Potpourri LXXVI

Lots to type about, so let's get rolling.

NASAWatch is posting an email supposedly from Bob Ess, the Ares I-X Mission Manager, stating that the mission launch date has moved to Halloween. I'd seen an earlier date than that, but these things happen. Guess I'll get to go to Europe AND see I-X fly after all.

Some guys at the USAF's 45th Space Wing put together some incomplete/bad data, added in some bad assumptions, and voila: the Orlando Sentinel gets to pound on Ares once again. This is getting old, guys.

Investor's Business Daily has a series of editorials related to healthcare reform. One is of particular interest because it addresses a fundamental disconnect in President Obama's rhetoric. He's been saying that "If you like your current plan, you can keep it." Which is true. However, if you change jobs, change plans, or go into business for yourself, you'll find that private insurance companies are not allowed to sign new customers on to existing plans--which means, once you get out of whatever plan you're on right now, you have no choice but to take the government's plan. And the government, of course, will ration care any way it sees fit, even if you were willing to pay more. Think very hard before you decide that "nationalized health care" is a bright idea.

Charles Krauthammer, one of the brighter bulbs on Fox News, has a great editorial about Apollo titled "The Moon We Left Behind."

A tribute to Apollo using Elton John's "Rocket Man."

From Father Dan: Mathemagics? Yes!

From Melissa. Haven't reviewed all these yet, so like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what your going to get:

• http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/6-men-endure-mars-90648.html
• http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=
• http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/PopularScience/4-1939/helmets.jpg&imgrefurl=
• http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/04/21/mechanics-masquerade-as-men-from-mars/&h=2787&w=1890&sz=1433&tbnid=WbBAU7fK0YR-rM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=102&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmen%2Bon%2Bmars&hl=en&usg=__cPXiz_lOkhCGY6zsa8Lzwvpjbhc=&ei=YhlhSqavLOWfmAfjr9SaDw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=7&ct=image
• http://www.scifidimensions.com/Feb01/dennishope
• http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/robotic-exploration/russians-prepare-to-go-to-mars-without-leaving-the-ground

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured photos of all of the Apollo landing sites. Cool! I wonder what the reaction would've been if the descent modules weren't there anymore. More to be found at the LRO site.

CNN decides to report on the "Moon hoax" believers.

And yet another Apollo article from Science at NASA.

WAAY TV in Huntsville posted a report on the friction stir welding going on here at Marshall.

The federal government has a business opportunity for those interested in demonstrating the value of humor in the workplace. Given the government's utter lack of humor when it comes to their little workplace regulations, that really is funny.

Dar also has a fun Apollo-related article, this one related to the American flag planted on the Moon.

From Martin: a YouTube video on laser-powered spacecraft.

Environmentalists are pro-space exploration? Maybe, I say.