Posts by Bob DeWoody

1) Message boards : SETI@home Science : SETI Signal Type Distribution (Message 1370190)
Posted 1 day ago by

So, what is the significance, if any, of the distribution?

2) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Mars NASA Opportunity Rover (Message 1369536)
Posted 3 days ago by

It's only a matter of time before they discover some form of life under a Martian rock somewhere. I would concentrate on the area where they have found outgassing on a seasonal basis. I wonder how such a discovery will affect plans to colonize Mars. There is no prime directive but there are those who would claim we have no right to alter Mar's natural evolution.

3) Message boards : Politics : Climate Change, 'Greenhouse' effects: DENIAL (Message 1369532)
Posted 3 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

I blame it all on over population. And it will only get worse until nature steps in and kills most of us because we can't find a politically correct way to curb our desire to make children. And by the way I don't have a workable answer either.

4) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Big explosion on the moon (Message 1369531)
Posted 3 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Nor do I worry about such events happening. I am a charter member of the s#!t happens society and a believer that not everything happens for a reason. I just see a major strike on the moon as a great opportunity to advance space development and I'm afraid the private sector can't provide the momentum without a profit to make. Before anyone mentions SpaceX remember that their big money is coming from government contracts just like Boeing and LockMart.

So if the world were to get serious about building some sort of asteroid/comet defence all sectors of the space industry would get a boost. Like the man said, when it comes to defence spending, either against our neighbors or threats from space, the money somehow seems to turn up.

5) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : An idea about a method to repair space satellites and research instruments (Message 1369496)
Posted 3 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

My idea is that if the replacement module is light enough it can be piggy backed on another satellite launch or as I stated included in a resupply to the ISS and launched from there. Many times cheaper than building a whole new telescope or major instrument platform requiring it's own dedicated launch. If future projects were built from the start to accept such a package they could have much longer mission durations and maybe help decrease the amount of space garbage in orbit, which is what satellites become after their mission is complete or they take a powder.

And I agree that the Kepler mission has been a great success, but imagine how much more it could do if there were a way to effect repairs while it still has potential.

6) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : An idea about a method to repair space satellites and research instruments (Message 1369448)
Posted 4 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

In the thread about the trouble the Kepler telescope is having I posted an idea about a means to effect repairs to these vehicles and prevent them from becoming multi-million dollar space junk.

It is not practical to build in total redundancy from the beginning as the craft would get too heavy to launch and the costs would be prohibitive. But for little additional cost or weight penalty a certain number of docking ports for small repair modules could be built and added to future space instruments. These docking ports would be like USB ports on computers. Once attached the repair module would become part of the instrument package replacing or enhancing the damaged component. The repair module would be case specific and therefore light weight and small. It still wouldn't be cheap to launch unless it was included with scheduled resupply missions to the ISS and from there dispatched to the ailing vehicle. Remote and automated controls would be capable of making the intercept and subsequent docking.

7) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Big explosion on the moon (Message 1369442)
Posted 4 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Earth strikes that could level a city or a state are a lot more common than one in 60 million years. What if the Tunguska strike had occurred over Moscow, London, Paris or New York? That size event is within our power to prevent. As a side effect space programs around the world would benefit from the improvement in technology.

8) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Big explosion on the moon (Message 1369323)
Posted 4 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

I've thought that if a large enough rock or piece of ice hit the moon on the side facing us the resulting bright flash would shock us to make more progress toward building some sort of active defence mechanism.

9) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : UFO lights over Phoenix Arizona, real or not? (Message 1369097)
Posted 5 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

I have discovered that lights at night can trick your brain into thinking you are seeing something you are not. Near my house is a TV/radio tower with four sets of lights as aids to aerial navigation. They are in a fixed position and blink at regular intervals. If I go outside and turn my head quickly in the tower's direction the lights appear to be moving for a few seconds. Of course I am not implying that the lights in Arizona may have been navigation beacons but it does show me that at night things are not always what they appear to be.

10) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Warp drive continues to be tested (Message 1368929)
Posted 5 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

I think the subject of quantum computers should have it's own thread as it seems there are two discussions going on here. Quantum computers may only be relevant to warp drive as a means to either calculate how to construct one or if constructed to control the drive.

11) Message boards : SETI@home Science : Kepler Telescope (Message 1368926)
Posted 5 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Another testament to the fact that space is a harsh environment. We may never know the exact cause of the failure as it could be anything from a flawed component to a micro meteor strike. Unfortunately they can only afford to provide limited redundancy as it adds to the launch weight and may never be called on to take over a function. Maybe we should invest in a robotic repair vehicle that could be launched with case specific replacement components. If the original vehicle had universal docking ports the repair craft could just dock, reroute the circuits and take over the function of the failed components. Just a thought.

12) Message boards : Politics : Master and servant (Message 1368438)
Posted 6 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Well, most of us think voting is merely a form, and fraud, canvassing such things have enough.

Zhao unlike America and I think England we in Australia have to vote or we get a very small fine this is to make it fair if only 60% of the people vote then the election does not represent everyone and a political party can manipulate the outcome . If we don't like the party's or candidates then we do what we call a donkey vote which means you turn up and write a insult across the ballot paper before putting it in the box .It is not counted as a vote but means I have voted ,just for nobody .It is also called a protest vote a true refection of what people think . And you also have less people thinking that voting is not worth it or there vote doesn't mean anything . If there is a large enough protest vote the election will have to be done again .Not that that has happened but it does make the party's take note that the people are not happy with them so they had better be careful what they do in that term

In every presidential election since 1972 I have voted. Sometimes for the winner and about as many times for the loser. Even though there are only two major candidates usually two or three minor candidates qualify to get on the ballot as well as a space for a write in candidate. Sometimes I have been compelled to vote for a candidate that was less than my ideal pick but I have always thought that voting for someone other than the two major candidates is like throwing away my vote or, as my mother used to say, cutting off my nose to spite my face.

13) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : xbmc...navi-x...and other netflix decimators. (Message 1368435)
Posted 6 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

I'm not cancelling my Netflix subscription anytime soon, but my computer is now what most would consider an antique.

14) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Warp drive continues to be tested (Message 1368434)
Posted 6 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Not sure how identifying the Higgs Boson will relate to research on warp drives but if it does, as they found more questions than answers, I'll be glad the research has some practical implications.

15) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Has the lost city of Atlantis been found?? (Message 1368385)
Posted 6 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

The artifacts at Bimini appear to be man made but several geologists discount that claim with arguments that the objects are of natural origin.

16) Message boards : SETI@home Science : Kepler Telescope (Message 1368382)
Posted 6 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Ooops, of course you are right. Well I hope they can diagnose the problem and come up with a fix. It would be a shame for it to completely fail so early in it's service life.

17) Message boards : SETI@home Science : Kepler Telescope (Message 1368312)
Posted 6 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Especially since we no longer have the space truck to take a repair crew up to fix it.

18) Message boards : Politics : Master and servant (Message 1368168)
Posted 7 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

Our politicians like to call themselves "public servants" and call their tenure in office public service but for the most part that is not how they act. Many believe that once they are elected they have the right/duty to vote on and enact laws to protect us from ourselves. This leads them to not follow the wishes of those who elect them. Then they tell us that if we don't re-elect them we might loose some benefit or freedom they have been protecting for us.

19) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Warp drive continues to be tested (Message 1368065)
Posted 7 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

I hope some super genius finds the answer, presuming there is one, to creating a means of "warping" space for the purpose of powering "starships" using power that is within our means of generating. I also hope it is done before I die but I'm not holding my breath.

20) Message boards : Science (non-SETI) : Has the lost city of Atlantis been found?? (Message 1368063)
Posted 7 days ago by

Bob DeWoody

I think there is some basis behind the Greek poetic works about Atlantis similar to the stories about Troy. My personal take is that Santorini is what remains of Atlantis despite the inconsistency regarding it's location. Most of the other claimed sites are most likely wishful thinking on the part of quasi experts who push their theories to sell books or get financing for expeditions.

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