Space Leaders Work To Replace Lunar Base With Manned AsteroidMissions

See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...&channel=space

On Jan 18, 7:46*pm, wrote:
See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...s/ASTER01188.x...

Why chose one over the other. With not to large an increase in
funding, they can both be accomplished and compliment each other.

www.actionforspace.com puts the tools in your hands to get the
politicians to fund these missions. With 500 participants in its first
4 days, the politicians are getting the message

www.actionforspace.com is where you can fax the candidates, email
them, or call their phones to tell them that they need to bolster the
funding for NASA

On Jan 20, 2:27*am, "
wrote:
On Jan 18, 7:46*pm, wrote:

See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...s/ASTER01188.x....

Why chose one over the other. With not to large an increase in
funding, they can both be accomplished and compliment each other.

www.actionforspace.computs the tools in your hands to get the
politicians to fund these missions. With 500 participants in its first
4 days, the politicians are getting the message

www.actionforspace.comis where you can fax the candidates, email
them, or call their phones to tell them that they need to bolster the
funding for NASA

Honestly, if I offered a "position" for funding NASA, it wouldn't
matter who got voted into office, as long as the cheap earth-to-
orbit technology became readily available for masses of
industries to use.

But it leaves out Dr. Ron Paul, who would, I believe, ultimately
endorse a mission to the asteroids for mining precious metal,
as he supports the "gold standard".

American

American wrote:

Ron Paul : We don't care what the Nazi's did, they left us alone so
we're totally ok with it.

On Jan 20, 11:23*am, kT wrote:
American wrote:

Ron Paul : We don't care what the Nazi's did, they left us alone so
we're totally ok with it.

That's one way of totally taking the steam out of whatever
nationalistic pride might come the way of the party.

American

American wrote:

On Jan 20, 11:23 am, kT wrote:
American wrote:

Ron Paul : We don't care what the Nazi's did, they left us alone so
we're totally ok with it.

That's one way of totally taking the steam out of whatever
nationalistic pride might come the way of the party.

American

You can cram your ****ing nationalism up your sore, sorry and sorrier
butt ****ing ass, American, that is, if you still have one left :

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

http://www.secularhumanism.org/libra...britt_23_2.htm

Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads that
link them in recognizable patterns of national behavior and abuse of
power. These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in
some regimes than in others, but they all share at least some level of
similarity.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the
prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins,
the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime
itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious.
Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common
themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a
suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves
viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the
objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the
population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by
marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was
egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most
significant common thread among these regimes was the use of
scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other
problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in
controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and
disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite
“spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists,
socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional
national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals,
and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably
labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always
identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure
that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was
allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The
military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever
possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and
increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and
the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably
viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion
and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian
laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the
country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media
were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray
from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure
media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to
resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied
threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible
with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the
general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security
apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually
an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any
constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting
“national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as
unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes,
the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by
their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the
predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as
militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s
behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was
generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the
ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the
“godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite
was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of
ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large
corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The
ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure
military production (in developed states), but also as an additional
means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often
pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of
interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was
seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony
of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed
or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion
or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin
to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals
and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them
were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were
considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal.
Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty
harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were
strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and
literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes
maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison
populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked
power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often
merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against
political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or
“traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more
police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close
to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This
corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial
gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the
benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a
position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example,
by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus
under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely
unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public
opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates
were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the
desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the
election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters,
destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to
a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

Does any of this ring alarm bells? Of course not. After all, this is
America, officially a democracy with the rule of law, a constitution, a
free press, honest elections, and a well-informed public constantly
being put on guard against evils. Historical comparisons like these are
just exercises in verbal gymnastics. Maybe, maybe not.

-----

Under the Bush junta, the Neocons (formerly "Republicans") have become
the party of malfeasance, executive abuse, gross neglect, mass death,
sanctioned torture, mass deceit, state propaganda, warmongering,
fearmongering, war crimes, economic ruination, larceny and treason.

Did I forget incompetence?

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9610/10/feyn...plosion.lg.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Explosion.jpg

On Jan 20, 3:40 pm, kT wrote:
American wrote:
On Jan 20, 11:23 am, kT wrote:
American wrote:

Ron Paul : We don't care what the Nazi's did, they left us alone so
we're totally ok with it.

That's one way of totally taking the steam out of whatever
nationalistic pride might come the way of the party.

American

You can cram your ****ing nationalism up your sore, sorry and sorrier
butt ****ing ass, American, that is, if you still have one left :

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

http://www.secularhumanism.org/libra...britt_23_2.htm

Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads that
link them in recognizable patterns of national behavior and abuse of
power. These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in
some regimes than in others, but they all share at least some level of
similarity.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the
prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins,
the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime
itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious.
Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common
themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a
suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves
viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the
objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the
population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by
marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was
egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most
significant common thread among these regimes was the use of
scapegoating as a means to divert the people's attention from other
problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in
controlled directions. The methods of choice--relentless propaganda and
disinformation--were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite
"spontaneous" acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists,
socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional
national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals,
and "terrorists." Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably
labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always
identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure
that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was
allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The
military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever
possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and
increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and
the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably
viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion
and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian
laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the
country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media
were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray
from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure
media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to
resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied
threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible
with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the
general public unaware of the regimes' excesses.

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security
apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually
an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any
constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting
"national security," and questioning its activities was portrayed as
unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes,
the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by
their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the
predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as
militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite's
behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was
generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the
ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the
"godless." A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite
was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of
ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large
corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The
ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure
military production (in developed states), but also as an additional
means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often
pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of
interests, especially in the repression of "have-not" citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was
seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony
of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed
or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion
or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin
to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals
and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them
were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were
considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal.
Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty
harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were
strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and
literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes
maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison
populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked
power, leading to rampant abuse. "Normal" and political crime were often
merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against
political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or
"traitors" was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more
police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close
to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This
corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial
gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the
benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a
position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example,
by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus
under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely
unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public
opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates
were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the
desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the
election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters,
destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to
a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

Does any of this ring alarm bells? Of course not. After all, this is
America, officially a democracy with the rule of law, a constitution, a
free press, honest elections, and a well-informed public constantly
being put on guard against evils. Historical comparisons like these are
just exercises in verbal gymnastics. Maybe, maybe not.

-----

Under the Bush junta, the Neocons (formerly "Republicans") have become
the party of malfeasance, executive abuse, gross neglect, mass death,
sanctioned torture, mass deceit, state propaganda, warmongering,
fearmongering, war crimes, economic ruination, larceny and treason.

Did I forget incompetence?

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9610/10/feyn...plosion.lg.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_Shuttle_Colo...

So does this self-righteousness of yours include the frequent
spewing of indignation at the resident warlord & co. when your
goose becomes so awfully cooked beyond well done?

You think you've got me branded as a sympathizer to your
so-called puppetized fool on the hill when most of your
kinds of politicians have been talking out their asses
since Lincoln?

Hear this Elfritz: All COTS proposals henceforth must be
submitted to the Smithsonian for review. Ha!

I think you think you know why I support COTS but that doesn't
seem to be good enough for all the establishment types that,
admittedly, you or I have become inadvertantly "stuck" to,
but I think that you're inadvertantly becoming more stuck
to... yourself!

You don't want private industry in the way of government
manipulation and control, so you label anything (that you think)
might actually work with your COTS proposal by slandering
a candidate that took a previously rough position with NASA.

I know this to be true because I read the reports on Ron Paul,
but nobody knows what his position is on NASA today, yet
he also seems to be the candidate for quelling mass "angst".
(For some reason that still doesn't ring true). Now I'm not
into giving the giant media warhog an anal exam, but that
seems to be what the media warthog is doing to Ron Paul,
as well as some of the more outspoken talk show hosts.

Space doesn't get the attention it should. Although I
oppose too many layers of bureaucracy, I have never thought
that the people at NASA (as a whole) should be completely
dissolved in favor of complete privatization, but I do think
that the most important focus for NASA should be the
cheapest earth-to-orbit technology possible. If NASA does
THAT, then private industry has a better shot at mining
the asteroids.

In the future, please don't lecture me about the tenets
of nationalism. I had an uncle who was shot down over
Nazi Germany during WWII, and it wasn't pretty.

American

On Jan 21, 8:37*am, American wrote:
On Jan 20, 3:40 pm, kT wrote:





American wrote:
On Jan 20, 11:23 am, kT wrote:
American wrote:

Ron Paul : We don't care what the Nazi's did, they left us alone so
we're totally ok with it.

That's one way of totally taking the steam out of whatever
nationalistic pride might come the way of the party.

American

You can cram your ****ing nationalism up your sore, sorry and sorrier
butt ****ing ass, American, that is, if you still have one left :

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

http://www.secularhumanism.org/libra...britt_23_2.htm

Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads that
link them in recognizable patterns of national behavior and abuse of
power. These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in
some regimes than in others, but they all share at least some level of
similarity.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the
prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins,
the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime
itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious.
Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common
themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a
suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves
viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the
objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the
population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by
marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was
egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most
significant common thread among these regimes was the use of
scapegoating as a means to divert the people's attention from other
problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in
controlled directions. The methods of choice--relentless propaganda and
disinformation--were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite
"spontaneous" acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists,
socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional
national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals,
and "terrorists." Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably
labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always
identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure
that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was
allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The
military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever
possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and
increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and
the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably
viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion
and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian
laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the
country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media
were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray
from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure
media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to
resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied
threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible
with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the
general public unaware of the regimes' excesses.

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security
apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually
an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any
constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting
"national security," and questioning its activities was portrayed as
unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes,
the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by
their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the
predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as
militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite's
behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was
generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the
ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the
"godless." A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite
was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of
ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large
corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The
ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure
military production (in developed states), but also as an additional
means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often
pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of
interests, especially in the repression of "have-not" citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was
seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony
of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed
or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion
or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin
to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals
and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them
were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were
considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal.
Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty
harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were
strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and
literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes
maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison
populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked
power, leading to rampant abuse. "Normal" and political crime were often
merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against
political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or
"traitors" was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more
police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close
to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This
corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial
gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the
benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a
position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example,
by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus
under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely
unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public
opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates
were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the
desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the
election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters,
destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to
a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

Does any of this ring alarm bells? Of course not. After all, this is
America, officially a democracy with the rule of law, a constitution, a
free press, honest elections, and a well-informed public constantly
being put on guard against evils. Historical comparisons like these are
just exercises in verbal gymnastics. Maybe, maybe not.

-----

Under the Bush junta, the Neocons (formerly "Republicans") have become
the party of malfeasance, executive abuse, gross neglect, mass death,
sanctioned torture, mass deceit, state propaganda, warmongering,
fearmongering, war crimes, economic ruination, larceny and treason.

Did I forget incompetence?

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9610/10/feyn...plosion.lg.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_Shuttle_Colo...

So does this self-righteousness of yours include the frequent
spewing of indignation at the resident warlord & co. when your
goose becomes so awfully cooked beyond well done?

You think you've got me branded as a sympathizer to your
so-called puppetized fool on the hill when most of your
kinds of politicians have been talking out their asses
since Lincoln?

Hear this Elfritz: All COTS proposals henceforth must be
submitted to the Smithsonian for review. *Ha!

I think you think you know why I support COTS but that doesn't
seem to be good enough for all the establishment types that,
admittedly, you or I have become inadvertantly "stuck" to,
but I think that you're inadvertantly becoming more stuck
to... yourself!

You don't want private industry in the way of government
manipulation and control, so you label anything (that you ...

read more »- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Any candidate now running for office will always promise,
but when elected, will never subscribe to such a ridiculous
exploration such as this. To look at asteroid exploration
this way is to invent a "cop out" on mining PRECIOUS METAL
on the REAL METALLIC ASTEROIDS, or "break into" the Mars-to-
Jupiter-belt non-metallic asteroids on the condition that
it becomes INCLUDED with a Mars or Jupiter moon mission of
some kind. However, most of the METALLIC asteroids are
the inner belt ATENS type; a ship traveling between the
outer belt and inner belt asteroids would have quite a
distance to cover - nearly 18 light minutes or 780 light
seconds = 323,775,854.64 kilometers, assuming a straight-
line path (which most likely is not the case).

However, as said before, there are no gravity wells to
contend with, and the propulsion systems on these types
of vessels would make for much better "cargo" type vessels
(for delivery of raw materials back to earth orbit).

The whole point of visiting the asteroids, IMO, is for
the raw material needs and uses for a kind of superinfra-
structure of space for the arrival and departure of space
miners and facilitators.

To me, the issue is not whether we should be involved in
studying the extraterrestrial geographies of the Martian
landscape, or building observation posts on the moon,
when there doesn't seem to be any tangible asset to
build upon except "territory". That "territory" of the
moon, mars, or any other large body is probably margin-
alized to a much greater degree for providing life support
as an asteroid would be, because each time the life support
"expendables" get delivered, there are the gravity wells
to contend with, as opposed to the nearly gravity-free
voyages to the asteroids.

The reward HAS TO BE more than just for "pictures"
or "travel". Something has to be "brought back" when the
expendables get delivered, so it can be sent back to
earth orbit for further processing. Naturally, a certain
amount of equity would build up for the greatest producers
of raw materials. The asteroid miners' equipment and
instrument operators may find themselves being trained for
an upwardly-mobile career that would send them to strange
places like Europa or Ganymede for a new career in life
support facility production centers.

Extraterrestrial exploration represents the turning point
for western civilization. If we don't do it now, we will
cave from within or become taken over by foreign interests.
The U.S. must lead, follow, or get out of the way of
becoming a producer of new civilizations in which to
prosper. If our God-given talents aren't exercised soon,
we will surely die as a species of explorers, just as
every civilization seems to have enlarged its own problems
with infighting and blood wars, when its borders could
never continue to grow beyond the limited beliefs of
its own "believers".

I have seen the COTS proposal written by our own "Thomas
Lee Elfritz" and I know that this proposal is very much
worth supporting. It tackles the problem of much cheaper
earth-to-orbit technology, and I would really like it if
some nationally supporting agenda could address the issue
of where we are going as a people of America, if we don't
begin to look beyond our own borders, because at this very
important time, we are looking to establish orbital and
extraterrestrial markets that can attract the type of
entrepreneurs that America, at one time in our history,
became famous for.

Once an agenda becomes set in concrete, there should be
absolutely no variance between parties as to what was
originally agreed upon, if we use some kind of no-fault
funding program. All the most ambitious projects should
receive priority status for funding - with the word
"ambitious" focused entirely on "drawing in" a continually
upwardly-mobile body of explorer/technocrats into the
"fold" for training and/or support of the primary agenda.

The "primary agenda" is to clear the legal and market path
for the largest earth-to-orbit jobs market in history,
bootstrapping a large body of extraterrestrial private
merchant marines and earth-to-orbit vessels w/satellite
construction centers for the fabrication of additional
propulsion drives, vessels, and launch facilities.

Right off the space station, a nuclear pulsed
"freighter" becomes assembled utilizing modularized
components using material specialists, who would assist
in the research, acquisition, and post-design modular-
ization of components for both the power satellite
construction center and cargo vessel. Since the
"Center" as it is called is a place where much of the
actual construction for the cargo vessel takes place,
some provision for human living quarters, or "habitcons"
must be worked out so that the first few people that
arrive must be able to work inside an inflatable "bubble"
with ceramic/steel framing surrounding the core. See:

http://server6.theimagehosting.com/i...mg=bladder.GIF

The core "bubble with ceramic/steel frame" should be as-
sembled, with fully functional core "habitcons" in under
100 man hours time. The core consists of an inflatable
toroidal bladder that is restrained against expansion
by a web of straps. The straps are attached to a rigid
ceramic/steel frame using clevice/pin(s) on the internal
circumference. Four men, working 25 hours in a weeks
time, should have the core project completed and ready
for expansion into the construction center. Once the
core is complete, a new shuttle arrives with more
modules for construction, which are "unpacked" and as-
sembled on to the core by a crew of four men. The ex-
panded core now includes a cargo bay storage area with
a cryogenic welding supply system in place, as well as
the habitcons with (4) potable water temperature control-
led stowages (one for each man). Now the center be-
comes dependent on the shuttle to deliver replenishment
food, water, and air, as well as additional modules for con-
struction of the cargo vessel fuselage, fuel cells, etc.

Here is an idea for a cryogenic storage facility:

http://server6.theimagehosting.com/i...e_facility.JPG

The cryogen tank is located outside the main hull, and
is attached to a cryogen recieving frame. Stainless
steel piping is used, with the exception of a pressure-
building coil. ROV valves are used in two liquid phase
lines. CDDI temperature sensors transmit data contin-
uously via teleoperation. Pressure sensors monitor a
15psi set point for venting within the cryogen tank
with a transit relief ROV. An ROV shutoff valve al-
lows isolation during offloading, and maintains work-
ing pressure of the inner vessel.

In gas phase two, the piping has multiple use as a gas
phase outlet, pressure building coil return, and trans-
fer pump recirculation line. A sparger, or spraybar,
acts as a line feed from the main fill line. In this
way transfer can occur in any combination of liquid or
gas phase. Uniform cooling of the cryogen supply tank
through the spraybar causes even shrinking and avoids
structural damage to the vessel, supports, or piping.

In the vacuum of deep space, maintaining a hazardous
gas or liquid at specified temperature and pressure re-
quires continuous climatactic control of the variables
that affect hazardous gas and liquid storage and deli-
very systems. Supporting technology for a refining plant
near a mining operation would include accomodating
quantities of gas other than argon (e.g. oxygen, air)
within safety guidelines, fire suppression systems to
allow for the use of oxidizing gases; and larger quanti-
ties of gases and the associated crew time required to
change gas cylinders. Control elements for gas hand-
ling (e.g. mass flow control and venting systems
control), liquid mixing and liquid-flow control capabilities,
power for producing high temperatures, levitation, and
damping should also be considered. Power supply to ES
(ElectroStatic) motor generators are less massive and
collect electrostatic energy using only milliamps of
current. Using space as an insulator, no shorting sparks
between plates allow the user to increase the voltage
hundreds or thousands times higher than in conventional
iron core/copper wire motors. As such, devices like
these could generate trillions of volts for the ampli-
fication of plasma energized devices, such as resonance
pulsed crystals or superconducting coils. Magnetic wave
induction could also be used to focus gamma-rays with
pinpoint accuracy for detection of elements on
asteroids and orbital bodies.

A possible listing of components used in a regolith lab
test process might include the following components:

tanks, dewars
vacuum jacketed piping
valves
heaters
level detectors
compressors
pumps
resistance thermometers
regulators
thermo-control and monitoring

Each of these components is described individually
with its' intended function for the regolith lab ex-
periment. Initially, a 50 foot cannister is filled with
the spectrophotomically analyzed regolith. After the
robotic arm retrieves the cannister into the soils lab
access chamber, the next step is to agitate with car-
bon and cyanide in order to hold the precious metal in
suspension. Low gravity prohibits mixing the regolith
with carbon and soaking with cyanide.

The cannister is emptied into a centrifuge along with
a mixture of carbon and potassium cyanide. Soaking
of the regolith begins, along with centrifuging, to speed
up the reaction process. Potassium cyanide is kept at
low pressure in storage tanks according to specification.

Low Pressure is considered to be below 2000psi. the
working pressure for potassium cyanide would be around
1800. A safe environment for using KCN in a refining op-
eration would limit exposure to less than 100ppm over
the length of the operation. For this reason, specially
modified laboratory suits, breathing apparatus, herme-
tically sealed connections, and high purity liquid and
gas service is required for the soils laboratory
environment.

CGA (Compressed Gas Association) requires a 1.030" -
14RH EXT., with gasket connector for safe service of
valve outlets and connections. A monitor system for
gases provides the actual gas concentration and a-
lerts operators of a potential hazard at the loca-
tion of the sensor/transmitter. Cannister, tank,
pump, valve, piping, and centrifuge components would
consist of mildly corrosive resistant materials such
as aluminum, galvanized steel, stainless steel,
monel, or nickel. For more corrosive environments,
Kel-F or Teflon coated tubing, pyrex, stainless
steel, monel, and nickel components are
more suitable.

Designers are needed for a multitude of responsibil-
ities including a mechanical designer for the robotic
arm, tray-dump handling system, railhead, railcar w/
canopy, railcar elevator storage, spectral tray sta-
tions, rotators, ejectors, compactors, tracking, ro-
botic storage systems, and bore setup. Electrical
designers are required for the bore electrical, DC
conveyor car autostorage and switching, spectro-
graphic scanning, spectral auto-analysis, and tele-
robotics. Fail-safe mechanical and on-site elec-
trical operation must be approved before a telero-
botics system can be fully tested. This means
that a teleoperated override for power systems,
teleoperated robotic replacements, backup TOV's,
TOP's (TeleOperated Valves and Pumps, respectively),
and parallel circuit cryogenic valves and pumps are
installed. During testing, field engineering per-
forms diagnostic checks, using signal analysis
and system response, to check the precision of
programming for sensors, steppers, servos, relays,
valves, and pumps.

Phase I of the entire project results in a coordin-
ated effort between the proper research and acqui-
sition of materials and will result in the efficient
and expedient construction of the power satellite
construction center.

Phase II begins with unpacking and reassembling
modules into an arrangement of cargo vessel mod-
ules, with various modules being vacuum pressure
fitted and locked in place, such as parts of the
fuel cell and fuselage, as well as the propulsion
chamber and supporting structure. Other modular
components, such as the pulse powered ignition
system, are calibrated for pulse timing and feed
into the propulsion chamber.

Phase III assembly of the Orbital GAMS (Geosyn-
chronous Asteroid Mapping Satellite) launching
facility begins with unpacking and reassembling
modules into an arrangement of GAMS facility
modules. Orbital GAMS diagnosticians perform a
variety of duties related to the procurement and
setup of the GAMS flyby satellite, which becomes
launched either from a GAMS launch facility, or
from the completed cargo vessel during the test
launch phase.

The GAMS flyby satellite utilizes a single stage pro-
pulsion system that is designed to propel the GAMS
scanning satellite to rendezvous with the
target asteroid.

Launch facility and cargo vessel delivery systems are
a private enterprise, whereas GAMS delivery from shut-
tle orbit are an incorporation interest venture.

If these components could be made to work correctly,
and a mining expedition resulted in the discovery
of a massive gold or platinum deposit, the result
would be the greatest orbital land rush in the
history of civilization!

We could start with simulations of an actual trans-
missions of SAR-like data from a single server to
pro-GAMS clients, made to order. All that is requir-
ed of the clients is that they are logged in to an
applet server in order to process the raw data that
runs while the client is logged on to the website.
Since data collection takes several weeks to several
months, the amount of data collected must be com-
pared to what the actual frame and time stamped
telemetry data would be on an actual GAMS flyby,
using the Monte Carlo method. This method provides
a mapping technique using virtual geo-modeling for
the asteroid terrain characteristics. The length of the
virtual data telemetry collection period can then be
compressed into a simulated rendition of the full
SAR telemetry stream.

The server program will help to establish an SAR
mockup of what the actual conditions would be for a
GAMS flyby, and would help to create an awareness
or need for such a technology, in the face of increased
interest to space based enterprise.


American

On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:37:21 -0800 (PST), in a place far, far away,
American made the phosphor on my monitor
glow in such a way as to indicate that:

On Jan 20, 3:40 pm, kT wrote:
American wrote:
On Jan 20, 11:23 am, kT wrote:
American wrote:

Ron Paul : We don't care what the Nazi's did, they left us alone so
we're totally ok with it.

That's one way of totally taking the steam out of whatever
nationalistic pride might come the way of the party.

American

You can cram your ****ing nationalism up your sore, sorry and sorrier
butt ****ing ass, American, that is, if you still have one left :

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

http://www.secularhumanism.org/libra...britt_23_2.htm

Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads that
link them in recognizable patterns of national behavior and abuse of
power. These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in
some regimes than in others, but they all share at least some level of
similarity.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the
prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins,
the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime
itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious.
Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common
themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a
suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves
viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the
objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the
population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by
marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was
egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most
significant common thread among these regimes was the use of
scapegoating as a means to divert the people's attention from other
problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in
controlled directions. The methods of choice--relentless propaganda and
disinformation--were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite
"spontaneous" acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists,
socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional
national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals,
and "terrorists." Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably
labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always
identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure
that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was
allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The
military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever
possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and
increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and
the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably
viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion
and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian
laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the
country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media
were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray
from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure
media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to
resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied
threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible
with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the
general public unaware of the regimes' excesses.

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security
apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually
an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any
constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting
"national security," and questioning its activities was portrayed as
unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes,
the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by
their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the
predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as
militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite's
behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was
generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the
ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the
"godless." A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite
was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of
ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large
corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The
ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure
military production (in developed states), but also as an additional
means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often
pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of
interests, especially in the repression of "have-not" citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was
seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony
of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed
or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion
or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin
to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals
and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them
were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were
considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal.
Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty
harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were
strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and
literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes
maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison
populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked
power, leading to rampant abuse. "Normal" and political crime were often
merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against
political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or
"traitors" was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more
police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close
to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This
corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial
gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the
benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a
position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example,
by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus
under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely
unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public
opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates
were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the
desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the
election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters,
destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to
a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

Does any of this ring alarm bells? Of course not. After all, this is
America, officially a democracy with the rule of law, a constitution, a
free press, honest elections, and a well-informed public constantly
being put on guard against evils. Historical comparisons like these are
just exercises in verbal gymnastics. Maybe, maybe not.

-----

Under the Bush junta, the Neocons (formerly "Republicans") have become
the party of malfeasance, executive abuse, gross neglect, mass death,
sanctioned torture, mass deceit, state propaganda, warmongering,
fearmongering, war crimes, economic ruination, larceny and treason.

Did I forget incompetence?

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9610/10/feyn...plosion.lg.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_Shuttle_Colo...

So does this self-righteousness of yours include the frequent
spewing of indignation at the resident warlord & co. when your
goose becomes so awfully cooked beyond well done?

It's not even his nonsensical spew. It's a cut'n'paste.

Here's a sane response to it.

http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/000169.html

American wrote:

I think you think you know why I support COTS but that doesn't
seem to be good enough for all the establishment types that,
admittedly, you or I have become inadvertantly "stuck" to,
but I think that you're inadvertantly becoming more stuck
to... yourself!

No, just non-toxic cryogenic liquid fuels and reusable launch vehicles.

You don't want private industry in the way of government
manipulation and control, so you label anything (that you think)
might actually work with your COTS proposal by slandering
a candidate that took a previously rough position with NASA.

EELVs will work. They exist. Anything else should be better or cheaper.

The ATK Athena III or Ares I will be neither better nor cheaper.

I know this to be true because I read the reports on Ron Paul,
but nobody knows what his position is on NASA today

Apparently you didn't bother to look, because here it is :

http://www.islandone.org/Politics/LP.space-dom.html

Space doesn't get the attention it should. Although I
oppose too many layers of bureaucracy, I have never thought
that the people at NASA (as a whole) should be completely
dissolved in favor of complete privatization, but I do think
that the most important focus for NASA should be the
cheapest earth-to-orbit technology possible.

Even if it doesn't work?

If NASA does
THAT, then private industry has a better shot at mining
the asteroids.

Dream on.

In the future, please don't lecture me about the tenets
of nationalism. I had an uncle who was shot down over
Nazi Germany during WWII, and it wasn't pretty.

But not you, right? Just someone you know.

Writing my position paper was more patriotic than anything you've done
besides pay taxes for a couple of wars that should never have occurred.