NASA Astronauts and Techs Should Apply at Virgin Galactic

What should astronauts do now that the last shuttle mission has flown? And what about the technical people laid off as a result?

I'd recommend the most AMBITIOUS among them to apply as a pilots at private space companies, like Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTWO - which should be taking 6 tourists at a time into space in less than a year.

It could be five or more years to go into space any other way for these unique individuals - our nation's space pilots.

I personally interviewed the CEO of Virgin Galactic, George Whitesides, and was impressed with their operation and their plan. I predict that the FIRST private space company that will make entry into space routine for thousands if not millions of Americans will be Virgin Galactic. The first SpaceShipOne proved it could be done.

SpaceShipTwo makes it a commercial enterprise, taking ordinary people that can pay the price into a realm where only a few have traveled, at great expense. A shuttle launch costs a minimum of $1 billion dollars per launch! Private space companies can dramatically reduce that cost, faster, better, and definitely with less expense.

Richard Branson, the genius entrepreneur and founder of a series of Virgin businesses from Virgin Air to Virgin Galactic has said that the starting price of $200,000 for a couple of hours flying roller coaster ride - and a few minutes floating in space - will drop to $25,000 in a few years as space travel efficiencies kick in.

Branson has ordered at least four "SpaceShipTwo" aircraft to start his space enterprise. Think of them as the first "aircraft" for space travelers.

And these ships will need our nation's best space pilots. I am thinking of one who was an F-22 pilot, and new NASA astronaut. That's WHO I would want piloting my first trip into space on a SpaceShipTwo!

I certainly wouldn't be sitting as a space tourist passenger on a SpaceShipTwo with a pilot like the idiot flying the commuter plane who stalled the plane, killing everyone on board. Space is no place for 2nd rate pilots.

But there are many more companies than Virgin but it is poised to be the first one to show the world a new side of space - mass tourist space. Within one year SpaceShipTwo will carry more people into space than have been in space in the entire last half century!

Stay tuned.

How NASA Could Help Solve Our Energy Crisis

8 July 2011

Global American Series

How NASA Could Help Solve Our Energy Crisis

- The 30 Year Energy War Starts NOW -

As NASA's Space Shuttle program ends, people are asking "What's next?" It turns out that NASA's expertise could help America solve our Energy Crisis that will be our No. 1 threat to economic growth and prosperity. We are facing a massive shortage in energy resources needed to fuel the U.S. -- and countries worldwide. This shortage will start a new "war" that NASA could play a key role in resolving.

The 30 Year Energy War Starts NOW. This "war" over energy sources will be a fight on a global scale in a “succeed or perish” contest among the major forms of energy, the corporations that supply them and the countries that run on them. It threatens vast fortunes as oil production peaks and begins dwindling despite 'drill baby drill.' Nations must innovate or perish. Experts expect $300/barrel oil by 2020. How will the U.S. do?

The 170 million extra vehicles added by China in just the next five years alone will consume what America uses today—8 million barrels/day! That exceeds our present oil supplies.

Add to that India and its one billion people. India has overtaken Japan as the world's No. 2 consumer of oil --and will only consume more as more Indians move up economically. Energy demand is expected to increase 40% globally in the next three decades, further widening the gap between what we have and what we need.

Why 30 years? Because it will take at least 30 years to find replacement fuels and put them into commercial production – whether it is hydrogen, nuclear, renewables or something else. Like the Space Shuttle “gap” we will have an energy “gap” between demand and supply.

Oil has been our mainstay energy for the past 100 years but there won't be enough of this dwindling finite resource to satisfy global demand as China and India grow 8-10% a year and the U.S. uses more as its economy picks up. The days of cheap oil are gone forever. The "easy" oil is long gone; only the most difficult remnants remain before it is exhausted. Gasoline already costs $9 gallon in Europe.

In the meantime, what happens to countries that can’t get enough oil to grow? There will be a “war” over access.

The Global American ™ radio broadcast concludes with a unique project proposal for NASA that would benefit us in two ways. It would satisfy our future energy needs from a carbon-free source while simultaneously providing a new mission for NASA and private space companies that would solve both problems – provide abundant clean energy while developing our next generation of technology to remain competitive in a brave new global, space age world. The project is: a space based solar power system that beams the suns energy to collector stations on Earth. Tune in to see why this makes sense for both our country's energy needs and NASA's future in space.

"The 30 Year Energy War Starts NOW" airs on Global American (TM) radio Saturday at 9 am Central, Business 1110 AM, streamed on www.Business1110KTEK.com and Podcast 24/7 on www.GlobalAmerican.org (click favorite programs and select the above title).

If you agree, pass it on!

Michael Fjetland

Global American ™ series

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“Saves Energy to Pay for Itself While Providing Security”

30 Year Energy War Ahead

This is a timely article that describes the great war over energy that will dominate the next three decades.

This "war" is inevitable as China and India's growth suck up the last of the oil reserves - as growing countries battle over a dwindling energy resource: Oil.

This battle will continue until the new fuels finally move from lab to the field.

"By 2041, oil will be far less abundant than it is today and so incapable of meeting anywhere near 33.6% of the world’s (much expanded) energy needs."

Check it out - then hope Congress gets off their butts and promotes the development of alternative fuels ASAP. This trend will also make 'energy efficiency' a VITAL NATIONAL INTEREST...

China, India Poised to Overtake U.S. in Just 9 Years

New studies show that China and India will overtake the United States by 2020 - that's just 9 years away. In fact, China could pass the U.S. by 2016!

India will then overtake China - but that could take another few decades, leaving the U.S. as the third largest economy in the world.

Bottom Line: We have a LOT of work to do. Cutting debt will not win this race; Only investments in technology leadership will.

Laid Off After 27 years, for Another Right Wing Show -

I was shocked to hear that two well-known radio personalities who worked for 27 years on KTRH Houston radio were suddenly fired this past week. Why?

The answer given was that the station wanted to convert the program to a new right wing Fox-style program of extremist views (instead of NEWS) by Mr. _Fill-In-The-BLank_ (who cares the name, they are all alike - mostly white, opinionated, narrow, right?).

For 27 years on KTRH, Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard gave us FACTS and useful information on news, weather and traffic. It was not a diatribe and political talking points. They were members of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame! Whatever happened to employee loyalty?

Now KTRH is just another Fox-clone, which has become more of a GOP political station than a news station.

We have the same limited thinking on the far left as well. Just this week Rep. Dennis Kucinich went to Syria where Dictator Assad used his presence to make himself look good and the rookie Congressman was so globally dumb he let it happen--so the problem is not just the far right but also the far left.

The way Lana and J.P. were fired --with about 5 seconds notice – seems crude. That seems to be the style of those pushing one-sided radio. You know, the type where the result is fixed in advance, the jury hears only one side and then must rule on it -- even when the other party hasn't had a voice.

That's really going to inform the public right? They will really make intelligent voting decisions by hearing only one side, right?

The KTRH that I knew in days past was a rich source of general news, weather and traffic. It wasn't out to make you scream or commit road rage. That's now changed. KTRH is just another wingnut station.

What's unique about that? Right wingers on radio are a "dime a dozen" these days. They come from a clone factory somewhere - there is hardly any real difference between a Rush Limbaugh and a Glenn Beck or an Ann Coulter.

KTRH's change leaves only KUHF -- and the "Global American radio" program on Business 1110 AM, podcast 24/7 at www.GlobalAmerican.org -- as the only remaining sources of refreshing centrist, progressive, balanced news, ideas and topics. You can see that on our Global American Podcast list – covering issues like education, space tourism, human trafficking and our technology future. We cover REAL issues important to Americans and our future prosperity, not phony made-up ones. Those are like the sirens of the Greek myths,who would lure fisherman unlucky enough to follow their call, only to wreck upon the rocks.

The Global American has a unique perspective because of the unique experiences of its host, who has been a Fortune 500 legal global negotiator (and entrepreneur) in over 50 countries. Its host was a one time farm kid who got an education and a global job, and after a layoff started a business, eventually conducting a child kidnapping case in Syria and becoming a TV terrorism analyst. How many radio hosts can testify to the vast changes happening in not just Houston, but also China, India and the rest of the world?

Has Limbaugh, or Beck or Dennis Kucinich done anything like that?

America at this critical juncture can’t afford to be stupid or complacent. How much help for America in the ongoing global high tech competition do we get from a Congressman who has never been out of Ohio except on a political junket?

How much insight into America's future in a global high tech 21st century do we get from millionaire right wing radio hosts who have never done business around the world?

This distinguishes the Global American radio from the programs like Glenn Beck AND from the left wing fringe like Dennis Kucinich ("Kooky Dennis"). Congressman Kucinich showed up in SYRIA this week to meet with President Assad. Assad took over from his father, who massacred tens of thousands of his own people. (Remember, I had a kidnapping case in Damascus in the 90's. I’ve been there. I know what is really going on over there.)

Kucinich looked like an idiot when Assad used him to look better, despite Assad’s having turned tanks on entire cities of his own people.

The same Kucinich, along with Michelle Bachman and others apparently doesn't remember history because none of them mentioned that Libya's Gadhafi ordered the bombing of Pan Am 103 -- a terrorist attack on Americans no different than 9/11. Gadhafi did a bin Laden before bin Laden -- if Americans can still remember history. If they don’t, I do and that’s the purpose for Global American radio – to seek solutions and remind Americans about past mistakes so we can avoid repeating them. Have Limbaugh and Beck done that? Or Kucinich? Or Michelle Bachman or Sarah Palin or Rick Perry? Not even close. They have misinformed rather than informed Americans.

The Global American newsletter and radio series are focused on giving Americans TRUTH. It has been our fairness, truth and justice that have made America great. We have to face truth if America is to succeed in making its comeback.

KTRH is dead. For real insight into keeping America a global high tech leader, tune in to Global American radio. Details at www.GlobalAmerican.org

I hope Lana and J.P. will come on and talk about the future of radio!

5 Myths About NASA

Excerpt from Washington Post:

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s speech announcing plans to send Americans to the moon — and marks the end of the space shuttle program. Today, many Americans have no memory of the moon landing, and NASA isn’t a source of pride but a budget line that needs to be cut. Why spend billions exploring an uninhabitable environment when many Americans don’t have health care? To understand the importance of our space program, it’s first necessary to debunk some misconceptions about what NASA is and how it operates."

Click the link to find out why we still need NASA...particularly this part:

"Nine countries, including India, Israel and Iran, have placed payloads in orbit. More than 50 nations design, deploy, own or operate satellites without U.S. involvement. China and Brazil, for example, have been co-developing Earth observation satellites for years. Japan and China have mapped the moon in considerable detail. India launched its own robotic moon mission in 2008, with a follow-up mission planned in cooperation with Russia. The United States may still have the largest, most ambitious civil program in the world, but it no longer solely charts the world’s future in space."

How to Create Jobs in AMerica

Former President Clinton has written an excellent piece on how to create jobs in America - here is the link.

He makes some great points - one being how energy efficiency could create tons of jobs and save energy at the same time. Check it out.