Short Takes – 8-15-23

Murphy's Law: The Ukrainian Counteroffensive. StrategyPage.com article. Pull quote: “Ukraine has long been aware of how important NTC-type training is. For example, in 2014 Ukraine persuaded a German firm to cancel a signed $134 million contract to build a NTC-like military training facility for Russia. This cancellation was the result of the growing list of economic sanctions on Russia as a result of the 2014 Ukraine crisis. Many Russians feared the Ukrainian land-grab will cause major economic damage, but in the case of this German contract, the loss will mainly be to Russian efforts to modernize and upgrade their armed forces. This training center contract was to enable Russia to join the United States, Germany, China, Israel, and many other major military powers who are benefitting from the use of instrumented combat training centers. Russia had hired the German firm (Rheinmetall), which built such a training range in 2008 for Germany, to basically build a very similar one in Russia.”

Spacecraft could shuttle astronauts and supplies to and from the moon on a regular basis. Phys.org article. Pull quote: “"One of [the ISS'] 'functions' is avoid sending large loads to low Earth orbits. Instead we send 'capsules' with provisions and replacements for astronauts. To accomplish [lunar settlements] with minimum cost, we need something similar to the ISS but with an orbit around the Earth and the moon. This shuttle will never land on Earth or the moon. Capsules from Earth will dock with it when it is close to Earth, and similarly, capsules from the moon will dock with it when it is near the moon. This will avoid the need to lift large loads from Earth or the moon, and this will save a lot of money and resources."”

Meeting; Homeland Security Advisory Council. Federal Register DHS meeting notice. Pull quote: “The HSAC will meet in a closed session from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. [August 29^th, 2023] ET to receive a For Official Use Only (FOUO) and Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) draft report from the AI Threats and Defense Subcommittee. HSAC members will receive a briefing from the Subcommittee Leadership and then the members will deliberate on the FOUO//LES report and vote on the report. Senior DHS Leadership will provide remarks prior to adjournment.”

Hazardous Materials: FAST Act Requirements for Real-Time Train Consist Information. Federal Register PHMSA comment extension. Pull quote: “In response to a request for an extension of the comment period submitted by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), PHMSA is extending the comment period for the HM–263 notice by an additional 60 days. Comments to the HM–263 notice will now be due by October 27, 2023.”

NASA is sending humans to an asteroid: SpaceX will get them there. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “According to the NASA plan, a Starship would be launched into low Earth orbit in 2039. It would be refueled, after which a Dragon with a crew of three would launch and dock with the Starship, transferring the astronauts to the larger spacecraft. The Starship would blast out of Earth’s orbit and rendezvous with an asteroid called 2001 FR85, estimated to be 29 to 65 meters in size. The ship would fly in tandem with the asteroid, taking samples and leaving behind robots. Then it would fly back to Earth orbit, where the crew would transfer to another Dragon to return to Earth.”

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