Spacex slowly whittles down to physics

 

This is amazing.  This is version 3 on a new launcher.  It is my hypothesis that they went just too heavy for a single rocket.  No matter what they do, they need bearing strength for that first foot of travel.  We are looking now at totally different animals.

It started out as a ketty dream from lalaman.  A shiny rocket from his childhood comics, pinched at the end.  They had to roll out endless sheets of stainless steel.  Now, the upper stage is getting blacker and blacker as they go to carbon fibre.

The tests so far have been with light loads, but this thing needs to take the heaviest loads for distant space travel.  All limited by bearing strength.

Can't wait to see the new upper stage, and see when they fully load it with bricks, which will fall all over the islands when it blows up.  Or not.

Cold down to the toes

 

We have made it a challenge to the warmies to get some clange news out of this.  They can always to continue to pump El No-no, but that ship has sailed.  Nooa itself, doesn't push it.

Lest you think that it is time to start planting, look that that perfect ice vortex.  It is in recharge, ready to regale us with crystals.  

ps Ice pellets on the dog walk this morning

ps  If the heat never comes, I'm sure the US will run out of natgas.

Prepare for Summer

 What we got coming is a 1960's extremely hot, dry summer.  That's the natural course of no ocean breezes.  Put in soaker hose for the garden, on a Chinese timer.  There may be hose bans north of the city.

I am putting dark film on the windows, mainly because the inserts have saturated and they are filled with water condensation.  The physics of these things is interesting.  Anyway, if you can live with ugliness, they eventually settle to a nice haze.

So, I am putting film on them.  The stuff I found is amazing.  Order from the store directly for larger pieces.  It is really strong with a powerful adhesive, meant for cars, but works great for windows, and is 3 times cheaper from China.

No hamburglars can get in here.  You will botch the first one, but look up how to install.  They always leave out the important stuff for rank beginners, but keep going.  I'm on my 3rd order now.  You don't really want a huge roll, the stuff is impossible to handle if you are a newbie.  For me, the insides shot out of the roll like a light saber.  No friction at all.  It is a thin clear film and the main dark film.  Use the masking tape trick to separate them.  All on the intertube.

I'm also getting this now, because the stuff is practically bulletproof and hard to cut straight.

In the direct sun, the film can fry vertical eggs, so you really need good stuff.

Use the film for the direct sun windows.  Use 15% pass-through, the darkest they have.  Or you can easily put on 2 films.  I love it!  At the beginning get someone to help you with larger pieces,  Practice with a small piece.

ps I got a battery camping fan.  To escape the heat at the cottage, the kids go into a tent, but if you have to leave on the fly cover, it's just as hot.