I keep meaning to write something about US nuclear posture soon, but the day-job is all consuming right now. In the meantime, I want to point out the fascinating debate begun by Geoff Forden on whether the Safir, Iran’s new space launch vehicle, has two-stages — as Iran claims — or uses a small third …
Miss Atom 2009
by | 2009-02-10 | 9 Comments
It’s February so it’s time for the Wonk’s perennial favourite… Miss Atom: the beauty contest for workers in the Russian nuclear industry. For those of you who are new readers: check out the 2008 and 2007 posts for the backstory.
Nuclear Stimulus
by | 2009-02-09 | 10 Comments
The Senate, in its attempt to slim down the stimulus bill, has apparently managed to squeeze in a little bit for nukes. A billion dollars, in fact. In various Senate version of the Bill, including on page 78 of what I believe is the most recent version, the Collins/Nelson* Bill, the following appears: ATOMIC ENERGY …
Why Would a 2 Stage Safir Be Surprising?
by | 2009-02-06 | 73 Comments
Dead weights are for the second stage plus satellite, the red line is the orbital threshold, required Isp for each dead weight is read off by looking where each blue line crosses the red line I’m sure that anyone following ACW’s discussion of the Safir-Omid will have picked up that a number of us find …
