Rocket Science

Contributor Nigel has written something so nice that I can only refer to his post. He has investigated whether quantities like G or c have changed. I hope that Nigel's writings are noticed by a larger audience, NEW, CV and especially Reference Frame. Our side is winning!

This J-2 rocket engine is powered by liquid hydrogen and oxygen. The original Saturn V used five of these in its second stage, plus one in the final stage boosting astronauts toward the Moon. An updated version of this engine may be used in the new Ares V. Plans for the Moon. Mars and Beyond use a combination of new technology with what worked in the past.

This is a meeting of people really working on Space, and the excitement is infectious. Men and women are enthusiastic, entepreneurial, and optimistic about the future. There is a great feeling of teamwork toward a common goal. Everyone feels that we are on the frontier, the same feeling we have in Australia and New Zealand.

On March 25 researchers from the University of Queensland test-fired a hypersonic scramjet engine, capable of propelling an aircraft at Mach 6.5! A hypersonic aircraft would be powered by liquid methane, and neither pollute nor leave sonic booms. It would pay off economically because each plane could fly multiple long flights in a day. After enduring 14-hour flights aross the Pacific, we would love to do it in one or two.

One of Australia's best-known physicists, Paul Davies CB (Order of the Bath) will be moving to Arizona State University. He will continue to be associated with the Australian Center for Astrobiology at Macquarie University. He has written many popular books like THE COSMIC BLUEPRINT. His writings and research focus on the very origins of life and the Universe. Davies has also written about a changing speed of light!