SpaceX

[Burnley Ace]

Well that’s a WOW! Getting the booster back on the pad and catching it is video game stuff.

[mdd2]

sci fi action that was. Absolutely amazing

[chekhov]

I’m extremely cynical regarding the whole Starship venture. Massive waste of energy and resources, and for various reasons, I predict doomed to failure.

[Rowls]

Amazing technological achievement.

[Oshkoshclaret]

I’m extremely cynical regarding the whole Christopher Columbus venture. Massive waste of energy and resources, and for various reasons, I predict doomed to failure.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Amazing today, like Star Trek.

We are only alive for a small sliver of history, but it would be great if that time included when the human species first went interplanetary through this type of development.

Or we could just sit back on our busy planet, blowing each other up through distrust and hate, or living lives devoid of ambition or creativity.

I choose option A.

[Bosscat]

I’m extremely cynical regarding the whole Starship venture. Massive waste of energy and resources, and for various reasons, I predict doomed to failure.

Elon Musk is a kn*b but if it wasn't for folk like him and people down through History, we would be still living in caves and hunting with spears (bit like folk in Shadsworth still do )

[clarethomer]

It's fascinating how he has been able to transform and deliver huge innovation in the areas he works in.

The robo event was quite interesting too earlier in the week.

It won't ever happen as quick as he says things will but he is certainly out there pushing the boundaries which has to be good for continued progression.

[chekhov]

Elon Musk is a kn*b but if it wasn't for folk like him and people down through History, we would be still living in caves and hunting with spears (bit like folk in Shadsworth still do )

I’m very pro space exploration. The Horizons Pluto probe, the Lucy missions to the Trojan asteroid belt, two of the more recent space adventures, both expanding our knowledge of the solar system. Not to mention the Webb space telescope, which has provided amazing images, and is revealing insights into the origin of the universe.
Musk’s vanity project however is just that. No one is going to Mars anytime soon. As for establishing a colony, looks great in cgi but it’s not something practically feasible. The idea of fleets of starships heading off for years long space trips doesn’t stack up. At the moment, as far as I’m aware, Starship hasn’t even achieved orbit, even as an empty shell. Filled with a crew, passengers and cargo will make it even more of a challenge. Apparently it will take a dozen or more launches to get one Starship on a trajectory to Mars.
I used to admire Musk but now see him as a fantasist.

[Bosscat]

I’m very pro space exploration. The Horizons Pluto probe, the Lucy missions to the Trojan asteroid belt, two of the more recent space adventures, both expanding our knowledge of the solar system. Not to mention the Webb space telescope, which has provided amazing images, and is revealing insights into the origin of the universe.
Musk’s vanity project however is just that. No one is going to Mars anytime soon. As for establishing a colony, looks great in cgi but it’s not something practically feasible. The idea of fleets of starships heading off for years long space trips doesn’t stack up. At the moment, as far as I’m aware, Starship hasn’t even achieved orbit, even as an empty shell. Filled with a crew, passengers and cargo will make it even more of a challenge. Apparently it will take a dozen or more launches to get one Starship on a trajectory to Mars.
I used to admire Musk but now see him as a fantasist.

The longest journey begins with a single step... It will be private enterprise like Musk et al that move us on.

[FCBurnley]

The longest journey begins with a single step... It will be private enterprise like Musk et al that move us on.

It certainly won’t be UK or US governments

[chekhov]

The longest journey begins with a single step... It will be private enterprise like Musk et al that move us on.

Much more productive to focus on unmanned and robotic missions. What Musk is doing is taking small steps, unfortunately he’s going right up his own a***.

[Buxtonclaret]

....e would be still living in caves and hunting with spears (bit like folk in Shadsworth still do )

They've spears now, in Shadsworth ? Cripes.

[Vegas Claret]

Musk had the opportunity to be one of the greatest human beings to ever live, he can stick his rocket up his arse

[jrgbfc]

Amazing today, like Star Trek.

We are only alive for a small sliver of history, but it would be great if that time included when the human species first went interplanetary through this type of development.

Or we could just sit back on our busy planet, blowing each other up through distrust and hate, or living lives devoid of ambition or creativity.

I choose option A.

Would it not be better to focus on looking after our own planet first? Or is it time for the human race to go and start trashing others now.

[theduke]

I’m very pro space exploration. The Horizons Pluto probe, the Lucy missions to the Trojan asteroid belt, two of the more recent space adventures, both expanding our knowledge of the solar system. Not to mention the Webb space telescope, which has provided amazing images, and is revealing insights into the origin of the universe.
Musk’s vanity project however is just that. No one is going to Mars anytime soon. As for establishing a colony, looks great in cgi but it’s not something practically feasible. The idea of fleets of starships heading off for years long space trips doesn’t stack up. At the moment, as far as I’m aware, Starship hasn’t even achieved orbit, even as an empty shell. Filled with a crew, passengers and cargo will make it even more of a challenge. Apparently it will take a dozen or more launches to get one Starship on a trajectory to Mars.
I used to admire Musk but now see him as a fantasist.

Of course it's reached orbit. Today was historical. I think you'll be shocked at how quickly it escalates.

[Bosscat]

Of course it's reached orbit. Today was historical. I think you'll be shocked at how quickly it accelerates.

[dvalley69]

Amazing today, like Star Trek.

We are only alive for a small sliver of history, but it would be great if that time included when the human species first went interplanetary through this type of development.

Or we could just sit back on our busy planet, blowing each other up through distrust and hate, or living lives devoid of ambition or creativity.

I choose option A.

We'll only just start doing the same on other planets/in other places! What's your evidence to say we won't? Maybe we should just focus on ourselves as humans first, no? Concentrate on helping others, respecting humans, creating opportunity and life rather than prejudice and professing superiority...

[CrosspoolClarets]

Would it not be better to focus on looking after our own planet first? Or is it time for the human race to go and start trashing others now.

No.

Besides, the two are not mutually exclusive.

If humanity can transform a barren rock into something that can sustain life, they can do great things on earth with the technology. Take the NASA history - invented memory foam, scratch resistant lenses, precursor to Lasik surgery etc.

[IanMcL]

I’m extremely cynical regarding the whole Christopher Columbus venture. Massive waste of energy and resources, and for various reasons, I predict doomed to failure.

He'll never find his way to anywhere!

[IanMcL]

The vision needed to turn make belive into reality is incredible, in itself.

Success at doing it is beyond what we thought possible, until today.

Tomorrow brings another day...

[atlantalad]

Watched the event live on TV on Sunday and was genuinely left in awe. As an mech engineer ( and also taught rudimentary Newtonian mechanics) I was aware of the complexities of bringing the booster back. Amongst other things the event required gravity defying split second thruster ignition, precise fuel supply, manoeuvring of the thrusters, compensation for wind shear, accounting for constantly changing mass and compensation for change in air density.

That must have been some feedback loop to compensate for all the above and yet land the 20 storey mass precisely in the "chop sticks" guide without the slightest bump.

For context consider the landing of passenger aircraft - Don't think many of us have ever been on an landing aircraft and never noticed we had actually touched down? More often than not there is always a; skew, bump or double bounce before the thing eventually lands with all wheels on the ground.

[Elbarad]

Who knows if it'll end up working all the way to Mars, all I'll say is Musk and the Amazon guy seem to move a lot faster and cheaper then NASA does. Sometimes when you move fast it doesn't work, but NASA is so risk adverse that sometimes I think they move backwards. Regardless, I believe NASA is planning to use Starship to go to the moon again in 2026, so here's rooting for the team.

[claretcarrot93]

Musk had the opportunity to be one of the greatest human beings to ever live, he can stick his rocket up his arse

Any elaboration on that?

[bfcjg]

Musk had the opportunity to be one of the greatest human beings to ever live, he can stick his rocket up his arse

To me that reads that his ability to insert his rocket up his backside qualifies him to be one of the contenders to be one of the greatest humans ever. What would have won it for him ;launching said rocket from his backside ?

[chekhov]

Who knows if it'll end up working all the way to Mars, all I'll say is Musk and the Amazon guy seem to move a lot faster and cheaper then NASA does. Sometimes when you move fast it doesn't work, but NASA is so risk adverse that sometimes I think they move backwards. Regardless, I believe NASA is planning to use Starship to go to the moon again in 2026, so here's rooting for the team.

NASA is doing plenty of stuff, but maybe not the spectacular stunts Musk gets up to. For example, who heard of the Europa Clipper mission that launched yesterday? Actual science that may help us discover whether life could evolve elsewhere in our solar system.
Sadly I think Starship is a non-starter and doubt it will even get to the moon let alone Mars. The big rocket thing is more about Musk’s ego than anything else.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/liftoff-na ... f-jupiter/

[SirBob]

Of course it's reached orbit. Today was historical. I think you'll be shocked at how quickly it escalates.

It didn’t reach full orbit, it reached lower earth orbit which isn’t the same thing.

The whole point of this ship is that it’s reusable. The first stage landed on the pad and was on fire, some of the engines will hopefully be reusable. The stage itself will be scrapped.

The second stage, while it made it back to its designated landing area over the sea was again on fire. Its metal hull partially melted on re-entry, if it had made it back to the launch pad it would have been scrap metal too.

The project is currently 3 years behind schedule. They should have been flying around the moon earlier this year.

This technology isn’t new, nasa successfully tested reusable ships in the 90s. But it wasn’t cost effective. So far Elon Musk has destroyed 5 ships totalling about 5 billion dollars in cost.

Don’t really see where this project goes from here.

[Vegas Claret]

Any elaboration on that?

No, no intention of getting the thread pulled or locked.

[Elbarad]

NASA is doing plenty of stuff, but maybe not the spectacular stunts Musk gets up to. For example, who heard of the Europa Clipper mission that launched yesterday? Actual science that may help us discover whether life could evolve elsewhere in our solar system.
Sadly I think Starship is a non-starter and doubt it will even get to the moon let alone Mars. The big rocket thing is more about Musk’s ego than anything else.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/liftoff-na ... f-jupiter/

NASA can't get the astronauts off the space station after months. They simply don't have a vehicle that can do it after the space shuttle was discontinued. How many years ago was that?

I'm not saying they're doing nothing, obviously they are. But in my opinion, private industry is the way to go. They don't have to get the budget passed thru Congress and suffer endless hearings by non experts from the same body.

There are many reasons to think ill of Elon, but I'm happy that the US is hiring private industry to develop new lift capabilities for profit. It'll be cheaper for the US government and faster, at least I believe so.

[fatboy47]

No, no intention of getting the thread pulled or locked.

Me neither....that fella creeps me out completely though.

[SirBob]

NASA can't get the astronauts off the space station after months. They simply don't have a vehicle that can do it after the space shuttle was discontinued. How many years ago was that?

I'm not saying they're doing nothing, obviously they are. But in my opinion, private industry is the way to go. They don't have to get the budget passed thru Congress and suffer endless hearings by non experts from the same body.

There are many reasons to think ill of Elon, but I'm happy that the US is hiring private industry to develop new lift capabilities for profit. It'll be cheaper for the US government and faster, at least I believe so.

NASA are the organisation funding SpaceX

[chekhov]

Don’t really see where this project goes from here.

Very well put.

[bfcjg]

Don’t really see where this project goes from here.

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[jrgbfc]

No.

Besides, the two are not mutually exclusive.

If humanity can transform a barren rock into something that can sustain life, they can do great things on earth with the technology. Take the NASA history - invented memory foam, scratch resistant lenses, precursor to Lasik surgery etc.

The cynic in me thinks it will just be used as the next willy waving exercise/status symbol for the super rich who will start taking trips up to outer space.

[ClaretOfMancunia]

As others have said, the SpaceX project is massively behind schedule and over budget. No different from many space missions in that regard I suppose. Elongated Muskrat has very deep pockets so I imagine he might sustain it for a few years more yet.

Private enterprise doesn't always do things better though - are those Boeing astronauts still stuck on the ISS?

[Rowls]

As others have said, the SpaceX project is massively behind schedule and over budget. No different from many space missions in that regard I suppose. Elongated Muskrat has very deep pockets so I imagine he might sustain it for a few years more yet.

Private enterprise doesn't always do things better though - are those Boeing astronauts still stuck on the ISS?

No, Elon Musk's SpaceX ship rescued them.

[ClaretOfMancunia]

No, Elon Musk's SpaceX ship rescued them.

Bloody hell, imagine that went down well in the Boeing board room.