“Conditional Optimism: Whether the container is “half-full” or “half-empty” at 1/2 Vmax is dependent upon the sign of the change in volume with the change in time (dV/dt). If you are filling the container dV/dt>0 with V=Vmax at t=∞ it is “half-full”. If you are emptying the container dV/dt less than 0 v=”0″ t=”∞” style=”mso-spacerun:yes”> If you are neither filling nor emptying the container, dV/dt is negative because of evaporation (V=0 at t=∞). Unless you are actively filling the container, it is always on the way to empty. Note that if the goal is to empty the container, then “half-empty” is actually an optimistic statement and “half-full” is actually a pessimistic statement. Therefore, the only time you could consider yourself an optimist is the case of V=1/2 Vmax, dV/dt less than 0, with V=0 at t=∞ and declaring “half-full”. In that case, you may be an optimist, but the preceding proof shows that you are just plain wrong.”
Photo- NASA TV
NASA, y’all done good; you’ve made at least SOME of us proud to be Americans!!!
If you understand all that, you are way smarter than me!
Yep, just ONE more “scheduled” shuttle flight left.
Um what are they replacing the shuttle with? … Guess I should go and google that myself.
On the half full / half empty question, I’ld need another half before I can even begin to think about it.
That space shuttle was first launched the month I was born. I don’t know the dates and I’m too lazy at the moment to look them up but it makes me feel a wee bit sad to realize that it’s all finished now.
I used to think that the accomplishments in space exploration represented by the shuttle would be eclipsed by the next great thing coming down the line. Now, I fear that will not be so.
WSF- It’s easy 🙂
drjim- Yeah, sigh…
Julie- Nothing, the follow-on was cancelled by the administration… on the other, it’s ‘simple’ math… LOL
FG- You’re gettin old girl 🙂
North- Nope, it ends here, at least with THIS administration. dammit…
Mu husband and I were so upset when we heard that there would be no more space flights. It’s a serious misjudgment to discontinue manned exploration! What if the explorers after Chris Columbus just stayed at home?
STS-1 Launch
April 12, 1981, 7:00:03 a.m, EST. The launch April 10 postponed due to timing skew in orbiter’s general purpose computer system. Backup flight software failed to synchronize with primary avionics software system. Countdown proceeded on schedule April 12. First 24 Shuttle liftoffs – STS-1 through 61-C – were from Pad 39-A. Launch Weight: 219,258 lbs.
Well, now they’ll close the doors at NASA and let the dust accumulate. Too bad they never moved on the SSTO and Spaceplane projects. Orion was a step back to the 1960s but at least it had a purpose—going back to the moon.
I remember 10 years ago the next step for NASA was a manned mission to Mars in 2020.
Hope Burt Rutan keeps working. Space has not been privatized. Perhaps that’s a better solution. I’d hoped live long enough to see a man step foot on Mars. Won’t now.
Well, I wished they had left the shuttle in space on a permanent orbit. So when the Darkness descends and we can’t prove to our great grand children we ever went to the Moon, we would be able to find evidence closer to point at.
The thought of there possibly being no more space flights is sad.
Elm- Good point…
Anon- Thanks!
Crucis- I think Rutan will, but there won’t be any “real” shuttles, they are just too expensive.
Earl- That would be a hellva idea, but everything retrogrades sooner or later… dammit…
Fuzzy- Not only sad, but stupid too!
Some where there is an individual (or small group) that’s going to put space flight on a practical, economic footing. Then the government will come along to tax and regulate it out of existence. SIGH.
I miss the optimistic 60s.
Stretch- Agreed!