Feel free to blame this.
The Bovine-Oriented Orbital Mechanics Project
It seemed a good idea at the time.
In fact, it is difficult to decide when BOOM finally descended into madness. The basic idea – equipping a cow with a wearable methane collector – was, at its absolute worst, no more than a silly and mostly harmless idea. The first half of the twenty-first century was full of silly and mostly harmless ideas, which is why it’s a favorite setting for most nostalgic popular entertainment in the modern era.
Alas, in 2067 South American politics were considerably less silly and decidedly not harmless, given that it was year three of a thoroughly nasty war involving Brazil versus everybody else on the continent except Grande Guyane. Brazilian industry in particular was barely able to remain self-sufficient in materials, thanks to a remarkably effective blockade; and smart recycling programs could only do so much when it came to rare earths and elements. If Brazil wanted to keep its war satellite program supplied, it was simply going to have to come up with an alternative LEO option. Continue reading The Bovine-Oriented Orbital Mechanics Project.