The accidents are just the iceberg tip

No doubt the space shuttle Challenger accident, and the more recent Columbia, has put the space program on hold for years. Accidents are part of the game, and this is assumed.

Today, via Slashdot.org , I have read new information (to me) related to the Challenger accident (see links below). It amazes me how far the humanity has gone in space exploration knowing how badly managed and poissed by politics the space programs are. From the outside everything seems brilliant, or even magical, in the way it works. From the inside everything is obscure and human (here applies the negative nature of human beings).

7 Myths About The Challenger Disaster

Report on the Challenger disaster by Richard Feynman

I just hope the communication within each organisation improves to the point that the knowloedge gathered in every "lessons learnt report" is actually useful, because often it doesn't seem to.

New Scientist Breaking News - Super-powerful new ion engine revealed

This is a very promissing technology of ESA.

In the article is mentioned the possibility of shortening the travel time to Mars or Pluto. This is an obvious result. What the article fails to explain is how to generate the energy necessary to run the engine. The SMART-1 satellite uses solar arrays. These may be used too in a trip to Mars, but they are useless in a trip to Pluto. A nuclear powered spacecraft will be the only choice for trips beyond Saturn.

Read more at www.newscientist.com/ar...

The importance of light

Yesterday I was very tired on my way back from work. I was driving in an area of The Hague that is poorly illuminated. I always drive extra carefully in that area, though I know it very well because I use it very often. I approximated a large round about at a speed of 30 km/h. I almost crash against a woman on a bike. Fortunately, I did not hit her or the bike and the woman braked getting off the bike softly. All ended in a rush of adrenaline only.

I believe, the combination of her speed and my low speed kept the woman exactly on the blind viewing zone created by the car's windshield frame. It was dark outside, poorly illuminated and the windshield was very dirty at that moment due the salt that other cars' wheels threw. It all was the exact result that I feared it could happen some time. Besides, I suspect the woman did not carry any light.

The Netherlands is the European country with more bikes per citizen, I guess it is about double of bikes than people. If you drive a car in the Netherlands you must pay extra attention when crossing a bike track, or you may drive over a cyclist.

Before driving my own car, I used a bike daily in the city. Often I had no lights in the bike or on myself. I was very lazy to change the bulb or the batteries. I risked my life every time I rode my bike in poorly illuminated areas.

Carrying a light on your bike is not to help you seeing the road, its to let the car drivers to see you. I have finally realised how important is to let yourself be seen by car drivers. The best way is by using a blinking light like those with LEDs, which are really inexpensive.

Follow my advice here, carry a blinking light while cycling in poor light conditions like in dark streets, in the rain or fog. Use anything to let car drivers know where are you.