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The Muskian Bargain
Elon Musk once sued to break ULA's launch monopoly. Twenty years later, the US government is nearly as dependent on SpaceX as it once was on ULA.
Jul 2
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Stephen C. Smith
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The Muskian Bargain
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June 2025
Jared, We Hardly Knew Ye
The Trump administration withdraws Isaacman's NASA nomination just days before the Senate was to confirm him.
Jun 1
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Stephen C. Smith
1
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Jared, We Hardly Knew Ye
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May 2025
Kennedy's Urgent National Need
Sixty-four years ago today, President Kennedy proposed the United States land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s.
May 25
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Stephen C. Smith
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Kennedy's Urgent National Need
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Losing NERVA
Project Apollo's road not taken might have used a nuclear engine to send astronauts to the moon. Six decades later, NASA still dreams of nuclear…
May 11
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Stephen C. Smith
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Losing NERVA
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The Myth of the Mercury 13
This article was originally published on my old blog on July 12, 2021. It's being reprinted here on Substack for posterity.
May 9
•
Stephen C. Smith
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The Myth of the Mercury 13
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April 2025
In Defense of Gateway
NASA's lunar space station may be targeted for budget cuts. Here's why that's a bad idea.
Apr 16
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Stephen C. Smith
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In Defense of Gateway
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You Don't Say
The headlines reported Jared Isaacman's failure to directly answer a question about Elon Musk, but the real question is if he'll have any real…
Apr 14
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Stephen C. Smith
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You Don't Say
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March 2025
The Oldest Satellite
Project Vanguard was labeled a "flopnik" by the press, but Vanguard 1 remains the oldest artificial satellite orbiting Earth.
Mar 17
•
Stephen C. Smith
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The Oldest Satellite
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Pluto is Not a Planet
Ninety-five years ago today, the Lowell Observatory announced they'd discovered the ninth planet. They were wrong.
Mar 13
•
Stephen C. Smith
1
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Pluto is Not a Planet
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February 2025
In My Back Yard
Florida Politicians are Trying to Mandate that NASA Headquarters Move to Kennedy Space Center
Feb 11
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Stephen C. Smith
1
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In My Back Yard
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January 2025
A Bad Week
NASA's Three Crewed Disasters, and Why They Happened
Jan 26
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Stephen C. Smith
2
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A Bad Week
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Who's On First
NASA and the Trump White House Can't Decide Who's in Charge
Jan 21
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Stephen C. Smith
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Who's On First
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