically search for there being a contract. <br /><br />I found details on them leasing the areas that they return boosters to land both here and at Vandenberg. <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-22472426435605584442018-01-07T13:53:11.695-05:002018-01-07T13:53:11.695-05:00SpaceX should be paying for both LC-39A (LC-39B wi...SpaceX should be paying for both LC-39A (LC-39B will be the launch pad for the new Space Transportation System that should have its first launch next year) and LC-40, which they destroyed with the on-pad conflagration during preparations for a pre-launch static fire test. They have rebuilt LC-40 and I believe they used it again for one of their most recent launches. ULA pays for LC-41 (Atlas 5) and LC-37B (Delta 4). Users of those pads have to permit government insight into their operations for safety purposes, since the government is responsible and accountable for "events" on their property. ALL launches from United States territory fall under the responsibility of the DoD for launch safety purposes, regardless of whether the launch is from government property or not. International law dictates that that, to make sure any other nations negatively "impacted" by a launch "event" are compensated for the damages. Note that said law does not necessarily apply to objects that have reached orbit and then re-enter catastrophically. As may be the case for the Chinese space station which is now expected to "land" somewhere some time in ?March?Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-17212002469994859532018-01-07T10:15:21.471-05:002018-01-07T10:15:21.471-05:00I don't see any indication they're not pay...I don't see any indication they're not paying for that space, like SpaceX pays for pad 39 and Blue Origin pays for their buildings. <br /><br />Perhaps I missed it, but I don't see anything saying they were given the property. The Times article says they're spending around $2 Million on renovations to the area. <br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-88582770989499683602018-01-06T23:42:27.127-05:002018-01-06T23:42:27.127-05:00How is it that Moon Express is provided with real ...How is it that Moon Express is provided with real estate and infrastructure at Canaveral where SpaceX and Blue Origin were not? Or were they offered the same, but turned it down?<br /><br />I could easily see choosing to stay separate (and be less controlled by NASA, et al) in the case of the two billionaires who appear to be the most advanced in their attempts to get a strong foothold in space - with as few governmental "entanglements" as possible.Reg Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099612693763932005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-68979419393755644102018-01-06T20:19:12.752-05:002018-01-06T20:19:12.752-05:00That's sad - another of the great ones gone an...That's sad - another of the great ones gone and at 87 is too soon. <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-11992856110030701692018-01-06T19:43:22.196-05:002018-01-06T19:43:22.196-05:00Rest in Peace, John Young:
https://www.yahoo.com/n...Rest in Peace, John Young:<br />https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-legendary-astronaut-moonwalker-john-young-died-183902895.htmlMark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-49480756269146938442018-01-06T09:58:01.509-05:002018-01-06T09:58:01.509-05:00I don’t know about enforcement mechanisms, but the...I don’t know about enforcement mechanisms, but they don’t need to be up there. Any launch to or craft coming back from the moon is extremely detectable. SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-37077813094174881092018-01-05T23:48:44.217-05:002018-01-05T23:48:44.217-05:00Does the United Nations Treaty on Principles Gover...Does the United Nations Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space have any enforcement mechanism?<br /><br />I haven't seen any UN Peacekeepers on the Moon lately.<br /><br />Don in Oregonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-36655925324376367452018-01-05T11:32:34.455-05:002018-01-05T11:32:34.455-05:00It's very simple: issue a license to fly in sp...It's very simple: issue a license to fly in space and let everybody shoot it out for awhile. It could be like a driver's license, and could be issued by the local DMV.<br /><br />Treaties are meaningless, in all honesty. Territory is gained and defended by war and controlled however the people with the guns wish. <i>All territory in history.</i> Treaties are simply agreements to behave in certain ways if the parties don't feel like going to war over it.<br /><br />Once it is shown how valuable the real estate is up there, there will be war over it – guaranteed. The Chinese seem to be the only ones who realize this. Right now, the spoils are going to be reaped by those who say the hell with the rules and <i>go</i>.<br /><br />And I have no problem with that.Malatropenoreply@blogger.com