Brief and a nice meal x3

Flew to TN Wednesday afternoon and then spent hour with semi-retired NASA guy talking a mag-lev transport network for US, plus Free Electron Lasers to power spacecraft to moon and power facilities there. All very cool, seemingly plausible, and forward leaning.

Cost estimated for mag-lev network in manner of interstate highway system? A mere 350 billion. Pocket change this week!

Thursday is all-day meetings at Oak Ridge National Lab, then flight to Reagan.

Friday is long session brief and discussion with a collection of operators from the special forces universe, the kind who purposely don't look military. This group had requested me a while back and a friendly intermediary set it up. Smart bunch. Privilege to participate.

Home Friday for the debate.

Comments

[Louis Heberlein]

These could be a type of projects that could attract investors after the virtual financial economy crisis settles. Success would be uncertain, but conditions more truly visible.

[LK]

Investment in these techs may seem pretty nifty but there is no actual market need for them, otherwise they would have already been done. Moreover do they serve any political-military purpose. Even in the realm of innovation economics / national competitiveness money could be better spent.

[Jarrod Myrick]

Wonder if a mag-lev was ever seriously considered for the Trans-Texas Corridor?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_texas_corridor

Gerard O'Neil had some far out thoughts too.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_train_proposals#Transoceanic_Maglevs

[Mark in Texas]

During your trips to Tennessee, do you ever encounter University of Tennessee Law School professor Glen Reynolds (the Instapundit) in Knoxville?

It seems like it would be a very good thing if the two of you were to meet.