posted 05-11-2004 11:21 AM               

When it comes to writing about American satellite reconnaissance, there is absolute progress and relative progress. The absolute progress comes in subjects where the majority of information is still shrouded in secrecy and so even a little bit of new information seems very significant, but in reality is probably not all that important--that is the case with this article. The relative progress comes in areas like the declassified programs and management (for instance, CORONA and the creation of the NRO). There it is possible to tell a much more detailed and rich story. I prefer the latter. But it requires a different set of skills and a different kind of work.

It turns out that although the large American reconnaissance satellites are still classified, there is a significant amount of unclassified information available on their power and propulsion systems which have been proposed for use in other programs. I wanted to get that material out of my filing cabinets and into print, where hopefully it can spur more information to be released.

I'm not quite sure I understand your comment about the "specialist nature" of Spaceflight. My own philosophy is that Spaceflight serves several purposes, at least for me. First, it is regarded as the forum of record on many space subjects, including history. Other publications have much larger readerships, but a different focus, and almost none of them regularly deal with spaceflight history. Spaceflight is carried by many libraries and not too difficult to find. The magazine has its flaws, but it has perservered. Second, I find Spaceflight useful as a sounding board. I publish what I consider to be my first drafts there. And I use it as a foundation for further work. For instance, once I publish an article in Spaceflight, I can show it to people who worked on these programs and hopefully get them to talk more. I can then use their comments and help in future works, such as a book I am writing. This does not always work, but it can be helpful.

posted 06-03-2004 02:23 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Dwayne Day:
One of my problems with Spaceflight is that their covers tend to be similar.

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posted 06-06-2004 01:36 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by ALAIN:
Good diversity in Spaceflight covers this year

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First, notice that January and February 2004 both have large circles dominating the covers. Different planets, yes, but nearly identical in composition.

Notice that October 2003 and September 2002 are nearly identical views of Europe from space. January and April 2002 are similar. September 2001 and August 2003 are similar (Delta launches--and October 2002 has the same general composition as well). March and August 2002 are nearly identical (shuttle landing with parachute). And January 2001 and May 2004 are nearly identical too (Ariane 5 launch).

Another problem has been the printing. The December 2003 cover with the Chinese astronaut was really bad. The whole thing had a yellow tint that was just icky. Similarly the faded September 2003 cover of the two ISS crewmembers was also poor. And the April 2004 Hubble photo of the nebula was also faded. The February 2003 cover of the Soyuz was also faded, as was the May 2002 Hubble cover. And I'm also not fond of the February 2002 and March 2004 covers of the astronauts. They're just not good photos. Hagniere in particular looks like she is sitting on a nail.

There are a few outstanding covers over the past few years, although sometimes these have been marred by poor reproduction. The more dramatic ones are June 2003 (the X-38 under the wing of the B-52), December 2002 showing the sun in blue light, June 2001 showing the shuttle in silhouette, and November 2002 showing the station. But the covers over the past year have generally been rather unremarkable until the most recent two.

posted 06-22-2004 01:54 AM               

We have also just published a Space Chronicle special on Soviet space history. All the pieces are based on talks at the Soviet Forum held in 2003. The subjects include:

• Analysis of Soviet lunar missions (unmanned)
  
• Rorsats: The veiled threat?
  
• Aspects of the Soyuz 7K-LOK lunar orbital spaceship
  
• The history of Russian/Soviet meteorological satellites

posted 06-25-2004 06:57 AM               

It's great and necessary as a reference that SpaceFlight covers the chronology of the ISS orbital operations in great detail (minimum 4 pages per issue) as it does with the "satellite digest" the regular listing of all world space launches...

posted 06-28-2004 02:54 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Dwayne Day:
the "magazine of record" on space.

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posted 06-28-2004 03:31 PM               

As on the astronaut encounters, it depends very much on what you make of it. I'm ready to read Francis French reports on his astronaut encounters any time - that's oral history.

If it's just "I met an astronaut - and here is the photo" - well, we can need a good laugh any time, can we?

posted 06-29-2004 03:55 AM               

What I like about 'SpaceFlight' magazine is the fact that it's the only magazine paying attention to unmanned space exploration!

posted 07-02-2004 01:59 PM               

Well check the cover of the August 2004 issue, superb photo showing Fincke & Padalka onboard ISS posing with US & Orlan space suit (great photo! ...well Dwayne?)

Finally something on the BEAGLE 2 inquiry!

posted 07-10-2004 01:51 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by eurospace:
As on the astronaut encounters, it depends very much on what you make of it. I'm ready to read Francis French reports on his astronaut encounters any time - that's oral history.

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Thanks for that compliment, Jurgen!

posted 07-11-2004 03:18 AM            

I agree with the others, the editor(s) should try to get an issue in this year with Cassini-Huygens on the cover and one with MER on the cover, the rovers are 6 months on Mars and didn't get a cover.

posted 07-11-2004 10:26 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by eurospace:
You should know that killing a cow without state authorization is a very serious crime in Cuba and can get you behind bars for quite a few years.

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posted 07-11-2004 09:29 PM               

I have managed to gather a tremendous amount of info on these subjects in the past decade or so and try to get as much of it into print as possible. But as I've noted here before, a few of my more recent articles have primarily had little new information, but I wrote them because I had excellent photos that I wanted to share with people. The article in the August issue of Spaceflight is like that.

posted 07-14-2004 03:45 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Alan:
As some members said before Dwayne, you should be able to find a publisher for that material.

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posted 07-18-2004 03:38 AM               

"Voyage is a new magazine from the British Interplanetary Society, publishers of Spaceflight. It is aimed at students aged 10-14 and will be produced initially once per term starting in 2004 as a resources for science classes and as a good read for the students."

I'm hoping - since it's aimed for students - that it'll be a monthly. But with the first issue out in July, when school is out, and the next due out in November (as opposed to September - do British schools have different start/stop times?) has me scratching my head. Then again, the information in Voyage seems to be "evergreen," that is, it doesn't matter when the magazine is read in schools....

posted 07-18-2004 07:38 AM               

The next one will be out in November and then March 05. I am glad you find it useful.

We will also be updating our web site soon. Other changes are planned. So watch this thread.