Update from the Sunland
No.1208
24.2.25 – 2.3.25
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To all,
The second attempt of SpaceX’s Integrated Flight Test number eight (IFT-8) was successful . . . up to a point. All 33 booster engines ignited and came to full power at 17:30 [S] CST (23:30 [Z] GMT) on Thursday, 6.March.2025. The stack for IFT-8 was Super Heavy Booster 15 plus Starship 34, a Block 2 spacecraft. The ascent appeared normal through hot staging. All six engines on the Starship ignited during hot staging. Yet, at T+8:07, 30 seconds from completion of its ascent burn. all three sea-level, maneuvering engines shut down along with one of the three outer vacuum engines. With asymmetric thrust and no maneuvering engines, control was lost and the ship started to tumble. The moment of control loss was clearly identifiable in the on-ship video. Presumably, the launch crew activated the flight termination system, causing the Starship vehicle to break up, again. Big bummer! I really wanted to watch the reentry. The Booster executed its return-to-base burn, although two of the 13 middle ring engines failed to re-light. The engine malfunctions did not adversely affect the booster’s capacity to adapt and stay on profile. Booster 15 was successfully captured by the chopsticks on Launch Pad A at Boca Chica, for the third successful booster catch.
Two Rapid Unscheduled Disassemblies (RUDs) of Block 2 Starships in a row is really not good and hardly a coincidence. Both failures were virtually identical. I am confident the engineering team will eventually figure out what happened and correct the problem(s).
These launches never cease to amaze me. SpaceX seems to have mastered the booster flight challenges. The Starship is proving to be more problematic. So much was invested in that vehicle. I do not like coincidences. They must solve the problem(s) swiftly but more importantly effectively. The publicly available information suggests a phenomenon associated with the vacuum of space and low fuel quantity (at the end of the ascent burn) occurred that affects the Raptor engines causing them to fail or shut down. If so, those conditions are not easily replicated in the atmosphere. Two similar failures in a row suggest the engineers will likely do a deep dive into all the data collected during the eight minutes of successful flight. They will solve the problem(s).
The constitutionally mandated State of the Union report to Congress was delivered by President [no name] on Tuesday evening. To be frank and candid, it was just another MAGAt stimulation rally full of exaggerations, false statements, and outright lies, far too many for me to address in this humble forum. I just do not have enough time or capacity. I will say, however, that his speaking traits are really irritating as he twists and fidgets in a predominately monotone drone. While the majority of his speech was read from the teleprompter, the con-man deviated too many times into impromptu, stream of consciousness, off-the-cuff comments. He rambled! When he went off script, he spoke in halting, disjointed, random words and sentence fragments that are so bloody distracting, confusing, and infuriating.
I will illuminate a few details among far too many that bother me considerably. [No name] stated he would take back the Panama Canal “one way or another” and renewed his interest in acquiring Greenland. The “Ugly American” hegemonic drivel is contemptible at the very least. That man’s continuing retribution tour is boring, tiresome, and demeaning to the Republic. His conduct is un-American. Regardless of the good things he may be doing, [no name] is a direct and glaring insult to the Republic and its accomplished history.
Our ancestors fought two world wars without the motivation of conquest or empire. Now, we have a president who truly believes he was “saved by God to Make America Great Again.” The audacity, arrogance, and profound “Ugly American Syndrome” were on graphic display Tuesday evening in the longest State of the Union report ever delivered to Congress and We, the People.
Senator Elissa Blair Slotkin of Michigan delivered the Democratic Party response to the president’s State of the Union report. I must say she delivered a polished and effective speech. Slotkin focused on the direction of the nation rather than the brain-farts of [no name]—a very refreshing change. She is someone to watch and pay attention to.
When we see people who look different, sound different, or act different, it is extraordinarily easy to condemn, ostracize, or reject those who are different. When a person or a group holds governmental executive or legislative power, the temptation to issue orders or pass laws to enforce their beliefs often becomes too hard to resist. Conformity is a strong motivator to use that governmental power to enforce their belief on everyone. So it has been with this administration and conservatives in general. To that end, President [no name] issued an executive order declaring only male and female genders will be recognized by the federal government. To be clear, gender ambiguity and gender dysphoria have existed in human beings since our ancestors began to walk upright. Science did not begin to recognize the biological/physiological states until the 1950s. Further, human sexuality has been a spectrum just as long. It has never been bipolar as the president’s order suggests. There are not many human features that are more personal and private than gender. I understand and acknowledge that conservative minds can imagine all kinds of potential scenarios with such broad representations. However, just because the potential exists, does not mean the reality exists. Further, a handful of anomalies does not justify imposing upon every citizen’s fundamental right to privacy and freedom of choice. I have no idea how the conservatives expect to enforce these fallacious notions, and even worse, they intend to define or enforce their concept of gender and sexuality.
That stated, I fully support and defend the necessity of women’s sports being for women. Where I get crosswise with the current administration and popular conservative notions rests in how the conservatives intend to enforce such a rule. Are they going to have a public inspection of genitalia? If they propose to do any inspection, they must inspect everyone? If this is beginning to sound ridiculous and offensive, I say good . . . it should be, because it is. What happens when an athlete is born with ambiguous genitalia? When does a transgender male-to-female qualify as a female to play female sports? What and who determines the threshold? Yes, we need a process or definitive requirement, and whatever the criteria, they must be uniformly and fairly applied. I absolutely and categorically reject singling out an individual because of their name, their appearance, their hair style, their preferred pronoun, or any other social factor. I want non-binary individuals treated with respect, fairness, and dignity. Non-binary individuals are entitled to all the rights we cherish just like any other citizen.
While I am at it, the same principles should apply to restrooms and other gender-based segregated services and facilities. Let’s get government out of our private lives.
Comments and contributions from Update no.1207:
Comment to the Blog:
“People are still quietly researching the 2024 election.
“Admitting Ukraine would serve NATO’s mission.
“The current administration has no rationales. They’re insane, not rational.
“What is ‘wet work’?
“The bizarre ‘reforms’ affect MAGAts including (but not limited to) veterans and farmers. They’re expressing surprise and outrage, but I don’t know if they’re getting media coverage.
“FOTUS fired our top military officers just when he’s trying to start World War III. It’s hard not to smell kompromat.
“There’s still no point in moralizing about voting rates.”
My response to the Blog:
Quite so! And probably for a long time to come as the consequences of that election play out.
Yes, it would. Ukraine is not a pristine, faultless nation. However, since 2014 and the revolution, the Ukrainians have striven mightily to be better, to embrace democracy, and to seek freedom with peace among its neighbors. Corruption (a holdover from Soviet rule) has been a plague they must deal with before they could become European. Ukraine deserves the protection of NATO against the bear to the north; they have earned it in blood.
That is my opinion as well. There is one man who is the source of this insanity and chaos. However, we must never forget, there are 77M American citizens who encouraged and enabled that man. Those who voted for him must shoulder the responsibility.
‘Wet’ is a delicate euphemism for blood. [No name] has no intention of getting his hands dirty, and Musk holds no apparent reservations about being [no name]’s designated fall-guy when the bottom falls out. Think plausible deniability. That man will claim, “I had no idea. I hardly knew him.”
They are not getting the media coverage, but I suspect they will as [no name] drives the nation’s economy into recession. The first hard view we will get is next year’s mid-term elections. We shall see.
Oh my, I had to look up the definition of “kompromat.” We must never forget that the contemporary FSB has a very long history of using blackmail and many other intimidation techniques. Their history goes back to the Cheka, NKVD, GRU, KGB, and all the other Russian (Soviet) state security apparatuses used by that country’s rulers to impose their will. [No name] has played directly into that web just as if he had been caught in a “honey trap.”
I am not moralizing. I am only stating my observations. The old saying applies, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. So it is with voting. I call ‘em as I see ‘em.
. . . with follow-up comment:
“I see Ukraine joining NATO not as a matter of Ukraine’s virtues or flaws but as a useful bulwark against Russia.
“History shows that demagogues often have been able to sway voters. I’m not interested in moral judgments but in the welfare of the people and the planet.
“As far as I’m aware, no actual blood is involved in Muskrat’s work. “Dirty work” is a more recognizable phrase.
“Beyond the usual Russian kompromat techniques, Epstein collected a great deal of evidence on the powerful, and FOTUS was a frequent flier on his planes.
“Talk of holding voters responsible for the actions of elected officials is moral judgment.”
. . . my follow-up response:
Yes, now there is that, just as we embraced the Baltic states and Eastern Europe. What did they all have in common with Ukraine? They all voluntarily sought membership in NATO for a protective shield against the hegemonic bear to their east.
Quite so . . . case in point, Germany 1932. I am with you in our collective concern for the welfare of people and the planet.
“Blood” is a figure of speech. I am not aware of any blood being spilled (as yet), but it is indeed dirty work, and that man wants plausible deniability.
That is the way it looks to me as well. But, that observation is consistent with that man’s very flawed character.
Yes, that part is, but not failure to perform their duty and obligation to the republic—voting.
Another contribution:
“I am sharing your latest Update (no.1207). There is so much to cover, and I dissent to the bulk of your opinion, and with principled fundamental differences on how we view today's politics both internally and geopolitically. I attached a screenshot of my partial reply to your Update no.1204, posted to you on 2/12, regarding you caring for our nation. I continue to know that about you. No matter what I write, I am most doubtful I can influence your paradigms which you view our world. However, over time (multiple decades), I've tried. You and I usually always agree on our take on the many aviation crashes we have an interest in. I have much respect for your accomplishments in aviation, military, as an author, and study of our world's society, culture and politics.
“Many of us in support of Trump and the specific team he has, may not always agree with DJT's style (coarse), but we wanted the changes in our nation. What the liberal alphabet news agencies describe as CHAOS, perhaps that very dynamism is required to CHANGE what has been long broken, much with corruption, waste, and likely criminal activity hidden from most Americans.
“Personally, I felt we were on a humanity-ending collision path with Russia, we, NATO and the West. It was apparent the Deep State which Biden was/is very much connected to, could care less that our paths of USA v. Russia were most dangerous, with risks that none of us can afford, regardless of endless strength projection we were attempting towards Russia. The dangers continue to exist and may escalate, but with Team Trump, I am hopeful, far more so than with Biden or his planted successor Kamala Davis.
“There is no doubt in my mind from my studies that The West continued with NATO, an eastward expansion after promised were broken with Russia. We abandoned the START treaties (2019).
“If Mexico, on our border, were to go pro-Russia, or join BRICS, I am sure we might feel as threatened as Russia has with an expansive E.U. + NATO, not to mention that contrary to your assertion, yes, Ukraine has very much been courting NATO for membership, prior to the 2021 Russian invasion on Ukraine's borders. Any kind of post-war peace agreement will guarantee Ukraine security, but Russia will not allow NATO entry for Ukraine, as you propose. That is absolutely a Russian RED line.
“I am sorry I did not get back to you on Update no.1204 (2/12). I got a bit distracted and the anniversary of my mom's passing on occurred shortly after, and then I became sick. Am better, one of the many viruses that are lurking out there.”
My reply:
I encourage dissent, my friend. Public debate is an essential element of democracy.
At the bottom line, I seek to learn. I search for knowledge over ignorance. I find no benefit to ignorance. Ignorance is what gets you shot down.
To be clear, my objections to [the person who shall no longer be named] are not as simple as style. My objections stem from his deeply rooted personality traits imbedded in him by his parents when he was a child. I have a long history of condemnation of the Ugly American Syndrome, and that man has gone way beyond that threshold. He is a textbook antithesis case of leadership; that is not style; it is the antithesis—ignorance. His style may work in business, but it cannot work in a democracy.
I respectfully shall disagree with you regarding “a humanity-ending collision path with Russia.” That is exactly what Putin and his ultra-right-wing base of support in the Federation Council and the State Duma have threatened the world with. [No name]’s public admonishment to President Zelenky—"You’re gambling with World War III”—is essentially word for word what Putin has said in his saber-rattling from the beginning of his invasion of Ukraine. Putin has used those words to intimidate and cower the United States and NATO from supporting Ukraine. You can choose to believe Putin and [no name], but I see them both for what they are—schoolyard bullies. It is my belief that [no name]intends to impose Russia’s hegemonic demands on Ukraine . . . that is what we witnessed last Friday. I urge the United States to stand up against such saber-rattling intimidation. I stand with Ukraine and Europe. I condemn the despicable performance of President [no name] in that ambush in the Oval Office last Friday.
Why do you think we broke our promise to Russia? We did not seek Ukrainian membership in NATO. Ukraine sought security, peace, and protection from a belligerent bully neighbor. And . . . who abandoned START? Let us call a spade a spade, my friend. Hell, yes, Ukraine has been courting NATO for membership; it is their only logical choice. Submitting to Russian intimidation and subjugation is not the freedom and independence they seek. Russia has absolutely no right to impose their “red line” on Ukraine. Ukraine is a sovereign nation, just as Mexico and Canada are.
I am sorry you had a bout with illness, but I am so glad you have recovered. There is no expectation of response. Contribute as you choose and as your time capacity permits. Your opinion is always appreciated, even when I disagree.
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
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