Orbital Science, Antares, and NASA - The future of human space exploration after the loss at Wallops Island.

With the loss of the Oribital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, and the Cygnus CRS-3 payload, at Wallops Island Flight Facility last evening, questions will again begin erupting about the viability and need for NASA. The loss of the spacecraft, the ~$250 million price tag, the 5,050 pounds of supplies, and more will all create an uproar about the wasted money and resources. If you want to know what a quarter billion dollar explosion looks like, here you go:

The official story is that, at T+6 seconds, the second first-stage engine failed before the entire airframe fell back onto the launch pad. Fortunately, there were no causalities. FYI, this is what the launch should look like:

(And if you are interested- this is the typical full mission profile for the Antares/Cygnus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU-XS8pX77k )

Forgetting the above, NASA has had a slew of failures over the past decade or more. Let's see how many you remember:

• The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) Satellite
• Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) Spacecraft
• NASA Helios
• Genesis
• Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)
• The Mars Polar Lander (MPL)
• Deep Space 2
• The Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO)
• NOAA-19
• Columbia

Odds are, most people will remember the MCO, MPL, and Deep Space 2 (the MPL and MCO were in the same flight and all three were doing the 'smaller, faster, cheaper' policy time at NASA) and we all remember the Columbia disaster, but you probably wouldn't remember any others.

But what about NASA's successes? Do you remember any of those? How about this list:

• Man in Space
• Man oribits Earth
• Space walk
• Man on Moon
• Voyager explores the Solar System and now interstellar space
• Mars Rovers
• Redeavous with comet
• Mission to Pluto
• Rendeavous with Astroid
• SETI
• Numerous Earth mapping, scientific, and communication missions

Wow. That's quite a list too. But is the juice worth the squeeze?

NASA asks and answers the big questions of humanity. Space is truly the final frontier. Although some argue that we have not completely investigated the depths of Earth's oceans or its core, Space is literally infinite and we have only scratched the surface of what there is to learn. Space exploration also asks 'who are we?', 'where do we come from?', 'what's out there?', and 'are we alone?' Are there bigger questions mankind can ask themselves? Inherent in those four questions are everything we have ever learned about ourselves and all the questions that develop every time we chip away at the darkness. The answers to those questions are out there somewhere. Not to mention, the impact that those answers may have on our understanding of ourselves, our religions, and how we relate to the universe around us. Out there may even be the answer to who, what, or even is there a, God? Unless we keep looking, those questions may go unanswered.

BUT, its not just about the existential, there are other important reasons to continue space exploration. The most basic of which, is to encourage our future here on Earth. Space exploration requires people with the knowledge and skills to maintain our programs. During the boom of the late 50s and 60s, students began going into Math and Science programs. Although not all of them ended up at NASA, they helped to power and run the greatest period of economic growth in American history. Couldn't we use that again? And once we get out there, everyone can agree that there are untold riches in natural resources found in limited supply on earth but abundant in our local solar system. We just have to get to them!

There is a middle ground between the existential and material as well. There is one simple truth summed up by this picture:

Isn't that telling? Human beings, all of mankind, trillions and trillions of people, have all lived and died clinging briefly to the surface of this single blue marble in space. Only 12 men in history, over two and a half years, have left this planet and touched down on another heavenly body. Human kind is one asteroid, comet, pandemic,or other ELE from being wiped off the Universe's white board. All that would remain of humankind is a few trillion dollars of junk liberally distributed on and around the inner planets of the Sol (the name of our Sun) Star System. Every step we take out into the cosmos puts human survival, as a species, a little closer to a reality.

With all of this at stake, why WOULDN'T we continue with NASA's mission? There are really only two strong arguments. The first is, that we have enough problems down here on Earth. The US is facing a 17 trillion dollar debt. We need every dollar we can spare to address the issues we have in our nation here. Eisenhower, who once vetoed Apollo reminded Americans that "every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." After all, isn't NASA costing us far too much money? Well... not so much. Critics argue that funding human space exploration siphons money from other programs such as helping the nation's poor. They say that NASA is a machine for spending money. They point to the missions above as proof of the waste of money (The missions above totaled about $2 billion- certainly nothing to sneeze at.) But, its important to keep a little perspective.

NASA has a budget of about $20 billion dollars a year. With that budget, NASA runs facilitties like Canaveral, Houston, Glenn Center, Ames, White Sands, JPL, Johnson, Langley, the IV and V Center, Plum Brook, their headquarters in DC, and the Wallops Facility where the accident recently occurred. They also fund the Shuttle replacedment program, the planetary missions, the ISS, their interactions with universities and schools, the telescopes, the communication, weather, and other satellites, as well as a host of other things. How to compare that? If you took the yearly budget for the Department of Defense and split it into 365 equal daily payments, NASA's $20 billion is about five days' worth of that a year. Here are some visuals:

Just so its clear, we put a man on the moon when NASA was given just over 5% of the entire Federal budget.

And one of my personal favorites:

When considering all other factors, $20 billion seems like a drop in the bucket of a trillion dollar budget expenditure.

But the infographics above beg an interesting question: if we had maintained that 60s spending on human space exploration, or if we had merely kept up with inflation where would we be?

The second question that critics make to funding NASA is: where are the results? What does our $20 billion per year get us? Well, a lot actually. NASA has given us billions of dollars in expenditure on stuff we either don’t know or care about- but that do exist. NASA technology helps my cell phone work, helps me text my friends and family, makes me able to access the internet from anywhere, let's me watch Video on Demand, helps me find my way when I'm lost and check the weather where I am and where I wish I was. That's not to mention that the miniaturized electronics developed because of the Apollo Program make all of that technology fit in the palm of my hand and in my pocket. And that's just technology, not to mention the hundreds of other advancements NASA has given us.

As a side note, they have also made us safer. We have made incredible advances in identifying and tracking Near Earth Objects- the type of objects that could impact earth can cause the extinction of mankind.

It's important, here again, to keep some perspective. Humans have always been about exploring. Monarchs of Europe put up money for voyages of discovery since the beginning of time. It’s how the New World was 'discovered' and explored; and it enabled the Westward expansion of the United States. However, while scientists tagged along on many of the gigs, but governments were foremost interested in making money. That continued in this country's history. President Jefferson sent Lewis & Clark into the wilderness to find a waterway to ship goods. Eisenhower’s national highway system made possible everything from transporting fresh produce to the social mobility of suburban living. The Defense Department gave us what would become the Internet. The same can be said about Space exploration. But its more than just about profit. When Charles Lindbergh was asked why he crossed the Atlantic, he never once answered that he wanted to win the $25,000 that Raymond Orteig offered for the first nonstop aircraft flight between New York and Paris. Burt Rutan and his backer, Paul Allen, certainly didn’t develop a private spacecraft to win the Ansari X-Prize for the $10 million in prize money. They spent twice as much as they made. Sergei Korolev and the team that launched Sputnik were not tasked by their government to be the first to launch an artificial satellite; they had to fight for the honor and the resources to do it. It's human nature to push back the darkness and see what lies beneath. For NASA, its bigger. Its the American way. “Go West young man,” has become go out there young people. People still strive to accomplish such things. They do so for reasons that are intuitive and compelling to all of us but that are not necessarily logical. They’re exactly the opposite of acceptable reasons, which are eminently logical but neither intuitive nor emotionally compelling.

But things do need to change. NASA needs to realize that its not just about doing it because its there to do, nor is it just about profit. Its also about image. NASA has to stop talking to itself. They have become the Microsoft of exploration, and it’s time for it to start thinking like Apple: declare big, high/risk and high/reward goals like explorers did. And don't do it quietly, shout it from the roof tops. Did you know that NASA has announced, and started to accomplish, these big goals? Landing spacecraft on asteroids, figure out how send humans to Mars, send rovers there to troll for the best real estate, and unveiling a new heavy-lift rocket design to get people out there. But once again, they failed in the image department (thinking like Microsoft instead of Apple) and named it the SLS. Not Andromeda, New Hope, or whatever; they named it the Space Launch System. NASA gives its rockets acronym names like they’re line items in a budget, which of course they are. We need NASA to become the engine for getting thousands of other companies, institutions, and individuals involved in space exploration and development. Well, to be fair, we need them to be vocal about the fact that they already are:

Today, NASA trudges along in their mission statement. From the NASA website:
NASA Today

NASA conducts its work in four principal organizations, called mission directorates:

• Aeronautics: manages research focused on meeting global demand for air mobility in ways that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, while also embracing revolutionary technology from outside aviation.
• Human Exploration and Operations: focuses on International Space Station operations, development of commercial spaceflight capabilities and human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.
• Science: explores the Earth, solar system and universe beyond; charts the best route of discovery; and reaps the benefits of Earth and space exploration for society.
• Space Technology: rapidly develops, innovates, demonstrates, and infuses revolutionary, high-payoff technologies that enable NASA's future missions while providing economic benefit to the nation.

The Future

Even with the retirement of the agency's space shuttles in 2011, NASA has a robust program of exploration, technology development and scientific research that will last for years to come. Here is what's next for NASA:

• NASA is designing and building the capabilities to send humans to explore beyond Earth orbit, including the development of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket, working toward a goal of sending astronauts to an asteroid in the coming decade and then to Mars by the 2030s.
• The International Space Station is fully staffed with a crew of six, and American astronauts will continue to live and work there in space 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Part of the U.S. portion of the station has been designated as a national laboratory, and NASA is committed to using this unique resource for wide-ranging scientific research
• U.S. commercial companies have begun delivering cargo to the space station, and commercial industry partners are working with NASA to develop new spacecraft and rockets to transport astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit, allowing NASA to focus its attention on the next steps into our solar system.
• NASA is researching ways to design and build aircraft that are safer, more fuel-efficient, quieter, and environmentally responsible. NASA also is part of the government team that is working to develop the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen, to be in place by the year 2025.
• NASA is conducting an unprecedented array of science missions that will seek new knowledge and understanding of Earth, the solar system and the universe.

So where does that leave us? Well its a decision for all of us, isn't it. If you ask me, there is no question. When I look up at the night sky full of stars, I feel small ( and it takes a lot to make me feel that way). I am forced to ask big questions, questions I don't know the answer to (another thing I don't like). I feel the yearning to go out there and explore. To find those answers that escape me. That's the existential side of me. The logical side of me, however, has the same answer, because all my concerns have been addressed. Where do you fall?

©Robert Cheek, 2014

Detroit: The Heartbeat of America

And How Baltimore Bandwagoners broke my heart

The victim is on the table and she's bleeding out. It seems that her very life is leaking from her body like a sieve. Like Julius Caesar, she's been set on by those she trusted, those she held in high esteem, those who she thought she could depend on; close friends and advisers.

The EKG is closer to plains than mountains. It seems like everyone has given up. 

The victim's name is America, and we're losing her.

Created with flickr slideshow.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the great city of Detroit, MI. I was struck by my visit there- but maybe not for the reasons you would think. 

I was told once that Detroit was the heart of America. Within a few miles of downtown, one could find examples of each type of industry that was helping America lead the world's industry. Detroit was, of course, the home of the automobile. But one could find steel, oil, and manufacturing of every variety in close proximity as well.

Now, Detroit is the anchor of the Rust Belt. It's downtown skyscrapers, built by the wealth of the 20th century, now sit vacant in the 21st. Its population, drawn by plentiful work since the industrial age began, has now evaporated away: less than 10% remain from its height. But there's one thing that hasn't changed: the heart of the people.

I was in town for a baseball game. In a town that takes sports very seriously (when there is little else, we cling to those things familiar to us), I was the enemy. It was the American League Division Series. My beloved Orioles were making their second trip to the playoffs in 3 years, but only the third in 17 years. We had taken Games 1 and 2 at home (in Baltimore) and on a lark, the posse drove 22 hours (in a 30 hour period) to see our team play Game 3 away. It was a serious venture. Game 3 of a 5 game series means 'win or go home.' (or in this case 'win or stay home') so there was a lot on the line. The atmosphere was so thick you could cut it with a knife. And here we were, the four of us, deep behind enemy lines.

 

When we first arrived in Detroit, we took a driving tour of the city. Cory had been there the year previous on his way to California, so he directed us through the beauty and the horror that is Detroit. Even the cursory drive that we took showed a city ravaged by economic downturn. Three things came to mind. The first was images of Sarajevo in the early to mid 1990s. When I was in school, the Balkan conflict was on-going and fresh. I remember seeing images of the 1984 Olympic Games held in that city. The pride of the World was on display. Just a decade later, the Olympic village would house the forces of Oppression and genocide.  The entire city was bombed out and in ruins. In Detroit, there had been no war, no genocide; but there was Oppression. Unfortunately, there was also Depression.

Created with flickr slideshow.

The second image that came to mind was untitled pictures of some sub-Saharan capital city: Kinshasa, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Kigali, Dar es Salaam- the jewels of previous empires now laid waste by war and economic downturns. After World War 2, when the British, German, French and other European powers waned and independence movements sprung up, a continent of new nations was born. Whether it was a civil war that sprang from independence, a struggle for power between warlords, or an economy that was laid to waste by the previous two or the disconnect from the greater empire markets; all of these capitals now laid vacant and falling in on themselves. Perhaps Detroit has more in common with this example. Laid waste by abusive warlord Mayors who acted with contempt to the people and a desire only for their own wealth; and a disconnect from the economic power of the American empire that waned in the latter quarter of the 20th century. 

The final image that came to mind was New York City in the fall of 2001: a city that had suffered the worst that could be imagined but had retained its soul and its will to survive. The unseen enemies had taken their best shot, but it wasn't enough. Even though the physical had been laid to waste, you couldn't crush their spirit. In NYC, it was 20 acres; for Detroit, it was 20 miles; but the sentiment was the same. Once we left the car, all of those things feelings were confirmed.

Our first stop was old Tiger's Stadium, i.e. Navin Field or Briggs Stadium. Although the stadium itself is gone, the historic field remains. The posse played catch on the same grass where Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and every important player in baseball history played. But it was more than just the field that made this stop special, it was the people.

Created with flickr slideshow.

We had the opportunity to speak to one of the members of the Navin Field Grounds Crew. This is one of those groups that I can't help but smile when I talk about. They are a group of baseball aficionados, Tigers fan, and historians that got tired of the eyesore at the corner of Michigan and Trumball Ave. At first, they were chased off by police, but now, they are thanked for their hard work in maintaining the old field (work that cost the city of Detroit $4mil a year between 2000 and 2006). 

This guy was the greatest. He knew all of the history of the field, the neighborhood and the city. He had his opinions, he told jokes, he let us in on 'inside secrets'; you could not have asked for a better guide. I said after we departed, Detroit should have a toll booth before you enter the city where you spend 5 minutes talking to this guy. If they did, no one would leave Detroit with a negative experience. But we talked about more than baseball, we talked about the city itself.

I knew a little bit about the history of Detroit and its relationship with the state government in Lansing; but it was so interesting to get a locals perspective. The abusive, warlord-like activities of the mayors (gaining personal wealth, insider contracts, and pay-offs were common); the state involvement which made things worse instead of better; and the economic downturn he had seen in his life. The city he painted from his memory was a dream; what we saw around us a nightmare. It was his final comments that struck me though (and forgive me, I'm going to paraphrase him).

'That's Detroit though. We take a licking and keep on ticking. Yea, the jobs are gone, the buildings are empty, the people left- but you can't kill Detroit. We're going to be here forever. We've recovered time and time again, and we'll get past this. You won't recognize this city in 20 years, I bet you.'

Wow. I was stunned. What a sentiment. Like a heavyweight boxer, deep in the 12th round, getting up from a staggering combination that landed him on his back. But, with a smile on his face, he gestures towards his combatant beckoning him to take another swing. 'C'mon! Let's go!' Bruised and bloodied but not beaten.  I looked around at the city and I'm not sure I could express the same. Seeing Detroit in that condition and hearing how it 'used to be', I may have been one of those that left for greener pastures. (That being said, knowing how I love Baltimore, I'd be in til the death too.)

We left Navin field, after parking in the old employee lot at the invitation of our guide, and headed across Trumbull Ave to McShanes and from there on to the game. For 4 hours, we mixed it up with the Tigers fans. They gave us a healthy amount of shit and we were respectful when the Orioles won (eliminating the Tigers). After the bus ride back to the car, I was stopped by a few Tigers fans in the street. They congratulated me on the win and encouraged us to do well in the ALCS. With a handshake and a slap on the back, we were on our way back to the car, and shortly thereafter, on our way back to Baltimore. Before we left, EP spotted what we thought was a ticket on the windshield. I couldn't help but laugh- karmic exchange for an ALDS win? I'll take it. But it wasn't. It was a karmic pay-off for being respectful human beings.

What a great feeling to head back home with. My faith in so much was rejuvenated that weekend. Not many people know, but I have this habit (hobby?) of writing speeches that I want to give someday. I have one that always pops into my mind called 'The Grinder'. Giving the speech to former maufacuring workers, most likely union guys, who have seen their jobs be outsourced over seas; the crescendo goes something like this: 

So take out those Grinders [Detroit](enter city name here), because were going to take them to this old Rust Belt and give it a new shine. New manufacturing jobs! A stronger economy through modern manufacturing. Send me to Washington, and I'll send those back here to you! (hold for applause)

I wanted to do that for Detroit now. I wanted to reward every single person that stayed and endured. I took that sentiment back to Maryland. It inspired me to restart my writing here and my fiction writing as well. In the end, I want to do that for the entire country. I see my city, my state, my nation suffering and I want to help. I think I have some good answers for the questions and solutions for the problems (or maybe I'm just too narcissistic to see them for the bullshit they really are) but in any event, I want to lend my voice to the conversation. 

postscript

The subtitle to this post came from my experience at my home stadium at Game 1 of the ALCS. Imagine that my last baseball experience had been 800 miles from home in a 'dangerous' city where my team eliminated the other team; but I was greeted with respectful prodding and in the end left with a positive impression of the whole trip.

Then Game 1 at Oriole Park came. The Royals were in town, and as luck would have it, I struck up a conversation with some Royals fans and we had that give and take that I had experienced in Detroit- except now I get to be the awesome home team. (I would like to give a shout to Ryan W., David O., and Caroline N. who I COMPLETELY forgot during the podcast but I tried to make up for that otherwise.)

Then, the bandwagonners had to join the conversation. This guy- wearing no Orioles gear, who knew none of the chants or cheers, and misidentified some of the players (i.e. a 'new', bandwagon fan)- who was clearly moody because of the light rain falling, chose to get very disrespectful to the Royals fans. It was begun by some general comments when the Royals went up at the top of the inning, and that's to be expected. We were all disappointed. But they took it too far.

Created with flickr slideshow.

I'm a traveling fan. I've seen the Orioles play in several major league stadiums in difference cities. I've seen other games for other teams in other stadiums (wearing my O's gear of course). I like to think that, much like happened in Detroit, I am given respect because of the respect other fans get in Baltimore (and my attitude at those games). 

Baltimore has, by far, the best fans in baseball; maybe the best fans in all sports (in which we participate). Unless you're a Yankees fan at a weekend game or going to a college night game (where the drinking gets the best of everyone) you can expect to get some playful jeering but for the most part a respectful, good time. I pride myself on that. We are a self-policing group and if someone gets out of hand, the crowd is usually the one to handle it. We don't stand for anyone's shit.

That's what I was doing at Game 1. I let it go for a bit, until it was clear that the Royals fans were getting uncomfortable. So I spoke up. I called the guy out on being a bandwagoner. I called him out on not knowing players, chants, or having any gear. I told him it wasn't those fans fault that our guys couldn't produce runs or get outs; that they were being respectful; and to shut his mouth and watch the game.

That, at least, turned his ire towards me; rather than at those fans. He and his group of friends kept saying things to me, of course, but eventually, the other O's fans shut them down and they left. 

I tell that story to say this. To the bandwagon fans- relax, seriously. To Oriole fans, let's do a little more policing for Games 6 and 7 please. To Royals fans, thank you for being great fans and respectful to our stadium and city.

One final note: I appreciate baseball for what it is. Its a game, yes, and its a pasttime. It's something we do that brings us together and distracts us from everyday life. There are a lot of problems in the world and more specifically our country today. Let's remember that it is just a game and let it relax us but not blind us to everything else going on that we need to address. In Detroit and in Baltimore during these playoffs, I have seen fans of all types stand at attention and sing the National Anthem at the beginning of a game and sing God Bless America at the 7th inning stretch. Every time I hear it, I'm reminded why I keep fighting and keep educating. This is a great nation full of amazing people.

Like the citizens in the city of Detroit, we believe in this country, we'll never give up, and we'll always fight. 

Robert Cheek ©2014 

7 October 2014 - The Day

7 October 2014.

 That was the day.

 I've been called a lot of things. Most of those things aren't fit to repeat even here. There are two that really bother me.

The first- inconsequential (or its synonyms). There is no bigger insult than to be told you don't matter. Whether its in my professional career, my other work, my personal life, or the big gray area that's forming in the gaps, I just want to know that I matter- that I'm making a difference.

 The second- coffee shop revolutionary. This I've heard since the first time I made the “Reformation” argument. I heard it in high school. I heard it when I started my first draft of “Founding the Future”. I heard it when I worked for campaigns, when I managed campaigns, and especially when I ran for office. I heard it when I started the blog, the website, and just about every effort I've made.

What is a coffee shop revolutionary? Urban Dictionary defines it as “An individual (coffee shop revolutionary) or group of individuals (revolutionaries) who speculate on the utopia that "could be" following radical societal, governmental, and cultural change without actually taking action to do initiate it. The prefixes of "Coffee Shop-" or "Armchair-" imply that the individual or individuals who desire reform or change lack the interest in making the sacrifices to take part in it. They are also the people who have the luxury of playing the all-knowing spectator to an event or social situation. (Definition) Coffee shop revolutionary has a very negative connotation. Immortal Technique (who by the way will provide the soundtrack to the revolution) has some unique thoughts on it.




In a way, those two insulting terms, used in conjunction, is maddening.

 That brings me back to 7 October 2014. That was the day that I had enough. So what happened to bring me to that point? Let's review. First, this was my reaction:

>@MDSP you should prob educate the Trooper who just left the @AccessDNR facility in Queen Anne about using excessive speed on 404 w/out his-
— Rob Cheek (@robertncheek) October 7, 2014

...emergency lights; using his bullhorn at highway speed; and that the law still applies to him despite the symbol on his car and... @MDSP
— Rob Cheek (@robertncheek) October 7, 2014

...the badge on his chest. Next time I'll publicly tweet his car number. #classactionlawsuit #highwaypirates @MDSP @AccessDNR
— Rob Cheek (@robertncheek) October 7, 2014

This is what I, surprisingly, received back:

I'm surprised I heard back, tho I'm sure nothing will come of it except a ticket for me. #justified #highwaypirates

— Rob Cheek (@robertncheek) October 8, 2014

This is what lead to it:

 The vehicle I encountered was one of 4 that I identified leaving the Department of Natural Resources facility yesterday evening. (The facility is here: Map  ) (The Maryland State Police use the gun range there) The first I encountered heading Northbound (I was heading Southbound) just North of the intersection of Damsontown Road and 309. (This intersection: Map ) This vehicle was traveling at an obvious high rate of speed but I was traveling parallel and opposite of it. It was followed by two more marked MSP vehicles, also heading northbound, one I encountered at the intersection mentioned above and one just south of that intersection. The third vehicle left the northbound travel lane and entered the southbound travel lane a few hundred yards in front of me as it failed to fully negotiate the right hand curve. 

When I passed the DNR facility, I saw a fourth marked MSP vehicle, which seemed to be the last one leaving the facility. It turned in behind me and waited at the light at the intersection of 404 and 309 in Queen Anne. While we waited, I saw no other vehicles leave the facility. After the light changed, we proceeded through the intersection and the vehicle remained behind me, turning into the sole Eastbound lane on 404. The vehicle remained in what I would consider an unsafe following distance from the intersection, through the construction zone, and up the rise opposite the Choptank River bridge, as we both followed a commercial van gaining speed at a much slower rate.  

Once Eastbound 404 divided into a four lane highway, the vehicle moved quickly into Lane 1, coming far too close to my rear bumper for comfort and I remained behind the van in Lane 2. He quickly gained speed as we traveled down Eastbound 404. I moved into Lane 1 and pursued the vehicle. It passed no less than four vehicles in Lane 2 and slowed only to allow a slower vehicle in Lane 1 to move into Lane 2 just before 404 becomes a two lane highway again. The vehicle did not activate its emergency lights nor its sirens at this point, or for the entirety of the incident. As the vehicle was forced to slow, I was able to make contact again and join traffic behind the vehicle just after the intersection of 404 with 480/Ridgely Rd. 

Once traffic was single file, the vehicle accelerated again, reaching speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour and pulling away from traffic. I kept the vehicle in sight and paced it using roadside signs to maintain distance and speed. As I could identify my speed and the vehicle moved away from me swiftly, I could estimate the velocity. At times, the vehicle traveled above 80 mph. After the first intersection of Saathoff Rd with 404 and before the second, the vehicle slammed on its brakes and executed an emergency stop, leaving the travel lane and coming to rest on the shoulder. I proceeded past the now stopped vehicle which then accelerated to catch up with me. 

As we proceeded Eastbound, the vehicle followed me, at the posted speed limit, but at times so closely that the headlights of the vehicle could not be seen as they were blocked from view by my rear bumper/trunk. The vehicle was close enough that I could clearly see the Trooper behind the wheel. As we traveled Eastbound, the vehicle alternated traveling inside 1 car length behind me and backing off several car lengths. As we approached Eastbound 404 and Holly road, the Trooper once again quickly closed the distance and followed me within 1 car length. 

As the road divided, the vehicle moved into Lane 1 and I remained in Lane 2. I heard the sound of the bullhorn through my window, it was clearly not the siren which had still not been activated nor had the emergency lights. Unfortunately, I was unable to hear the substance of what was announced over the wind noise. The vehicle then proceeded at a high rate of speed down Eastbound 404 in Lane 1. I did not pursue, because at that point I feared, based on the behavior, what might occur should a stop be executed. 

I would estimate that the vehicle traveled again near 100mph away from me and down Eastbound 404. Another vehicle further down the road was forced from Lane 1 to Lane 2 with the oncoming Trooper behind him. I exited Eastbound 404 at Business 404 but the vehicle had already proceeded out of sight in the direction of the intersection of 404 and River Road/Matthewstown Road.

 I included, in my contact with the MSP, the description above along with this: This is not the first occasion I have had to see a MSP vehicle, marked or otherwise, violating the very traffic laws to which I, and everyone else, am regularly held accountable. I don't believe this Trooper was on duty, but I have witnessed both on-duty and off-duty vehicles operated in the same manner. I appreciate you contacting me, but I am under no false belief that anything will actually be addressed. I am sure that, likely, nothing will occur and it is only my life which will be impacted negatively, both personally and professionally. Just the same, I'm fed up, and I will be using what little soapbox I have to hold both the MSP and local police and sheriff's departments accountable for their actions. However, I will share your quick response to my passive aggressive social media complaint.

When I got home, I was so mad I was shaking. I spend a lot of time trying to separate my professional duty and my relationship with the police from my personal feelings about the abuses I see around me. I spend even more time parsing out the good cop/bad cop dynamic.

I'm tired. The whole thing has exhausted me. So I'm done.

This is my declaration of intent. From here on out, I will be doing everything I can to bring some semblance of equality to the system; to bring justice where it needs to be but isn't found. That was my moment. What's yours?

Have you found the thing, person, or event that pushed you over the tipping point? If not, what would it take? What will get you off the couch, out of the coffee shop, and into the battle?

© Robert Cheek, 2014