Frank Sietzen has some interesting thoughts on space policy in his Spacelift column on SpaceRef.com

The "Limits to Growth" worldview, centered on the idea that natural resources were about to be depleted by human "overpopulation", gained ascendancy in the 1970's. This philosophy has driven international policies and cultural trends to the point where much of the developed world, especially Europe, is threatened with declining population in the coming century. Coercive population control programs threaten to drag the rest of the world down the same path.

But would a human population growing at a moderate, healthy rate really have no outcome other than to deplete the resources available to that very population? Not so, according to an article by Dennis Wingo, who points out the abundance of resources the Solar System is blessed with, and our potential to access them.

Another significant anniversary this week. Tomorrow, July 25, is the thirty-fifth anniversary of Pope Paul VI's encyclical, Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life) . It's a relatively short read compared to many papal encyclicals. This letter will probably go down in history for being attacked by many who never read it, much less understood it.

For background on modern, scientifically based and reliable methods of Natural Family Planning, click here .

Attended a hearing on Capitol Hill today chaired by Senate space subcommittee Chairman Sam Brownback and House space subcommittee Chairman Dana Rohrabacher on Commercial Space Transportation.

One piece of news is that veteran space tourist Dennis Tito is interested in investing in a commercial space transportation venture. (Mr. Tito did not provide specifics on the project.)

Over all, the message of the panelists is that a clear and limited regulatory environment needs to be established to encourage investment in commercial space transportation.

Singer Elaine Walker is representing the Space Frontier Foundation as she carries out a media project as a participant in the NASA Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) on Devon Island in northern Canada.

Keith Cowing is also posting a journal from the Devon Island Mars analog site.

The Mars analog project on Devon Island is designed to simulate a base on Mars in order to study technologies, logistics and human factors that would need to be considered for operations in the Martian environment.

One thing I notice is that since the host is on the West Coast, the posting time is given in Pacific time. My initial post was just after midnight EDT on July 20.

Anyway, more on the Apollo 11 anniversary. A
historical overview from the National Air & Space Museum and an inspiring post by Rand Simberg.


All I'll add is raise a toast and consider what we can do to protect and provide for future generations.

Well, I've decided to enter the "Blogosphere". I'll be starting with the basic BlogSpot. After I get the hang of it and decide what capabilities I need, I may upgrade later.

As my description says, I'm likely to comment on a variety of topics, and sometimes on how seemingly unrelated topics tie together in the big picture.

It is no coincidence that I've decided to launch my blog on the thirty-fourth anniversary of the day human beings first made landfall on another world. Why we're not there now and how we can get back to the frontier will be a topic I'll be visiting often.

Finally, I ask God's blessing on my blogging and interactions with others in the "Blogosphere", that they always serve what is good.