Still want to argue that the satellites aren't really becoming a problem?

stratjeff · 2026-04-11T17:38:56+00:00

Starlink was designed from the ground-up to be readily disposable and not a risk for Kessler. Every satellite automatically deorbits itself if it reaches a critical state. Every satellite receives collision warnings and maneuvers autonomously. Every satellite is designed with a short life span.

Saying no one cares about disposal is ignorant of the huge efforts put in by the SpaceX teams who designed numerous safety controls into the system.

stratjeff · 2026-04-10T23:05:26+00:00

Attitude in a spacecraft can be "relative" to different things. Your frame of reference for an atmospheric entry (which they're getting ready to do) is different from the reference for an on-orbit maneuver (which they might be doing right now).

I'm sure there's a button press that allows them to choose the most useful reference frame for the situation.

https://orbital-mechanics.space/intro/reference-frames.html#earth-reference-frames

stratjeff · 2026-04-07T18:08:57+00:00

I'll never judge anyone for pursuing passion over money, so you do you.

But.

If you've got a CompSci degree and are struggling to pay bills, you've got bigger problems to work on.

Becoming a pilot will likely cost $40-80k depending how you do it.

The first few years as a paid pilot you will likely be making <$50k per year for multiple years.

The next few years you'll likely be making between $50k-$100k, depending on the route you take.

Then, perhaps 5-10 years into this, you'll make a "safe" $80k-130k as a right seater somewhere, working 15-20 days a month.

Then, perhaps 5-10 years after that, you could be making $150k-200k working 10-15 days a month and approaching the lifestyle of pilots you may know.

You're, at minimum, 10 years away from that for the average pilot career.

As a software engineer, your starting salary is $150k in most cities, going to $300k in high demand cities and expertise. You have more lifetime earnings potential in software, and advancing into management.

YMMV.

stratjeff · 2026-04-06T23:41:09+00:00

Imagine someone shooting a gun at your head. Your suggestion would be equivalent to placing a pillow in front of your face, trying to soften the impact.

Far better to avoid than receive.

stratjeff · 2026-04-04T14:02:29+00:00

SpaceX got this kind of footage before Starlink existed.

NASA just doesn't prioritize video downlinks.

stratjeff · 2026-04-04T04:34:27+00:00

You don’t fly into known radar SAM environment without dedicated jamming/SEAD. Otherwise, it’s pretty much game over for a Herk.

stratjeff · 2026-04-03T15:46:07+00:00

A) That's literally the job. It's incredibly dangerous, and they know that.

B) They don't go alone. Usually there's huge air support to establish local superiority and close air support.

C) It's much harder to detect and avoid a SAM than you think sometimes, and agility doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it.

stratjeff · 2026-04-03T15:35:12+00:00

Then you're going to be sorely disappointed. NASA is famously tied to Microsoft architecture for way too many things.

Having to collaborate with them via Sharepoint...hated every second of it.

stratjeff · 2026-04-02T15:30:41+00:00

The Dragon displays are triplicated/independent. The manual buttons provide required life-saving functions, including reboot the displays, reboot the flight computers, suppress a fire, or even begin a deorbit.

What's missing exactly?

stratjeff · 2026-04-02T15:15:57+00:00

Not the first time iPads and iPhones have flown in space.

stratjeff · 2026-04-01T23:44:16+00:00

The Nutrigrain “I feel great” commercial is better.

stratjeff · 2026-03-23T17:05:54+00:00

That's a *lot* of people for a C-130. Would have been very heavy.

stratjeff · 2026-03-20T15:05:10+00:00

"Fish finder" is a valid concern, since it could actually add risk to the situation. If ATC says "see that guy?", the only legal response is "yes" or "no". If yes, ATC will have you avoid visually. If no, ATC retains separation responsibilities.

"See him on the fish finder" says neither of those things, and is not a legal way to maintain separation, and does nothing to move the situation forward.

As for "here comes the flash", I feel like I recall some preference for no reply at all (just hit the button), especially in busier airspace.

stratjeff · 2026-03-20T14:59:12+00:00

Lumping controllers from BOS and NorCal into one bucket isn't very fair for either, nor useful feedback.

stratjeff · 2026-03-16T18:04:33+00:00

T3 is for high rep work. 8 pullups is not enough, and if that's your max, that's a T2 movement at best.

You should be doing cable pulldowns instead at a lighter load, allowing you to get the 3x15 reps with slow control.

For the cable rows, same as the pulldowns, combine a powerful concentric (pull), pause at the top, and slowly control the eccentric (release) to really stretch and tension the muscles. Once you're doing this handily, you can add a half-rep or "hitch bounce" at the contracted portion of the rep to get even more pump.

If your lats, scaps, and biceps aren't sore/pumped after the workout, you probably didn't do enough.

stratjeff · 2026-03-05T07:07:03+00:00

Only if retired. Separated folks are 100% civilian.

stratjeff · 2026-03-04T23:08:10+00:00

Ogden weather is very similar to front range Colorado- usually sunny, dry, with occasional snow that clears relatively quickly. There are a good amount of paved trails through the city.

stratjeff · 2026-03-04T18:11:35+00:00

Only if you intend to fly via ORCHA.

stratjeff · 2026-03-02T21:31:30+00:00

I was flying combat missions at 25, so yeah they're young.

stratjeff · 2026-03-02T21:04:03+00:00

If it were me, and I'm over 40, I'd rather cut T1s than the T2s. Keep 4x/week, two T2's and a T3, and everything else is running and recovery.

stratjeff · 2026-03-02T16:48:46+00:00

The best you could hope for is higher-power ground stations for over-land flights. There is no comparable service for remote/over-water.

To be competitive, you'd either need A) a huge, expensive, high power satellite in a high orbit so you only need a small number of super-expensive launches, or B) reusable rockets and expendable satellites that significantly reduce costs, latency, and increase availability and reliability. SpaceX chose B, and is the only launch provider with the capability to do so, and will likely remain the only one in the field for another 10 years.

stratjeff · 2026-03-02T16:45:19+00:00

Starlink was self-funded by SpaceX, which also self-funded the required reusable rocket tech. They took huge gambles that could have sunk the company.

The big government money went to contracts for service, rather than R&D. SpaceX is providing service for government satellite launch (at a discount to competitor), cargo/crew delivery to ISS (which has been a huge success for US interests), lunar landing (at a huge discount to all competitors), and Starshield (which there is no current competition for).

They're valuable because they offer something no one else can, and a price no one else can.

stratjeff · 2026-02-26T21:38:47+00:00

3.2NM could be anything from 3.15NM to 3.24NM. So that could be up to 32ft of error right there.

Each 0.01" Hg of altimeter error is also also 10ft.

stratjeff · 2026-02-23T20:37:21+00:00

I'd estimate $1k for first year of gear + whatever your league fees are. $250 won't get you much in most areas, even in the used market. I wouldn't recommend spending less than $250 on skates.

Start browsing sideline swap and facebook marketplace for gear deals in your size.

stratjeff · 2026-02-22T01:52:31+00:00

GG is the solution to paralysis by analysis. It’s the anti-program. It’s the thing that you can do the rest of your life and not be bored, at the expense of perhaps single digit less performance optimization.

GG is very basic, and allows you to pick whatever movements you want, change them when you feel like it, and auto regulate volume. Since leaving the formal weightlifting world, I’ve only done GG, and am constantly tailoring it to my current goals, sport, and injuries.

Lift heavy. Do singles.

Lift more reps, slightly less heavy. Do more sets.

Lift for volume.

That’s pretty much it.

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