Dispatches from the Final Frontier

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148334262009-07-03T13:53:26.139-04:00Dispatches from the Final FrontierNews and first-hand observations from a freelance space and technology reporter (Popular Science, Wired News, others) on commercial spaceflight, thinking machines, hypersonic jets, bionic limbs, and other world-changing projects.Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-30955327255133285642009-07-03T13:26:00.003-04:002009-07-03T13:53:22.880-04:00Len Kleinrock describes the birth of the Internet

Leonard Kleinrock, who published the first paper on packet switching in 1962, and who led the ARPA-funded team at UCLA that made the first connection on the Internet, described the scene to me on the phone to me a few minutes ago.Sitting at a computer terminal at UCLA on October 29, 1969, one of Kleinrock's team members typed two letters that were received via the infant Internet by a computer up

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-75342828511500326012009-06-02T11:33:00.003-04:002009-06-02T12:37:16.261-04:00SpaceShipTwo Engine Tests

Virgin Galactic put out a press release last week along with this video about the successful conclusion of the first round of rocket motor tests for its SpaceShipTwo passenger ship, being built by Scaled Composites.Not too many technical details here, so I did some digging to find out more. Virgin Galactic president Will Whitehorn referred my queries to Mark Sirangelo, manager at engine

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-86894136326944258622009-04-22T09:44:00.005-04:002009-04-22T10:17:05.426-04:00DARPA book's new table of contents

My book about the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, now not only has a cover, but a finalized table of contents as well.Full title: The Department of Mad Scientists: How DARPA Is Remaking Our World, from the Internet to Artificial LimbsPublisher: Smithsonian Books/HarperCollinsPublication date: October 20, 2009Table of Contents:IntroductionHow I came to write the book and why

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-48339101569631835792009-04-16T10:57:00.004-04:002009-04-17T07:34:34.969-04:00DARPA book cover

My DARPA book now has a cover. Thanks to Harry LeBlanc for suggesting a variation of the subtitle. Now it's off to copyediting and fact checking, and we're on schedule for October's publication date.

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-28000811520433758762009-03-30T05:47:00.000-04:002009-03-30T06:09:15.727-04:00Jade Star Belfiore

My second daughter, Jade Star, was born Saturday, 3/28/09, at 4:19 a.m. She was 6 pounds, 11 ounces.She made a dramatic entrance; Wendy and I only barely made it to the hospital in time after a very short labor. Jade was in Wendy's arms within 10 minutes of our hitting the door.Both Wendy and Jade are in perfect health. I'll bring them home this morning, after taking our 3-year-old, Amelie,

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-66493578778222565322009-03-05T11:14:00.003-05:002009-03-05T11:26:50.318-05:00Space Dominance

Popular Mechanics made my roundup of spacefaring nations and their current capabilities the top story on popularmechanics.com today.With the Space Shuttle set to retire next year, the Russians getting increasingly focused on manned commercial spaceflight, and ambitious government space programs ramping up around the world, we're definately heading into a new era.

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-41789673135755338072009-02-09T10:26:00.003-05:002009-02-09T10:40:26.614-05:00Ticket to Ride

Popular Mechanics has made my first published piece for them the lead story today on popularmechanics.com.The story explores possible ways to get to space on the cheap--really cheap--like 20 bucks for a trip to suborbital space.I also provided initial research help on last month's cover story, the one with the shuttle-derived ship taking off in the screenshot. I have more Web stories for PM in

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-60123822289045294932009-01-30T11:35:00.003-05:002009-01-30T12:12:00.735-05:00Space & Technology Copywriter

Today I launched some upgrades on my website to reflect a new focus for my work: high-tech copywriting.I've been engaged in marketing and public relations writing in one form or another since 1995, when I became a freelance technical writer for companies like Northwest Airlines and Target. I moved next into public relations writing, still with an emphasis on technology.When SpaceShipOne left the

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-30155388880928374982009-01-22T15:21:00.006-05:002009-01-22T15:41:59.357-05:00License to Thrill

The article I wrote on what it takes to be a commercial spaceship pilot for the March issue of Air & Space is now available online.The piece was a ball to write--I got to try out the centrifuge at the National Aerospace Training and Research Training, or NASTAR, Center, an experience I highly recommend--especially if you can get someone else to foot the bill!You can read the whole text of my

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-8258553338965458102009-01-21T14:05:00.003-05:002009-01-21T14:21:48.476-05:00Now on Twitter

At the instigation of my friend Ben Zackheim, I've started a Twitter feed that will keep you up-to-date on my progress as I finish my DARPA book as well as other projects I'm working on.See the widget that appears to the right of this post to for the latest.In case you're not familiar with Twitter...it's a blog-like service for publishing snippets of information--no more than 140 characters at a

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-24373420491224949872009-01-09T10:43:00.003-05:002009-01-09T11:23:28.270-05:00Tony Tether Staying on as DARPA Chief

I learned this week from DARPA public relations officer Jan Walker that Tony Tether, the agency's director, will remain in charge when Obama takes office as President. "Dr. Tether will be here after Jan. 20, and there's no formal date on which he plans to leave," Walker told me in an email.In my past conversations with Tether, he's made it clear that he didn't expect his directorship to survive

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-26965805430697736042008-12-31T11:15:00.002-05:002008-12-31T11:36:49.457-05:00Top 100 Space & Astronomy Blogs

Check out this nicely annotated list of space blogs (including this one) on the find-schools-online.com website.To this list I would add at least three more important links:Space Transport NewsClark S. Lindsey provides one-stop shopping for breaking commercial spaceflight news and commentary, updated several times a day.Space TodayFutron analyst Jeff Foust pulls together links to space news

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-49362281434196786812008-12-04T06:41:00.006-05:002008-12-04T13:43:36.009-05:00Inside: America's Secret Weapon Lab

I was a consultant on a National Geographic Channel special on DARPA called America's Secret Weapon Lab that premiers tonight. Show time is at 9:00 p.m. If you miss it, it's also on this Saturday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m., and Thursday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m.I got the production team in the door at DARPA, and me at the same time, by pitching myself to DARPA director Tony Tether as one-stop

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-54771075606270525172008-12-02T13:00:00.006-05:002008-12-02T17:09:43.685-05:00XCOR Suborbital Tickets on Sale Now

I've just telecommuted in to a press conference in Los Angeles at which principals from XCOR Aerospace and Rocketship Tours announced that tickets for XCOR's rocketship-in-development are on sale now. Danish investment banker Per Wimmer also ceremoniously signed his consent form and was presented a giant first ticket, making him officially Passenger Number One.Veteran travel entreprenour Jules

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-82890608277697686612008-11-13T11:40:00.002-05:002008-11-13T12:37:04.837-05:00Direct from the Moon

I've just received a review copy of the upcoming National Geographic Channel program Direct from the Moon.The piece kicks off the channel's Exploration Week on Monday, December 17, at 9:00 p.m.Centered around stunning new imagery from the Japanese space agency's lunar satellite Kaguya (also known as Selene, and launched in September 2007), Direct from the Moon features new interviews from Apollo

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-31187526406819459202008-11-10T13:20:00.004-05:002008-11-10T13:59:47.136-05:00DARPA book complete

I'm in a blissful lull now, awaiting my editor's feedback before starting revisions on my book about the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. The book runs just under 300 pages without notes and other back matter. Some other stats:Working title: The Department of Mad Scientists: Inside DARPA and How It Shapes Our Technological FutureTentative list of chapters:1: An Arm and a

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-44797389465126230972008-10-10T20:17:00.002-04:002008-10-10T20:46:53.617-04:00Jim Benson Has Died

I've just heard the sad news that Jim Benson, founder of SpaceShipOne rocket contractor SpaceDev has left this world. He was 63 years old. From a SpaceDev announcement released today:"SpaceDev Founder and Board Member James Benson, 63, died peacefully in his home. Benson was diagnosed in 2007 with a glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor, the cause of his death early this morning."Jim was a

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-69108993387549039642008-09-29T08:13:00.003-04:002008-09-29T10:19:59.711-04:00SpaceX in Orbit!

Yesterday Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, reached orbit with the first privately built liquid fueled satellite launcher.It's a huge boost for commercial spaceflight and perhaps the biggest milestone since the 2004 launch of the suborbital rocket plane SpaceShipOne. Just as SpaceShipOne proved that a private company can send people into space, SpaceX has proven that orbital spaceflight

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-61403460450530404052008-09-02T08:30:00.003-04:002008-09-02T08:30:00.918-04:00Surgery as word processing

I'm just finishing up a chapter in my DARPA book on the Trauma Pod project.Last month I visited the project's headquarters at SRI International in Menlo Park, California, where I snapped this picture of the robot surgical system at the heart of the program.Rick Satava, an Army surgeon, started what became Trauma Pod at DARPA in the 1990s. He left DARPA for the Army's Medical Research and Materiel

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-16524035395353115012008-07-28T19:21:00.006-04:002008-07-28T23:22:03.624-04:00Virgin Galactic Rolls Out Mother Ship

I've just return from Mojave to Los Angeles via a specially chartered Virgin America flight for reporters to witness the rollout of Virgin Galactic's White Knight 2.The ship isn't flying yet--it'll begin ground tests tomorrow and flight tests in the fall. Check out my full report on PopSci.com.

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-85415322334192531172008-07-26T09:10:00.001-04:002008-07-26T09:10:00.506-04:00Rocketeers Paperback Shipping July 29

I have on my desk the paperback edition of my book Rocketeers, which goes on sale Tuesday, July 29.This edition features a few corrections and updates, and also a bibliography, which the hardback version doesn't have.Cover price is $14.95, and it'll be available in all the usual outlets, including Amazon, which I see has discounted it to $10.17.I'll let you know when I have signed copies for sale

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-10927311415187941962008-07-25T10:15:00.002-04:002008-07-25T10:20:56.520-04:00White Knight 2 in Mojave and Oshkosh

I'm packing up to head to California for the rollout of Virgin Galactic's White Knight 2, built by Scaled Composites.White Knight 2 is a B-29-sized four-engine jet made of carbon fiber composites that was designed to carry an 8-seat spaceship called SpaceShipTwo to high altitude. Once there, the spaceship will drop from between White Knight 2's twin booms to fire its rocket engine for a Mach-3

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-70087210509421871662008-07-24T18:15:00.005-04:002008-07-25T10:21:35.484-04:00XCOR and Rocket Racing League at Oshkosh

The media reps at XCOR Aerospace and the Rocket Racing League (RRL) have just filled me on on their plans for demo flights and presentations at the EAA AirVenture Convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.XCOR's engineers have been hard at work perfecting the Rocket Racing League's first X-Racer, a rocket-powered racing airplane, and now they're ready for demonstration flights at Oshkosh. Here's the

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-52031360309321533462008-07-19T11:09:00.007-04:002008-07-25T10:22:34.985-04:00On the Fox Business Network

Look for me on the Fox Business Network this Monday morning, July 21, at 7:30 a.m. on a breakfast show hosted by Charles Payne.I'll be on in the studio for a few minutes to talk about the emerging commercial spaceflight industry, including news from Virgin Galactic and XCOR Aerospace and a new edition of my book Rocketeers.Watch this space for a link to the segment after it airs....---Update on

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14833426.post-28958654956773369382008-06-11T12:59:00.005-04:002008-07-19T10:26:38.914-04:00Space Adventures Charters Entire Soyuz

Check out my PopSci.com report of a Space Adventures press briefing in New York City this morning. CEO Eric Anderson announced new charter flights to the International Space Station.

Michael Belfiorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310369260652845748noreply@blogger.com0