Guest: Dr. David Livingston, callers & emails; Topics: A variety of space topics including Alan Bean on ET, SSP, NASA, Trump lunar policy and much more. Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.
Welcome to our Open Lines discussion. During the first part of our 2 hour 3 minute program, I started the discussion with several suggested topics which as you will hear, were actually discussed by callers and those sending us email. Our first call was from Kim in Mexico. She told about the news from the Russian Space Web about Russian wanting to open a spaceport in Nova Scotia. We discussed this plus I inquired about possible launch weather in Nova Scotia. Next, Kim followed up on the topic from the last OL show, the Skyhook project as proposed by Eagle. She talked about its tethers and other problems/challenges she saw with the project. I was not that supportive of Skyhook (Eagle knows that from private emails we have exchanged) but I did throw open to listeners his desire to do a full Space Show program about it. Initially I said no but I was open to listener objective feedback. Kim also talked about others with expertise in tethers. Before she finished her call, we talked about lunar settlement policy rhetoric and got an update on her Moonwards project.
John from Ft. Worth called to talk about the Alan Bean interview and what he said about ET not wanting to visit Earth. John had particular thoughts on ET and visits and together we speculated as to why Alan Bean would be talking about this subject. I then asked John what he thought about the possibilities of the new administration actually undertaking a return to the Moon policy. John commented on the NASA budget and continued Mars talk. He then talked about the SpaceX plan to send two tourists to the Moon and back, launch licenses, and possible competition with SLS.
Rick Kwan sent in an email which I read on air, then John in Fremont called to talk about the Forbes article suggesting President Trump initiate an SSP program. John called attention to a few of the companies mentioned in the Forbes article including Solaren and ReBeam. If you are interested in ReBeam, you can find mention of it here: https://singularityhub.com/2016/08/31/5-big-ideas-from-singularity-universitys-2016-global-solutions-program. Scroll down to read about ReBeam.
In the second segment, space attorney Michael Listner called. He talked about the new NASA bill President Trump just signed, calling it a Transition Act. He said that the 2018 NASA Act will have the most meat and contents in it. Don't miss what Michael said about this NASA legislation. Michael talked about other policy issues including SLS, Mars, the NASA budget, and who might be the new NASA administrator. He then gave us a heads up to the upcoming edition of his newsletter which he said would be 50 plus pages released on this Tuesday.
Marshall was our next called to talk about the Forbes SLS article. Marshall focused on who owns satellite assets and thought that might be an issues or roadblock for SSP. We talked about liability issues, insurance, and tax accounting rules for space assets.
Adrian sent in a note that arrived just after the program ended. Here is his comment. Too bad we were unable to discuss it on air: Note, I would have read it in full on air had it not arrived late. "Regarding the earlier mention of protecting the "historical sites", we can't even protect ancient civilization sites in the middle east on earth from pillaging and destruction. How can sites located on the lunar surface be protected from also being pillaged by near future "foreign lunar tourist" of artifacts and have them being auctioned to collectors on Aliexpress. I have an idea why don't we build a wall around them and ,pardon the pun, have the Lunatics pay for them. Ha."
Please post your comments/questions on TSS blog for this show. If anyone wants to reach any of the callers or those sending in an email, please contact me.
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