Lego Matrix!

Here is a very very cool video of Matrix redone in lego! The scene is from when Neo is on the building top where he moves like the agents. The video took Trever Boyd and Steve Ilett, 400+ to make! It was make just in time for the 10 year anniversary of the Matrix! Video after the jump.

La pioggia cadeva insistente da giorni. Senza tregua.

Le strade , trasformate in acquitrini, impedivano di fatto ogni circolazione. La città era ferma.

Dietro la vetrina della sua bottega Camillo Buoncammino osservava con abulia le filiere d’acqua che il cielo sgorgava generosamente. Non pensava a nulla. Le raffiche di vento ogni tanto spezzavano disordinatamente quei cordoncini d’acqua spargendo e spruzzando acqua in ogni direzione. Una sagoma intabarrata e fradicia comparve per un secondo nella sua visuale. La curiosità abbattè repentinamente il torpore e il corpulento Camillo si fiondò verso la porta a vetri.  L’uomo era francamente obeso, con un ventre sporgente e flaccido. Un triplo mento ornava un volto praticamente glabro e dondolava con leggerezza ad ogni minimo movimento della testa. Il cranio era avvolto da una fila, unica, di capelli di riporto che partendo da dietro l’orecchio destro raggiungeva l’altro orecchio e lo superava abbondantemente. Unto e forfora impastavano quei radi capelli rossastri di tintura, denunciando una sincera immagine di sporcizia. Il naso era bitorzoluto e sformato da un vecchio rinofima sempre trascurato, e grosse e lerce vibrisse fuoriuscivano dalle larghe narici. Le palpebre gonfie e pesanti ricoprivano per metà due occhi dalle sclere giallastre e dallo sguardo spento e lubrico. Baffetti sottilissimi e tinti sovrastavano il labbro superiore la cui schiusura apriva alla vista pochi denti,  gialli e tarlati tra i quali si faceva strada un alito fetido e nauseabondo.

Le consunte ciabatte affondarono nell’acqua alta parecchi millimetri  e il grosso, flaccido e lurido corpo dell’uomo fu investito immediatamente da miliardi di gocce penetranti e sferzanti. La testa , in una frazione di secondo, roteò in tutte le direzioni e inquadrò la sagoma che, nel frattempo, si era riparata sotto un vicino portone. Tranne quei due non c’era nessun altro e, un cielo nerissimo e gravido d’acqua urlava che  per quel giorno altri esseri viventi non se ne sarebbero più visti.

Raffiche di vento in ogni direzione scuotevano l’esile sagoma che, stanca fradicia e infreddolita, a stento si reggeva in piedi. Una logora e zuppa mantella forniva un ormai inutile riparo a quella donna sperduta nel tempo. Due occhi vivacissimi e nerissimi scrutavano ora il cielo ora la strada e un tremito di freddo increspava la pelle del volto esposto all’intemperie. Un grosso neo lambiva lo zigomo destro e il suo colorito scuro contrastava fortemente col biancore dell’incarnato. Il naso, piccolo e delicato, ornava due labbra carnose e sensuali appena ricoperte da un filo scolorito di rossetto, verosimilmente rosso.

Buoncammino apparve d’incanto,  con tutta la sua corpulenza e il suo laidume esasperati dagli indumenti appiccati addosso. La donna sollevò lo sguardo e avvertì immediatamente il pericolo. Buoncammino non perse tempo e si avvicinò rapidamente con le braccia tese per afferrare la preda. La donna indietreggiò ma scivolò e cadde. In un lampo Camillo le fu addosso e le strappò con ferocia la gonna e le mutande. Il suo peso schiacciava e immobilizzava la donna che non emise un gemito. Con gesti rapidi e usuali si sbottonò la patta e mise fuori il suo strumento d’offesa pronto all’azione. Un sorriso beffardo e maligno diede sfogo ad un soffio di alito fetido che investì il volto della malcapitata. Ma fu l’ultima cosa che fece. Ci volle del tempo prima che riuscisse a liberarsi di quell’ingombro divenuto ancor più massiccio e pesante. Quando fu in piedi un conato precedette un fiotto di vomito che investì involontariamente il basso ventre di quello schifoso individuo ormai sedato per sempre. Dopo aver respirato a pieni polmoni e rimessasi in sesto, la donna lasciò il portone e sparì sotto la pioggia.

Il portinaio dello stabile inciampò in quella enorme massa il mattino seguente. Il sole splendeva come non mai, anche sul corpo grasso e senza vita di Camillo. Un grosso coltello a serramanico era ben piantato nel costato e il sangue, mescolato con l’acqua, aveva dipinto di ruggine i vestiti dell’uomo per poi raccogliersi in una piccola pozza alle sue spalle.  L’indagine della polizia fu breve e superficiale. Il caso fu archiviato già dopo quindici giorni, appena eseguita l’autopsia e in assenza di qualsiasi elemento che potesse far risalire all’assassino.  I giornali locali ne parlarono per qualche giorno poi tutto fu dimenticato. Gli articoli furono severi ed obiettivi: era morto uno stupratore abituale. Il suo passato era stato scrutato nei minimi particolari portando alla luce le attività  di quell’essere abietto. Cionondimeno  rimarcavano il misterioso delitto rimasto impunito.

Nell’ufficio postale di via Palestro , allo sportello 5 , l’impiegata leggeva il giornale approfittando di un momento di stasi. L’ufficio era stranamente deserto e silenzioso. Solo il ronzio di una mosca e il frusciare delle pagine del giornale scuotevano, a tratti, il silenzio irreale e l’aria stagnante e impregnata di sudore .

Alla voce ferma e stentorea che richiedeva un servizio, l’impiegata posò immediatamente il quotidiano ed eseguì l’operazione richiesta. I due si conoscevano di vista e nell’attesa che le macchine compissero il loro dovere, scambiarono due  chiacchiere. E l’omicidio del grassone non poteva non rientrare in quella conversazione.  Intascando ricevuta e resto il vecchio signore fece per allontanarsi ed uscire ma prima si girò un attimo e quasi bisbigliando disse : ” se l’è meritato quel porco, avevo sempre sospettato che fosse un losco individuo”. E dopo aver calorosamente salutato aprì la porta e sparì per strada. L’impiegata sorrise e con la mano si lisciò, come era d’abitudine, il grosso neo sullo zigomo destro.

☂ ogni riferimento a persone o fatti è puramente casuale

The dynamic duo is back at it again with a new song “Outta The Window”. The song is def cool, it seems anything they do can’t be wack. I say this not as a fan, but based on their track record. The group has an upcoming EP, Boudoir Synema: The Great Mistape; which is set to drop on December 25. Seems like Lupe isn’t the only one with having music as a xmas gift.

DOWNLOAD: J*DaVeY – Outta the Window

Vaknar i svinottan och läser DN över en kopp thé. Lille Neo har vägrats vård för sin svininfluensa och hans mamma – som jag antar är ett stort fan av filmen Matrix – har anmält fallet till Hälso- och sjukvårdens ansvarsnämnd. Jag vet inte riktigt, nu framgår det inte av förstasidan huruvida lille Neo överlevde eller inte och jag har inte orkat läsa artikeln, men det verkar som att fler dör av att vägras vård än av svininfluensan själv. Nä, jag drar inga större växlar på det, det här är inte en landstingspolitisk blogg.

Sen läser jag Bengt Ohlssons krönika om påsar. Jag vet inte riktigt det heller – karlen vill inte ha en påse. Nähä? Tacka nej då, kanske? ”Jag behöver ingen påse” är en kort, koncis och lättfattlig replik som de allra flesta förstår. Mamma gillar Bengt Ohlsson. Själv tycker jag att han börjar påminna mer och mer om Hanna Hellquist (som för övrigt skriver krönikan i nästa nummer, yay!… not.), fast medelålders och man. Själv är jag avis som fan för att nån av dem får skriva i DN. Det kanske är för att de skriver med en viss regelbundenhet?

Morgonen räddas av Fredrik Strage. Han förstår inte heller hur någon kan vilja titta på Idol eller Körslaget utan att samtidigt vilja inta cyanid, och han har inte ens vett att skämmas över att vara en sån ärans kultursnobb. Hans krönika ger mig flashbacks tillbaka till förra sommaren när jag låg med en bruten handled i soffan och följde samtliga eftermiddagssändningar på tv, från reprisen av gårdagens Oprah till McLeod’s Daughters och Hem till gården. Att jag inte blev kliniskt deprimerad då är en av livets större gåtor.

För övrigt: uppsatsdokumentet som i tisdags var tio sidor har vuxit till 27. Alla fältanteckningar som sedan april legat i en hög på skrivbordet är prydligt infogade under passande rubriker i sagda dokument, och sedan instoppade i en pärm i bokhyllan. Idag ska det byggas teori. Imorgon är det DM.

vídeo em stop motion muito daora feito com LEGO do filme MATRIX, a cena clássica do NEO desviando do tiro..

Neo biegnący przez ostateczną wersję tunelu.

This post is dedicated to one of my best friends Morgan. As you know we here at SD love Stop Motion. Love it.

This is probably one of the better stop motion finds in a while. It’s quite literally the bullet time scene from the original Matrix film…. done in legos. Time it took to complete this? 400 hours.

I’ll post the side by side under the cut. It’s definitely worth checking out because you can see how impossibly accurate it is to the actual movie.

“The Augustine Commission for Dummies”

(Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Wrap Up.)

Given the intent of the politicians to fight for the funding their districts currently receive from the Constellation Program (CxP – the current program developing the Ares I and Ares V rockets) as well as go begging for more, and given the budget constraints the NASA faces, it is instructive to see where this course will end up. In the Senate, Richard Shelby has announced his intention to fight for Constellation and will try to increase funding to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida is fighting for Kennedy Space Center and all the jobs and funding there. In the House, Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona and Pete Olson of Texas have dug in their heels and reiterated their backing of the Constellation program (See Space News, 21 November 2009).

All this is taking place against the backdrop of the Augustine Commission’s Final Report, which has made it clear that Ares I is over budget and underpowered. As Jeff Greason said at the Committee deliberations, if Santa Clause gave us Ares I and Ares V tomorrow, we would have to scrap them immediately because they would be too expensive to operate.

The Forum at NasaSpaceFlight has been for many years the authoritative site for information on all things NASA. It has been home to the rebel alliance of NASA and industry engineers that have advocated the in-line shuttle derived launch vehicle for the past four years.

The source of this concern was former Administrator Michael Griffin’s decision in 2005 to replace the dual-launch, in-line shuttle derived architecture recommended by NASA engineers, with his personal choice of a small Ares I and a very large Ares V. Instead of building one rocket using existing shuttle components as Congress had directed, he would build two brand new rockets. This decision came just two weeks before the scheduled release of the NASA document on the Constellation program.

Now, four years later in 2009, when the in-line shuttle derived launch vehicle should have been making its first flight, we are five or six years away from Ares I making its first flight. The Shuttle is scheduled for retirement next year and America will have to buy seats on the Russian Soyuz to get to the International Space Station. And the International Space Station is scheduled for de-commissioning in 2015 and would be de-orbited into the Pacific Ocean.

This reality gave birth to the Augustine Commission and its Final Report. We have covered in detail the findings of the Committee. Now we look to consider the possible outcomes.

Philip Metschan (writing as ‘Phoegh’), a long time contributor to the Forum at NasaSpaceFlight, has produced a marvelous interactive series of graphics available at directlauncher.com that illustrate the options identified by the Augustine Commission.

The Budget and Time Line for these options are given in the following table. Included are destinations beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) and the impact of each option on the existing workforce.

We can draw the following conclusions, which are illustrated in the Graphics mentioned earlier and shown below. We start with Option 1, the Program of Record (POR – Constellation) and the funding level provided in FY 2010:

• Option 1 – Ares I crew vehicle is ready a year after the ISS is de-orbited (2015) and Ares V is completed in 2028 with no funds to conduct exploration. There is no Moon in the picture.
• Option 2 – Scrap Ares I and substitute Commercial Crew Access to LEO. The money saved is used to keep the ISS operating until 2020. Ares V is completed in 2028 with no funds to conduct exploration. There is no Moon in the picture.
• Option 3 – Add $3 Billion per year to the existing program. Ares I crew vehicle is ready a year after the ISS is de-orbited (2015) and Ares V is completed in 2019. The Moon is reached in 2025, but no other destinations beyond LEO can be funded.
• Option 4 – Add $3 Billion per year to the existing program. Scrap Ares I and substitute Commercial Crew Access to LEO. The money saved is used to keep the ISS operating until 2020. Ares V is completed in 2023. The Moon is reached in 2030, but no other destinations beyond LEO can be funded.
• Option 4B – Add $3 Billion per year to the existing program. Extend the Shuttle to 2015. Scrap Ares I and substitute Commercial Crew Access to LEO. The money saved is used to keep the ISS operating until 2020. Ares V is completed in 2023. Develop the Propellant Depot by 2026. The Moon is reached in 2030.
• Option 5A – Add $3 Billion per year to the existing program. Scrap Ares I and substitute Commercial Crew Access to LEO. The money saved is used to keep the ISS operating until 2020. Scrap Ares V in favor of a smaller Ares V Lite, which is completed in 2023. Visit EML-1 or EML-2 in 2026. Visit a Near Earth Object (NEO) Sometime in the Future.
• Option 5B – Add $3 Billion per year to the existing program. Scrap Ares I and substitute Commercial Crew Access to LEO. The money saved is used to keep the ISS operating until 2020. Scrap Ares V in favor of a commercial heavy launch capability, which is completed in 2021. Develop the Propellant Depot by 2024. Visit a Near Earth Object (NEO) in 2026 and Phobos in 2028. Return to the Moon in 2029.
• Option 5C – Add $3 Billion per year to the existing program. Scrap Ares I and substitute Commercial Crew Access to LEO. The money saved is used to keep the ISS operating until 2020. Scrap Ares V in favor of a the Direct Team’s Jupiter 241, which is completed in 2022. Visit EML-1 or EML-2 in 2023. Develop the Propellant Depot by 2024. Visit a Near Earth Object (NEO) in 2027 and Phobos in 2029. Return to the Moon in 2030.

Those are the options explored by the Augustine Commission in their Final Report.

Notice, however, that there is one more slide, Option 5D. This is the architecture that was presented to the Augustine Commission during their first public session on 17 June 2009 by the Direct Team. It provides for:

• Add $1 Billion per year to the existing program.
• Extend Shuttle until 2012.
• Scrap Ares I and develop the Jupiter Core (Jupiter 130) for carrying crew on Orion to LEO and ISS by 2014.
• Develop Commercial Crew Access to LEO to replace the Jupiter 130 by 2015. Use Jupiter 130 for ferrying the few large payloads needed by ISS.
• Continue ISS operations until 2020.
• Scrap Ares V in favor of the Upper Stage for the Jupiter Core (Jupiter 241 or Jupiter 246), which is completed in 2017.
• Visit EML-1 or EML-2 in 2018.
• Orbit the Moon in 2019.
• Visit a Near Earth Object (NEO) in 2022.
• Visit Phobos in 2025.
• Develop the Propellant Depot by 2028.

The key here is that the goal of expansion of human civilization into the Solar System is better served, is accomplished sooner, and costs less. Indeed, even without the additional $1 Billion per year, only the extension of the Shuttle operation need be eliminated.

Final Conclusions

• Options 1, 2 and 3, which are favored by the politicians with space flight facilities, get us nowhere and cost far too much.
• Options 4 and 4B get us to the Moon, but neither builds infrastructure for support of future exploration.
• Options 5A, 5B and 5C builds the skills and infrastructure for space exploration, but leave us a crew to LEO gap of five to six years.
• Option 5D builds the skills and infrastructure for space exploration, reduces the crew to LEO gap to one or two years, and gives the international community the ability to descend to the surface of the Moon and Mars.

Time is of the Essence

Finally, this note about the political realities. First, if a decision is delayed for four to six months while the politicians fight for every last bit of funding they want, the infrastructure on which the Jupiter program builds will be dismantled and Options 4B, 5C and 5D will be eliminated.

Second, Congress will likely decide that the Constellation program as currently envisioned is too costly for what will be developed and not worth throwing more money down the drain. Options 1, 2, 3, 4B and 5A will be eliminated.

Thus, only commercial crew and cargo capabilities will be funded. NASA will be reduced to research and contracting for services. The Marshall Space Flight Facility will have little purpose. And the politicians will lose most of the jobs and funding that their districts currently enjoy.

(Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Wrap Up.)

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my discovery of the Incarnation Figure as an archetype in storytelling. There are obvious connections between this and the Christ Figure that w are so familiar with given that the Christ that the figures tend to emulate began being Christ through incarnation, the embodiment of something greater in than our world in our world. But the difference that I pointed out is that Christ Figures tend to have death and resurrection or sacrificial element to them and Incarnation Figures don’t always express that.
As intriguing and powerful as Christ Figures can be, I find them troublesome at times. I have seen too many Christians try to grade a story’s value on the presence or lack of Christ Figure. If it has one, it’s a good story, if not it fails. And this is whether the story is told well or the characters are believable or if there is any suspense to make us care what happens.
The other problem I frequently see is when a Christ figure is imposed in attempts to co-opt a story and make it a Christian tale. Take “The Matrix” for example. Certainly there is the element of sacrifice on Neo’s part as he stays behind to let the others escape. And there is something of death and resurrection. But did he really die? OR did he simply, finally understand the Matrix well enough to know that he didn’t have to die there? To me this story is more about faith and finding out what can happen when you truly believe more than it is about a Christ figure and the redemption that follows.
People often describe Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings as a Christ figure. Again there is a certain validity to that in terms of his death and resurrection. But as much as he is a Christ Figure, he is also an Odin Figure, at least up until the resurrection point. It’s almost as if Gandalf starts as Odin and finishes as Christ. And that’s not much a of a stretch given that Odin is a bit of Christ Figure himself, sacrificing himself unto himself.
But my favorite example of the failings of the overstressed Christ Figure is Hell Boy. In the second Hell Boy movie, the story follows the typical Christ Figure arch, as he sacrifices himself to save another, descends into the pits to eradicate the forces of evil and save all the Earth. Powerful stuff. But how many Christians stumble on this because he is a demon – and not just any demon, Satan’s son who’s true destiny is to bring ultimate destruction on the Earth? Is such a character an acceptable Christ Figure?
I think this is one of those examples that parallels the story of the Bronze Snake from scripture. God commanded Moses to make a bonze statue of a snake. This statue heals anyone that looks at it. The odd part is that most times that snakes appear in scripture, they are symbols of evil, demons or Satan himself. Jesus later tells us that the snake was an image of him. The image of evil expresses the ultimate good. Perhaps Hell Boy falls in this same category.

In a far away land, in a village we will pretend is named Katskill there are strange goings ons.  As the economy slides, the main street (we will pretend is named Sputnik Alley) is well painted but increasingly Disney-looking.  Houses are painted bright colours, there are signs of quaint shops, many cheerful flags fly.  However, Sputnik Alley’s shops are usually closed.  The ones that are open are of the “how the hell do they make money – are the a front for drugs?” variety with a trophy company-cum-sunglasses-n-plaster-art, shoe repair-cum-laundry soap-cum-ladies handbags, not one but two never-open thrift stores, perhaps the creepiest book store ever (oh wait, it’s gone), a rug company where you can also get a plaster saint (unpainted) or 1980s “new wave” art, more plaster things this time cats and vases,  and the largest polyester trading company this side of the Hudso… I mean Buford River.  There are fewer options every day, as stores twinkle out – the population having “taken a break” according to the mayor.  We’re talking about a village where you can’t get a cup of coffee on the weekend since the cafe (that closes at 2:30 PM on weekdays) is never open and the “cafe” (that’s what it’s called) owners are offended if you enter for a “to go” cup of joe cause, “This is a fucking restaurant, we’re not going to drop everything for one cup of coffee.” [Actual quote]

Increasingly, a Twin Peaks atmosphere has rolled over what is perhaps the most charming and useful location, a focal point of river, creek, and mountain activity and historic launching point for said environs and not just an historic point on… Buford River but one that should draw boaters, weekenders, and sundry others.  The nearby village of … Woodsawyer’s Burg and City of Buford River are doing much better and seem to be actually growing slowly in their ability to attract cityfolk and needed dollars.  This seems, then, not to be an issue of … leadership or the lack of it?

There is the leadership, and the …. poor people.  The locals of this burg have been plagued by an increase of lower-income social-emotional activity that disturbs daily life and impacts the quality of life of the few, the educated, the middle class of Sputnik Alley.  It appears that vandalism in Sputnik Alley has increased.  The police – who at this time appear to outnumber the full time residents – are no longer leaving their station, redubbed Chief Domestic All Rise Local In Nottingham Garrison  and local Ticket Emporium, and due to this and other concerns, sundry locals are coming out of their shelters, caves, and of course the rail road bridge next to the aptly named Hobowl bowling center (not that any of this is real or exists) to make their presence known on Sputnik Alley and other side streets.  So, here it is, the citizens are plagues by a reduction in the quality of life, especially when it comes to damage to property.  When one citizen (not this one)complained to the local paper, the editors – ahem, the owners – of said paper quashed the story.  As a matter of fact, it is reported, that the business association said they did not want the paper to run the story either since they did not feel this issue needed to be dealt with in the papers.  For a hive of Republicans, how Soviet.  News blackouts?  Controlled message?  Ah, this writer has outrage fatigue.  To hell with structured thought.  How about an old fashioned, fuck our leaders.

Schwerpunkt International is proposing a launch of the People’s Republik of Katskill.  Why not?  The people need to start kicking back and take our education and shove it up our metaphorical asses and roll up the sleeves and get into the mud and start – metaphorically – bashing the faces of the powers that be.  People’s Republik of Katskill, here we are.

(Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Wrap Up.)

In Part 1, we looked at the pieces strewn about our living room floor. In Part 2, we examined the Goals and Destinations in Chapter 3.0. And in Part 3, the three current Human Space Flight programs were reviewed (International Space Station, the Space Shuttle and the Constellation Program). In Part 4, we looked at the launch vehicles examined by The Augustine Commission.

Chapter 6 of the Augustine Commission Final Report deals with Program Options and Evaluation. This is one of the many contentious issues commentators have with the Commission. While they did select five possible exploration programs (Chapter 6), and while they did evaluate various launch vehicles (Chapter 5), the Committee seems to have ignored the possibility that different launch vehicles have greater or lesser ability to cover the five exploration programs. This failure may in the end, prove to be disastrous for human space exploration. As we write, the Space Shuttle infrastructure is being actively dismantled. The end result of failing to evaluate the physical infrastructure and the human infrastructure capable of supporting a Shuttle derived architecture may be that the United States is left with no heavy lift human space flight capability for at least the next several decades. We may have surrendered our space faring capability to Europe, China, Russia, India and Japan.

6.1 Evaluation Criteria

As noted by the Commission:

The Committee did not intend that the evaluation would generate a single numerical score; rather, it would provide a basis for comparison across options, highlighting the opportunities and challenges associated with each. Assigning weights to individual figures of merit is within the purview of the ultimate decision-makers.

Three primary evaluation dimensions were identified:

• Benefits to Stakeholders
• Risk
• Budget Realities

These three dimensions were expanded into 12 criteria for comparing the options.

• Exploration Preparation
• Technology Innovation
• Science Knowledge
• Expanding and Protecting Human Civilization
• Economic Expansion
• Global Partnerships
• Public Engagement
• Schedule and Programmatic Risk
• Mission Safety Challenges
• Workforce Impact
• Programmatic Sustainability
• Life-Cycle Cost

6.2 Key Decisions and Integrated Options

6.2.1 Key Decisions

1. What should be the future of the Space Shuttle?
2. What should be the future of the International Space Station (ISS)?
3. On what should the next heavy-lift launch vehicle be based?
4. How should crews be carried to low-Earth orbit?
5. What is the most practicable strategy for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit?

6.2.2 Integrated Options

The Committee identified five basic options: One based on the Program of Record (POR – Constellation – Ares I and V, Orion and Altair), and four alternatives. Options 2 and 3 were budget compatable alternatives to the POR. Option 4 was a Moon First program (with two variations), and Option 5 was the Flexible Path (avoiding the gravity well of the Moon).

6.2.3 Methodology for Analyzing the Integrated Options

Two budgets were used. The “Constrained Budget” used the FY 2010 budget, while the “Less Constrained Budget” allowed for an increase by 2014 of $3 Billion per year higher than FY 2010.

6.2.4 Reference Cases of the Entirely Unconstrained Program of Record

The Program of Record was evaluated and found to be a total of $45 Billion over the FY 2010 budget by 2020, wherein it is $5 Billion a year over FY 2010 in 2016 and $7 Billion per year over FY 2010 in 2019.

6.3 Integrated Options Constrained to the FY 2010 Budget

6.3.1 Evaluation of Integrated Options 1 and 2

Option 1 was found to allow for rocket development, but lacked funds for exploration. Option 2 extends the lifetime of the ISS, delays rocket development, and has no funds for exploration.

6.3.2 Examination of alternate budget guidance

The Committee found no alternatives to Options 1 or 2 that were viable under the FY 2010 budget. This conclusion has been disputed.

6.4 Moon First Integrated Options Fit to the Less-Constrained Budget

6.4.1 Evaluation of Integrated Options 3 and 4

Option 3 was to execute the POR under a less constrained budget. The ISS is de-orbited in 2010, and the Shuttle flies the remaining missions into 2011. Human lunar return occurs in the mid 2020s and the lunar base becomes operation late in the decade. An alternate extending ISS to 2020 was found to push these dates out by three to four more years.

Option 4 uses the less constrained budget, scraps Ares I and substitutes commercial crew services by 2016 It extends the ISS to 2020. Ares V is scrapped in favor of a dual-launch Ares V Lite vehicle for lunar missions.

Option 4A retires the Shuttle in 2011, while Option 4B extends the Shuttle to 2015 and develops a Shuttle Derived Heavy Lift vehicle in place of Ares V Lite.

6.4.2 Examination of the key decision on the ISS extension

Given the International Partnerships that have been developed, and the fact that the extension to 2020 would only delay the lunar return by a few years, the Committee found that the extension provides greater value than ending the ISS mission.

6.4.3 Examination of the key decision on Ares V vs. Ares V Lite dual launch

Baseline Ares V has more launch capability than the Saturn V, but current NASA studies show that when used in combination with Ares I, it does not have enough launch capability to robustly deliver the currently planned landing and surface systems to the Moon.

The Committee concluded that Ares V Lite represents less development risk, likely will reduce costs and provides more substantial margin for the lunar mission.

6.4.4 Examination of the key decision on the provision of crew transport to low-Earth orbit

Commercial crew services, based on a high-reliability rocket with a capsule and launch escape system could significantly reduce development costs, as well as lower operating costs.

6.4.5 Examination of the key question on Shuttle extension

The Committee favored early retirement of the Shuttle (2010 or 2011), although they noted several advantages to Shuttle extension to 2015, including up-mass and down-mass capability and workforce retention.

6.5 Flexible Path Integrated Options Fit to the Less-Constrained Budget

6.5.1 Evaluation of Integrated Option 5

Option 5 operates the Shuttle into 2011 and extends the International Space Station mission until 2020. A variety of destinations beyond low earth orbit are possible. The Committee developed three variants of this option.

• Option 5A develops the Ares V Lite, visits the Lagrange points, near Earth objects, on-orbit refueling and achieves a lunar return by the end of the 2020s.
• Option 5B develops commercial heavy lift capability, restructures NASA, and follows a similar mission profile as 5A, but on a slower time line.
• Option 5C scraps Ares V Lite and develops a Shuttle Derived Heavy Lift vehicle. 5C follows a similar mission profile as 5A, but on a slower time line.

6.5.2 Examination of the key question on Ares V family vs. Shuttle-derived heavy launcher

While the Shuttle derived in-line launch vehicle (SDLV) with two four-segment solid rocket motors (SRM) and the 8.4 meter external tank (ET) was the 2005 ESAS candidate for the cargo vehicle, it was forced to evolve into the Ares V due to the problems encountered with the underpowered Ares I. For some reason, the Committee decided that in order to match the capabilities of the Ares V, or the Ares V Lite dual-launch mission, that there had to be three SDLV launches. Therefore, operations would be more costly.

This is a clear Committee miss, as the current planned lunar return missions can be accomplished with good margin by a dual-launch SDLV program, thus costing less than the Ares V Lite. There is no need for the enhanced capabilities of the dual-launch Ares V Lite.

6.5.3 Examination of the key question on NASA heritage vs. EELV-heritage super-heavy vehicles

The Committee considers the EELV-heritage super-heavy vehicle to be a way to significantly reduce the operating cost of the heavy lifter to NASA in the long run. It would be a less-capable vehicle, but probably sufficiently capable for the mission. Reaping the long-term cost benefits would require substantial disruption in NASA, and force the agency to adopt a new way of doing business.

6.6 Comparisons Across Integrated Options

6.6.1 Cross-option comparisons

The Flexible Path program (Option 5A) scores more highly than the Baseline (Option 3) on 9 of the 12 criteria outlined in section 6.1 ( See figure 6.6.1-1). The higher rankings include:

• Exploration Preparation (due to much more capable launch system)
• Technology (due to investment in technology)
• Science (because of more places visited)
• Human Civilization (due to the ISS extension)
• Economic Expansion (because of commercial involvement in space elements and crew transport)
• Global Partnerships (gained by extending the ISS)
• Public Engagement (by visiting more new locations, and doing so each year)
• Schedule (exploring beyond low-Earth orbit sooner)
• Life-Cycle Costs (due to commercial crew services)

6.6.2 Examination of the key question on exploration strategy

Three exploration strategies were examined in Chapter 3. The choice of Mars First was found not to be viable due to technological problems. Two strategies remained:

• Moon First on the Way to Mars, with surface exploration focused on developing capability for Mars.
• Flexible Path to Mars via the inner solar system objects and locations, with no immediate plan for surface exploration, then followed by exploration of the lunar and/or Martian surface.

The Moon first is favorable to lunar science and exploration (although much can be done robotically). The Flexible Path missions explore more of the Solar System, while initially doing less on the Moon. Flexible Path has the advantage of developing infrastructure for deep space exploration, including the moons of Mars and Mars itself. The Committe notes that:

Considering that we have visited and obtained samples from the Moon, but not near-Earth objects or Mars, and also that the Flexible Path develops the ability to service space observatories, the Science Knowledge criterion slightly favors the Flexible Path. Broadly, the more complex the environment, the more astronaut explorers are favored over robotic exploration. In practice, this means that astronauts will offer their greatest value-added in the exploration of the surface of Mars.

Final Scoring

Although the Augustine Commission did not publish a final tally of the scores (for reasons they made clear), the following table does compare and tabulate the scores.

Option 5D: We will have more to say about this proposal in our final segment: “Wrapped Up” or “The Augustine Commission for Dummies”.

(Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Wrap Up.)

Bitch!! If you set me up, I’ll hunt you down and kill you.

Atskaņas:

Bumbieris & Soulslave NEO prezentācija

bildes:

No Helmuta

No Nacionalista

Seré breve.

Quiero decir hoy algo. Mis compañeros son estupendos, todos. Y sus decisiones las respeto siempre, aunque en ocasiones no las comparta. Y además, les quiero mucho, ellos lo saben.

Sólo que hoy he de hablar de alguien, de la personita que cito en el titulo de este pequeño post. Quienes siguen los avatares de nuestra República conocen las aventuras sorteadas por una web que un día fue de dos, luego de muchos y a veces de nadie. Mónica, Mónica Frau, Neo siempre está ahí, quizá desde un discreto segundo plano cada vez más protagonista. Nunca tiró la toalla y me anima en mi empeño por continuar, sin apenas tiempo que dedicarle y con demasiados asuntos en mi mente, perdido entre nubes. No sabes, Mónica, cómo agradezco tu pasión y de cuánto me sirve para justificar la extraña costumbre que tengo de nunca decir adiós.

Por tu optimismo, tu fuerza y tu vitalidad, por plasmar las ideas en hechos y ofrecernos ejemplos de cómo hacerlo, por pensar que una Nueva Utopía es posible. Por responder siempre. Por aportar ante cada dificultad, una propuesta constructiva. Por hacerme creer que no me equivoco si decido, si decidimos continuar sin rumbo, brújula ni norte; sin saber si mañana existirá la página o nosotros mismos.

Por todo, quiero decirte hoy …gracias, Mónica!

 Ciudadano Iesu

Mange av dere som går tur har kanskje møtt Neo på tunet. Han er en ti år gammel herre, og var Hilde sin før han ble Hilde & Kristin sin.

Han startet livet som innekatt, men trente iherdig og finslipte jaktferdigheter med q-tips som det største byttet. Da vi flyttet til gården overførte han umiddelbart erfaringen med gjenstridige bomullspinner til levende vesner, og ble en effektiv jeger! Vi får servert både det ene og det andre byttet på trappa, og er vi ute når han har tatt noe kommer han løpende og mjauende for å dele sin triumf med oss.

Neo liker mennesker, og synes at det er uhørt om folk ikke stopper for å hilse. Når han vil da, selvfølgelig. Han regjerer over hundene med hard pote, har hevdet seg godt blant mormors mange katter, og har etter hvert fått tilnavnet Kongen av Søndre.

Det er deilig med personligheter rundt seg som virker så intenst tilfredse med tilværelsen som Neo gjør. Og går du over tunet og han vil hilse, synes vi at du bør ta deg tid til å stoppe og si hei, han vil definitivt sette pris på det!

Így búcsúztak el…felvételről:

(a Danubius telefonos bénázása azért kicsit gáz)