space ship tanka

XCOR suborbital spacecraft

my own little ship
travel into outer space
fantastic landscape
hypersonic travelling
transatmospheric spacecraft

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Written for:

This week’s theme is: Landscape

Also Posted on:

Also posted on:

OpenLinkNight — week 46

Also posted on:

X is For (Xcor)

This week, I was fortunate enough to attend the Space Craft Technology Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

I went on a Press pass because I have a column on Nanotechnology now (see the right side of my page, there’s a link.) My column is writing poetry. XCOR had an interesting of their suborbital spacecraft. I want one. But you can buy a ride into orbit. Check out their website. It’s amazing that you can get into space now, and not be a superman astronaut. The spacecraft can be sued for payloads and experiments too, not just space travel. Seriously, check out their website, if you ever wanted to go into space, you can save up and go now!

Photo credit:  Bat-Ami Gordin  © 2012 all rights reserved, credit if you use it, please.

Sonnet XL

Custom, Gaskets by Ontario Gasket Inc.

The rubber’s fed on a machine,
it’s heated up to fit the mold,
then pressed until the foam is very lean,
and punched, or cut – it’s all controlled.
They’re fitted on a metal head,
to seal up gas or lubricants,
resistant seals are used widespread;
so many shapes with usefulness.
Gaskets aren’t clearly visible.
They are there, sealing and forming.
They’re optimal, reliable,
elastic and high performing.
Harsh and varied technologies
use them without apologies.

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Written for:

Machine Dreams

Also Posted on:

The Think Tank Thursday # 96 News

The challenge for this week, by chazinator, was to write a poem that references in some way the technological or machine spirit of our time.

This week, I was fortunate enough to attend the Space Craft Technology Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

I went on a Press pass because I have a column on Nanotechnology now (see the right side of my page, there’s a link.) My column is writing poetry. Ontario Gasket, Inc. had an interesting display of their gaskets. Since this gasket topic does not fit the nanotechnology column, I am posting on my blog.

I decided to write a sonnet about this. Why? Well, I figured everyone else would be writing about some kind of technological system, or maybe something philosophical about the impact of technology on mankind and society and all that. I was certain (still haven’t looked) that no one would take one specialized vital part and write about it.

In case you wonder how vital gaskets, o-rings and other seals are in machines, look up Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and learn that it was a Viton ® O-ring that failed and caused the explosion.

Image credit: Bat-Ami Gordin  © 2012 all rights reserved, credit if you use it, please.