Last week, SpaceX realized a decade-long dream of successfully launching the most powerful rocket in the world. The Falcon Heavy’s achievement, marked resoundingly with thunderous sonic booms following twin booster touchdowns at Cape Canaveral, was only upstaged by Starman—a doomed mannequin at the wheel of Elon Musk’s Roadster
With the Heavy’s test flight complete, SpaceX is back to business as usual. Or maybe not. What seems like a routine launch this week may have greater implications for the company’s future and profits.
The launch’s primary mission is to deliver Paz, an observational satellite heavily financed by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, from the company’s pad in California. Paz won’t be riding alone on its recycled Falcon 9 though; SpaceX quietly loaded two experimental broadband satellites—built in-house—atop the rocket.
Dancing With Fools 
Up to 19 °F out.
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41 outside, 66 inside.
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That’s distinctly cool inside.
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LIHEAP recipient here. (Low Income Heating Assistance Payment)
Not in rich boy’s budget next year.
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Nope;
https://www.snopes.com/does-president-trump-plan-to-end-a-program-funding-heating-for-the-elderly-and-disabled/
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In today’s TNYT arts section there is a recording of Ricochet, a piece for violin, percussion and ping pong, backed by the orchestra. Lots of fun.
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A distinctly cold 14 minute stick walk up to the Hillside Cafe for another salmon dinner.
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Day 3: 53+27=80 minutes.
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Amazing. There is a high school in Chicago named for Paul Robeson.
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Awesome.
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That’s inspiring!
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Darwin @ Work
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The rest of our snow melted overnight. Rain. My rain gauge says we got almost 3½ inches. Flood warning in Lansing, roads are covered in water up there so no one can see the pot holes.
It’s been over 50° yesterday and today. Three days ago I spotted a variety of blackbirds at my feeders along with some starlings. Flocks of them in the trees up the drive, too. First sign of spring.
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Here is a copy of the email I sent to both senators, Murray and Cantwell. You might care to pass this along to your senator as the Nuclear power research program at the Department of Energy is scheduled for a 25% cut in the budget devised for The Donald:
A bill introduced by Representative Weber for a Versatile Neutron Source is reported to have passed the House. As best as I can determine, restarting the Fast Flux Test Reactor at Hanford should fulfill the intent of the bill and is almost certainly less expensive than building a new reactor. I encourage your support for either course of action although restarting the FFTR is my preference.
While actually a health issue, I strongly recommend the Senate pass the Low Dose Radiation Research Act, introduced by Representative Marshall, and passed by the House. The Department of Energy should never have stopped funding this research area. I have seen excellent results from both UCB and LLNL. There is no reason for PNNL, possibly in cooperation with WSU, not to contribute to such a research area.
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Hanford is in Washington state so my senators know that. Maybe yours know it as well.
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