It might disjointed, and not quite up to snuff, but Space Revolution News is back, and hopefully, it will be weekly (next week we'll see).

So join me over the fold for all the good details.  

I've seriously neglected my job of letting everyone at Dailykos to know whats going on in the NewSpace industry, and its high time I did that.  A lot of cool stuff has come out, and is happening, and I think its time that I remedy that

A lot of good stuff has been happening with regards to developments towards better access to space, and the resources of space.  And sometime early next week, I hope to bring you some of the good news and updates that have been happening within Newspace, and space development.

But not today.  Today, I want to talk about 3 cases of bad ideas/policy when it comes to space and space development.  

They come from 3 different places, but each one example makes me want to be my head against the wall.  This is most definitely me ranting, but I'd argue with good reason (although it will probably annoy a few people).  I will admit to not being the first to rant about this, and frankly, I wish I'd had time earlier in the week to talk about it, but RL got in the way.  But the stories aren't that old, and they are all important.

When I go to the cupboard, and find no coffee, no sugar, no pins, and no meat, am I not living politics?

This war touches people

I start this diary with a quote from the HBO mini-series about John Adams.  John is talking with Abigail about the Continental Congress and the  apparently endless debates.  He dismisses the debates as merely politics and Abigail responds that politics has a personal reality.  Somehow, it feels especially appropriate.  Among my many debates here, although I try to be a pragmatist, at least I feel like I do try, my arguments here tend to get very nuanced, and esoteric, and somewhat theoretical (Probably my dad's fault - he's a lawyer but no longer practices actively).  

But not today.  Today, I want to tell you why we need to fight.  Why we must win.  Not because of esoteric or theoretical reasons, but for reasons that are very concrete and real.  Let me tell you about my friend Ben.

Everyone knows that I am rather relentless in my push for spaceflight, and space development.  And, yea, you could say that I am something of a true believer.  But, I always feel the need to try and stay grounded, with what I feel is moderate to good success (although I am sure there are people who'd disagree with me).  

But I am also a liberal/progressive.  And to me, part of that is a belief in the potential of Humanity, and the hope for a better future.  I make that point, because, I've always felt that is part of what distinguishes us from Conservatives - a belief that humanity can do better, and that we need not fear the other, and, above all, that human life is important, and worth saving.  

And that is why I am always troubled by some recent comments.  This election season, there has been a lot of talk about hope.  But this isn't about a particular candidate - this is about us, progressives/liberals/Democrats.  Join me over the fold

This week, Governor Bill Richardson endorsed Senator Barack Obama.  Governor Richardson was clearly inspired by Obama's speech.  Now, the question is, will he be able to provide counsel to Senator Obama (and to an Obama administration, should that happen).  And in particular, my hope is that Richardson will be able to provide counsel to Senator Obama on the issue of space policy.  Please join me over the fold

Ok, not much of a diary, tonight, but I have been arguing a few points throughout the day, and so I am really curious - if you had to choose between Obama being president with Hillary as Senate Majority Leader, or Obama losing the election, but the Clintons out of politics, which would you prefer?

Dear Senator Obama,  

It is clear, through your statements, that you have questions about what role human spaceflight can and does play on our society.  You have said that you want to have a full evaluation, and have a clear understanding about how and where we can have the most impact in our spending on space.  

Part of the problem is how we've interacted with space, and how we view it.  For a long time, space has been viewed as being beyond the reach of the average person, and that it can only provide us more scientific knowledge.  

However, there is growing evidence that this is about to change, and that properly harnessed, space can have an incredibly positive effect on society - it can help with our economy, and it can help provide us with clean, cheap energy.  

It is for this reason I have written these essays - so you can understand how human spaceflight can have a beneficial impact on society, why the time is now that it can have such a beneficial impact, and how best to capitalize on this.  

In this first essay, I talk about the economy, and orbital space businesses.

Okay, I promised a diary about the space economy, pt 3 - and actually, its almost set, but RL interfered.

Instead, I am going to offer a diary, on the current mess that we are in, why there needs to be a deal (and soon), and why supporters of each side need to get used to it, and accept that.

I promise space tomorrow.

Dear Senator Obama,  

It is clear, through your statements, that you have questions about what role human spaceflight can and does play on our society.  You have said that you want to have a full evaluation, and have a clear understanding about how and where we can have the most impact in our spending on space.  

Part of the problem is how we've interacted with space, and how we view it.  For a long time, space has been viewed as being beyond the reach of the average person, and that it can only provide us more scientific knowledge.  

However, there is growing evidence that this is about to change, and that properly harnessed, space can have an incredibly positive effect on society - it can help with our economy, and it can help provide us with clean, cheap energy.  

It is for this reason I have written these essays - so you can understand how human spaceflight can have a beneficial impact on society, why the time is now that it can have such a beneficial impact, and how best to capitalize on this.  

In this second essay, I talk about the economy, and suborbital space businesses.

Dear Senator Obama,  

It is clear, through your statements, that you have questions about what role human spaceflight can and does play on our society.  You have said that you want to have a full evaluation, and have a clear understanding about how and where we can have the most impact in our spending on space.  

Part of the problem is how we've interacted with space, and how we view it.  For a long time, space has been viewed as being beyond the reach of the average person, and that it can only provide us more scientific knowledge.  

However, there is growing evidence that this is about to change, and that properly harnessed, space can have an incredibly positive effect on society - it can help with our economy, and it can help provide us with clean, cheap energy.  

It is for this reason I have written these essays - so you can understand how human spaceflight can have a beneficial impact on society, why the time is now that it can have such a beneficial impact, and how best to capitalize on this.  

In this first essay, I talk about the economy, and what I call atmospheric space businesses.

As you probably know, Senator Obama was endorsed by the Houston Chronicle.  

However, in their endorsement, the Chronicle responded to a statement from Obama, and added a caveat to their endorsement.

What was the comment, and what was the subsequent caveat?  Come over the fold, and see

Time to take a break from your candidate diaries, and see something very cool (and something that will have severe ramifications)

Today, Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites revealed to the world what SpaceShipTwo will look like. (Be warned, the pictures here are big, but very cool)

And wow, is it cool.

Yesterday, Bill White did a diary announcing the push for series of panel sessions about space.  As he said, I am involved, and below the fold, you can see my thoughts, about why this is important, how our ideal setup would be, and the topics that would be included (and some that might get added).

So, those who were/are my regular readers (as well as some Obama supporters who aren't regular readers) know that I have been pushing for Senator Obama to have a space policy, after he released his educational plan around Thanksgiving.  Well, in the last few weeks, the Obama campaign has begun to rectify that.  First, on Jan 2nd, Lisa Ellman, Obama's policy director, issued the following statement,

Obama believes we should continue developing the next generation of space vehicles, and complete the international space station. While Obama would delay plans to return to moon and push on to mars, Obama would continue unmanned missions, and use NASA to monitor the forces and effects of climate change, support scientific research, and maintain surveillance to strengthen national security. Obama also believes we need to keep weapons out of space.

And on Thursday, this week, the Senator released a full policy statement.  Come over the fold, and I'll give you my thoughts

Previously, I talked about Senator Obama's education plan, and how it pulls money from Nasa's Constellation.  I am sure there are people who thought this wouldn't get wide coverage, and wouldn't cause that much discussion.  

They are wrong, and you can see the proof over at MSNBC's Cosmic Log.  Come over the fold with me

Hey,

So, SRN (Space Revolution News - since Im not weekly right now) is back.  Come over the fold, and see the problems with Constellation, be impressed with XCOR, and look on at raw power from SpaceX.

And be most impressed that I can provide you with all the knowledge about where a candidate stand on the space issue

As was blogged earlier today, Senator Obama gave a major speech on education.  One thing worth noting is how he plans to pay for them - by delaying NASA's constellation.  This has raised some troubling questions, at least for any supporter of manned spaceflight.  Come over to the other side, and you'll see what I mean.