Comments on: Meet Phil Metzger…

By: James Balson

James Balson — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:58:55 +0000

Just want to share an experience I had in 1999 off I79 between the border of South Virginia and north Carolina I forget the name of the meteor shower but it was fantastic so much so we had to take an exit.We were traveling north on I 79 in the wee hours. It looked like a war of ballistics coming from the south so many fireballs at the same time and for at least a half an hour. I wish I had video of the crashes the way they exploded on the ground but if I had I’m sure I couldn’t have caught the basket ball size cold moon sailing over my head low enough I could have hit it with a rock.I wish I had known the significance of that event at that time because I would still be there looking for it till I found it. I recently saw you on NASA unexplained files with the Norwegian skydivers close encounter with a price of gravel and sparked my memory.

By: Gary R. Anderson

Gary R. Anderson — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 01:27:46 +0000

Dear Doctor; You encapsulate the ultimate feasibility of one day building something from nothing; and I understand most of it. However, you quickly departed from (“what I thought”) was the objective– 3D modeling of a protective construct for long term Lunar occupancy, in the next 10 years, ie, additive construction of a regolith based FACS that builds autonomously. I’m looking for a KISS solution, and so I ask why not PROVIDE along with the 3D modeler hardware some of the fibers and binders to modify the regolith to a structural level. I am reminded of the WWII concept of a battle platform cast from water and sawdust; indestructible even at today’s standards. So WHY NOT USE WATER AS A BINDER? It would ultimately degrade, but at the rate of years to decades. Also, magnetic binders could be super-electro-charged to make a balance between the cohesive properties. I can see a “glopita glopita” machine mixture being extruded into a behive cone, freezing nearly instantly as the 3D modeler advances, and covered over with additional regolith. Any comment? I believe I may have seen you at NIAC 2015. I winter here in Cocoa, at least until Mayday when the grass in Packerville needs mowing with my subtractive 2D modeler. Would love to meet with you before then. Call 321-BLAST-00

By: Tim Lucas

Tim Lucas — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 11:22:28 +0000

Dr. Metzer, I need your help to solve a problem…..I have some ufo footage that I KNOW is a ufo, from years ago. This thing changed my life. it’s amazing story, I’d like to discuss it with you. I have two days footage, in a row of the same object, both filmed, in the exact spot, same timeframe, some how, I KNEW it would be back there the next day. I was waiting for it and filmed the sky to prove it wasn’t there and while filming it showed up. This was in Colorado between two mountain peaks shaped like pyramids out there called Melissa & Elvira apparently…by the locals, not sure if they are really called that. I turned this footage over to MUFON, who had the nerve after being amazed by it, to suddenly telling me and expecting me to believe it was the planet in the sky, when there was not one single star out at all. What I also witnessed and FELT, on the 2nd day, was just before the ufo disappeared behind the peak of the 2nd pyramid *as it came in between them* just like the first day, myself along with 2 other witnesses, FELT a huge blast of hot air from this craft, and it was determined by MUFON thru google earth that from the point of filming in between the peaks was about 5 miles, it was below 50 degrees after 5pm at least that evening, and it felt like someone opened an oven door in our faces. MUFON cannot explain nor wants to HOW we felt that, they have back pedaled off their OH WERE AMAZED at your video story, to OH IT”S JUST A PLANET… such a ludicrous statement. I wanted someone who could properly see the video to prove otherwise. I have all but the last minute of it uploaded to youtube. for some reason the last minute separated into another file and will not upload properly….I would like you to look at the video and give me your thoughts. I’ve shown this video to Tim Edwards the first day and second day it happened *before he passed away*, you might know his name in the ufo field, he’s reported many ufo’s out in Salida Colorado, and this was right outside it, just miles away in Howard Colorado. I’ve sent this video years ago to Bill Byrnes from UFO HUNTERS as well, he was amazed and then suddenly dropped off the map as well. I feel like this video is intentionally being suppressed on purpose….we all know what we have seen. Please take me seriously on this, I’d really like your input. Please contact me.

By: Aly L.

Aly L. — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:23:37 +0000

Dr. Metzger,

I have been following your blog for a while (and we follow each other on Twitter), and I sincerely appreciate everything you do to educate and inspire others. Thank you very much for your hard work and dedication to science.

I write science fiction, and I have been trying to ascertain if an Earth-like planet with a rocky planetary ring system could support human life. I read Fawcett and Boslough’s paper entitled “Climate Effects of an Impact Induced Equatorial Debris Ring” (in Appendix A here: https://cfwebprod.sandia.gov/cfdocs/CompResearch/docs/02-1925_MPG_Climate_Model4.pdf). However, I am still unsure how a satellite(s) would affect the ring system. For example, if the planet had an Earth-like moon, would the gravitational influence of the moon throw off the rings?

If you have any insight or resources you could point me to, I would be most appreciative. I would like to get my planetary science as accurate as possible. Thank you, again!

By: david schrunk

david schrunk — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 23:19:42 +0000

Hi Phil, You and I are definitely on the same page — the Moon is the key to our (spectacular) spacefaring future. Have you seen the book that I co-authored with Bonnie Cooper, Burt Sharpe, and Madhu Thangavelu? THE MOON: Resources, Future Development and Settlement, Springer-Praxis, 2nd edition, 2007. If not, I would be pleased to send you a copy — and continue the dialogue. Thanks! David Schrunk

By: graphicartist04

graphicartist04 — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 03:31:16 +0000

Hello Dr. Metzger. I am with the Custer Observatory on LI, NY. Once a month we arrange lectures and programs for the public and once a year we have an Astronomy Jamboree and hold two days of Astronomy lectures. I would like to know if you ever lecture or do public programs about your fascinating work? There are three Amateur Astronomy groups near by and also the scientists and physicists of the Brookhaven National Lab working on the new Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). I feel they would love to attend one of your lectures! If you would be interested in a program or lecture at Custer Observatory or if you ever come to NY to lecture please contact me to let me know: graphicartist04@gmail.com. Thank you very much! Clear Skies to you! Annette

By: drewski58

drewski58 — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 02:21:06 +0000

Hi Dr. Metzger. I have a small team working on a near future (50-75 years) simulation that initially puts the player in the position of establishing research colonies and outposts on the lunar and martian surfaces as well as developing technologies for mining within the asteroid belt. Although this could be labelled as “science fiction”, we are approaching this project with as much scientific fidelity as possible towards what technologies will likely be developed and utilized in the coming years as we colonize the solar system. I would love to have the chance to chat with you regarding our project and how we are approaching things, as one of our goals is to motivate and interest people towards the shared goal of reaching out beyond our terrestrial home. Again, this is not “space opera” and our guiding design mantra is to develop visions of future technologies based on what we are seeing now and then extrapolating out as best as possible.

My team and I have been devouring all of the material on your website (the series on asteroid mining is amazing!) and would love to have a few minutes of your time if possible to talk about our approach.

Thanks for sharing all of this wonderful information, it is greatly appreciated.

By: Philip Metzger

Philip Metzger — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:33:04 +0000

Hi Mike! When we wrote the paper about bootstrapping solar system civilization we were focused on the Moon as it was during NASA’s Constellation program. However, this could be based on the Moon, asteroids, or both. I vote for both. The eventual goal is to move the industry to the main asteroid belt where vast resources are available.

By: Jay Nibhanupudy

Jay Nibhanupudy — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 02:38:38 +0000

Hi, my name is Jay, I am in 6th grade and I am doing a project about Robert Goddard. Part of the project is looking at the future and how Goddard benifiets the future. I heard you have some knowledge in the field of future missions, so I was wondering if I could interview you. Please email me if you are able to do this. Thank You

By: Mike Herron

Mike Herron — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 23:10:14 +0000

I think the idea of a seed factory to jumpstart an extraterristrial economy is very appealing. I am trying to read some rather divergent descriptions of such a thing but I would be interested in hearing how you think this sort of idea might apply to asteroid mining. IMO it seems a necessary requirement for successful expansion.