Idle Words

“Our test facilities can’t reach the combination of heat flux, pressure, shear stresses, etc., that an actual reentering spacecraft does.

If you've enjoyed my writing about space over the years, I invite you to subscribe to my new substack newsletter, titled 'Mars for the Rest of Us', where I've been posting weekly essays on topics around Mars exploration.

This post is the second in a series.

Introduction A Note on Apollo I.

For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled. — Richard Feynman Entrance to underground cavern on Pavonis Mons.

Part of what brought me to Taiwan was bureaucratic thrill seeking.

In August 2020, the New York Times asked me to write an op-ed for a special feature on authoritarianism and democracy.

With less than two months left before the election, this is an explainer for the politically panicked.

Last week I spoke with Sara Huddleston, candidate for Iowa state house in district 11 (Storm Lake).

Last week I spoke by video chat with Alyse Galvin, who is running for Congress in Alaska's sole, enormous Congressional district in a rematch against Don Young, the longest-serving member of Congress.