Herr Doktor Strangemember

I visit the Mun as needed, however I tend to build my bases on Minmus due to ease of landing, all that lovely flat terrain.

How about this?

Fingers and toes crossed for the weather to hold, go Space X.

My naming method is usually [mission name/type] Mark 1. The rest of design process is usually like this... Then followed by the [mission name/type] Mark 2, that where all the defects in the mark 1 are fixed. Followed by the [mission name/type] Mark 3, that's usually where I add the batteries/solar panels/rcs etc... that got removed from the Mark 1 and never replaced on the Mark 2 revision by accident. This will lead to the [mission name/type] Mark 4, where the staging is fixed that was somehow messed up for the Mark 3 revision. [mission name/type] Mark 5 is proposed where all the known defects are now resolved, but somehow on booster separation the boosters collide with the rocket, which NEVER happened before. [mission name/type] Mark 6 is built quickly, with cursing, by adding Sepratrons to shove the boosters away. [mission name/type] Mark 7 quickly follows the Mark 6 to correct the mis-staged Sepratrons. [mission name/type] Mark 8 finally works and returns with Science! Around this time a boffin from R&D will usually propose a newer/simpler design or part, the boffin will then go missing, only to be found in shallow grave much later with a T-Square sticking out of his back. KSP police will just nod and say 'Yup another one killed by natural causes.'

OK I think I play this game too much, my first thought was how could Estes make a working LV-N for a model rocket, but yeah Estes and Lego would be good ideas. Other space agencies would be a good choice for 'offical' logos. SpaceX, definitely Virgin Galactic just for the nose and fin art.

As someone who suffered, and I do mean suffered, from migraines my usual method involves 4 extra strength Advil Liquid Gels to get home, then 4 Tylenol with codeine and the darkest, quietest room or closet in my house until it stops. If it is in the spring/summer that is usually when my neighbor will fine tune his Harley. Ouch My biggest hate is for people who say 'Migraines? Oh those are just bad headaches right'. At that point I wish for vice to stuff their head in and an icepick so I can make them, maybe, understand what it's like.

Just wanted to say thanks for all work you've done. It's nice to build things without playing Tetris.

On the topic of alternate history one of the best books I've read on the subject was Harry Turtledove's 'Guns of the South' where South Africans travel back in time to give Robert E. Lee's army AK-47s in the late Civil War. Awesome read and very in depth look at how complicated politics around the Civil War was, it was not just about slavery. It opened my eyes to alot of things that just get glossed over in history class. If you are into that type of story another good read would be Eric Flint's 1632 'verse, the spinoff works go into great detail how you need tools to make tools to make tools to create an industry to make the tools you need to make more tools before you run out advanced tech and get smashed in the head by your neighbors who have primitive tech but alot of primitive tech. Regards.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! The VAB was getting crowded. Regards.

Hmm, what about commercial applications? I mean pure commercial/greed items, ship 20kg of raw material up to the ISS and make trinkets the sell them as made in space. Sell/auction off to rich people take profits and fund space industry. And by trinkets I mean settings for jewelry, vanity items like high end knicknacks for the ultra rich who just have to have it. What would someone like Zuckerburg pay for cellphone case made in space? Regards.

The last I looked the guidance system was inertial guidance, other systems where being looked at. At the speeds the Skhval moves at compared to it's target generating a miss is, well, unlikely so you don't need anything to fancy, maybe a magnetic guidance/fuze? Regards.

Well eating Snacks! could produce Compost/Waste, you could have something that turns it back into Snacks! by adding electricity, I mean a pound of poo versus a pound of protein is just a different arrangement of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen. Have a converter that is directly related to Snacks! consumption, would that work?

The big issue as I see it would be how much and how easy it would be to create a FTL ship. At first it would have to a government that would do it, corporations are conservative usually and like to have others take the big risks. Now the first wave colonies would be chosen by the nation and treated well, and a source of national pride and likely lavished with tender care due to the prestige of the nation at stake. If the cost for FTL tech doesn't go down much it would likely stay that way, with only 1st world countries expanding into space and the cost in money and political capital keeping close ties to the mother country. Once the FTL tech is proven and there is sufficient slack in the FTL ship network is when other countries might try expanding into space, but more likely it would religious/cultures/ideologies that would make the second wave. Alot of those groups want to be left alone, or want to alone to practice their beliefs away from the rest of us. Planets might be colonized by, of the top of my head, the Mormon Faith, strict Islamic Law, the State Israel, anti-government groups, basically any group with surplus cash and the desire to left alone. These colonies will be likely a 'dump and desert' kind with contract being limited based on the cash flow to rent a FTL ship and the various groups sending 'second wave' colonists. The third wave is where you'd likely see corporations appear, those colonies would be off planet factories designed to do 'something' likely heavy manufacturing or resource extraction with no pesky EPA, OSHA, or Greenpeace around. Those types of colonies would be likely chosen carefully for resources, likely there would be a two or three tier workforce. First tier would be those working directly for the company that started the colony, second tier and maybe third tier would be those brought support the colony (farmers, 'grunt' labour). Everything would be run or controlled by the company, a modern East Indies corporation is likely. Most of the 'work' would be done in space, but the planet would be used to support the space industries (food, R&R etc) If the price of FTL ships/transport continue to drop a 4th wave would be those that didn't get into the other waves, smaller countries or groups would likely try to move out, maybe long term leasing space on a 1st wave planet, or trying to find their own, these colonies would be very marginal at start, and would end up very independent, a combination of 'we did it ourselves' and 'you aren't one of us'. Anyways that's how I see it happening in very general fashion. It will depend on the cost of the FTL tech, how easy it is to build. If FTL tech is cheaper things get different, more FTL ships means Earth can keep a closer 'watch' on the colonies because more ships more contact this will mean the colonies get more support from Earth if something goes wrong (natural disasters, like a plague or running out of coffee ). If the FTL tech is more expensive fewer ships less contact, colonies are more on there own and need more up front prep since they only see a FTL ship once every year or two. The same situation applies to the speed a FTL ship moves at, faster means more contact with Earth, slower more on their own. Once a colony becomes successful things will start to change when they no longer need that lifeline, once they can build their own infrastructure and FTL program then they can develop thier own identity. I could go into alot more on this subject, but I'm not going to. Converse in our own Solar System it'll likely be a case of those that can will do as they please until space is available to everyone. If the USA is the only country that reach...Titan and decides to claim it how can any other country dispute it? Space based resource extraction and manufacturing means economic pressure/warfare is likely useless or inefficient, and armed conflict? Not likely as a country that can exploit space can very easily exploit dropping rocks on an uppity country. Treaties and the like are nice and noble but they fail unless everyone involved can effect everyone else in meaningful way.

Hmmm, historically NASA and other 'hard' science programs have usually received better funding under Republican administrations, now in the current climate your guess is as good as mine. However as a strong believer in Murphy's Law I'll be quietly holding my breath if not my nose over the future funding of science. BTW Politics is made up of two words, 'poly' meaning 'many', 'tics' meaning 'blood sucking parasites'. Make of that what you will.

Well just to chime in in the video between 1:03-1:04 is when the incident happens they are talking about main engines are at 108%, at the same time someone says 'avionics power nominal'. At that time the exhaust colour and shape changes. The explosion seems to be at 1:04-1:05, exhaust brightens and grows then the fireball occurs, you can see the rocket fall back upright, so...I wonder if the engine bell failed, it would explain the change in exhaust colour and shape as it burned up/blew up. Also the fireball seems to be behind the rocket. Defect of the material or cooling failure of the bell? It's my guess. Regards.

Why not Gladius Magnus? Or maybe Rex Mundus? Oh wait, the Terminus Est? All good choices I think. Regards.

Just add my $0.02, when using KSPI with the KASA-IXS mod the direction you place your drive rings matters...moving across the system at lightspeed in reverse is a scary moment when you check your map. Although Jeb seemed to enjoy it. Regards.

I love books, right now in my spare room I have roughly 2000+ of various types, that said because of my eyesight I've had to switch to E-books for ease of reading and lack eyestrain/headaches. If I try to read a standard paperback I'm forced to give up after about 10 min. And yes DRM/E-books and the lawyer that thought THAT idea up should be tied to a cactus naked, smeared with chunky peanut butter and left to the tender mercies of rabid zombie squirrels. Regards.

For littoral combat I can see the use for inserting/extracting, when your sub transport can move faster than surface forces or ASW air assets can hunt it makes getting from launch point to landing point less nerve wracking and the drive system is not on all the time. Think of it as 'we need to be there now!' or 'get the h377 out of Dodge!' option for the sub. Modern torpedoes and their launch systems are quiet, less and less is the 'shot' of high pressure air and the sound it makes, swim-out torpedoes that use their own power at low speeds, pistons that quietly push, electric motors etc are all being used. Usually the first sign in a modern sub duel that you've been detected is the sonar of the torpedo on terminal attack. At which point speed is now very important, hence the supercavitating torpedo which might be fast enough to A) Destroy the attacking torpedo; Sink the attacking sub IF you can find it. Regards.

Here is mine, INTP Introvert(67%) iNtuitive(50%) Thinking(50%) Perceiving(33%) Regards.

I wonder if the model reflects the fact that most viruses get less effective as they reproduce, also I'd look into artificial transmission. One of my nightmares is that Boko Haram or someone like them will deliberately infect people. Of course in that part of Africa trust in the government and doctors is in short supply which adds to the problem. Lack supplies to treat and contain the spread, one of the highest groups at risk are the doctors, nurses and hospital staff. What can be done to control it...drastic action. The areas effected need to be contained, vigorously. When new infection is located contain that as well, reduce as much as you can the ability of the virus to travel. With it's spread slowed it will kill itself, Ebola Zaire, has a death rate of 75% IIRC unless it can spread it will run out of new hosts. Once transmission is reduced below a certain point then send in people to treat what you can and bury/burn the dead. Keep the active quarantine up for months until you sure it is dead, dead, dead. On the other hand the last mass outbreak which was only 300 or so was in the '90s I think medical advances have come along way since then so a firewall defense against the spread will kill people that could be saved...Dammed if you do, dammed it you don't. Now excuse me I need to stop thinking about this. Regards.

I defy anyone to have worse drivers than Rome. A picture I saw about 3 years ago sums it up, showed a two car head to head in Rome, both cars tried driving on the yellow line, neither got out of way of the other, both drivers and passengers where screaming at each other over how's fault it was...and both cars were police cars. Regards.

Well Electric Boat is building a 100ft sub with that tech to deliver payload or small units of troops to shore in littoral operations, now the top speed is around 100kts but that is game changer in terms of speed for those kind of ops. Understand...kinda. The torpedo/ship would look like an early sci-fi rocket that was mating with sword. Think a stubby dart or a stretched bullet, kinda. At the point of the 'dart' due to it's small cross section you create the bubble, using whatever, a combination of gas forming the bubbles at the tip, and the rocket engine at the back. As the the supercavitating torpedo/sub accelerates the speed of object forces the body into the bubbles at the nose lowering the drag caused by the water, allowing the speed to increase still again. At a certain point the 'tip' of the supercavitating object is doing most of the work in forming the bubble, creating an area of low pressure that is below the vaporization point of the water. As the speed increases the whole object is now in the bubble that is formed by the object. The bubble depends on water pressure, deeper harder to form, shallower easier. Could you really 'fly' underwater at supersonic speeds...I really doubt it and anyone tries let me know in advance because the YouTube vid will be glorious in a high energy way. IIRC the Russian torp was designed as an anti-torpedo torpedo with a small nuclear warhead, the upgraded version with a conventional warhead and better guidance was then used as a anti-sub weapon might still be able to shoot torps, that I don't know. Again this all from stuff I've read over the years so I might be wrong, wrong-ish, or have my head up my @$$. Regards.

From my limited reading on the subject the super-cavitating object has to stay in the bubble created otherwise you find out just how unforgiving water can be at high speeds. Regards.

The first thing in my head was...so THAT's what Jeb drives to work. And honestly the second thought was...'meh needs SRBs...' I need help, my sense of proportion has been seriously warped by this game. Regards.