The thing with Space X. Isn't what Elon Musk is doing now what NASA has already done years ago? I mean, how many times do we have to learn how to fire rockets?
Isn't firing rockets into space World War Two technology? Musk likes to talk about sending rockets to Mars. Okay, it takes something like six months for a rocket to get from Earth to Mars. And, because of the need to time the launch when Earth and Mars are closest to one another, there is a limit to the ideal window for launch. So, Musk may be building "the biggest rocket ever," it's still a rocket and limited by physics as to what it can do.
Somewhere along the line, NASA lost it's way in space exploration. They got bound up in space shuttles flying to useless orbital space stations. Then there is the politics of the issue. The public in general may have lost interest in space exploration, once the thrill of the moon landing faded away. The public, and therefore politicians, may have lost the will to spend the large amounts of money that are involved. I think the current doctrine of the government is to have private enterprise make the next moves.
Which leads me to wonder, is Musk's real motivation in space travel just a means of milking contract money out of the government? He has some big contracts connected to Space X. Musk poses as "the idea guy" who overcomes barriers to innovation. So why is he pursuing WW2 technology at Space X? Shouldn't he be working on new tech beyond rocketry that will get vehicles to Mars in less than six months? Maybe he should watch Star Trek for new propulsion technology ideas. If he sticks with rockets, he will forever have the problem of low payload, long time in flight, and too expensive for sustained, regular flight.
Another thing about Musk. He seems to be apt to dismiss things as extraneous that he doesn't want to pay for. For example, a PR dept. at Tesla. Space exploration is more than firing rockets. There is a huge area of concern, study and research involved with the human factor in space exploration. Why do I get the notion that this is an area that Musk won't spend money on? Yes, granted that NASA has studied this extensively. But I'm sure there is more that needs doing before we start strapping people into a rocket for six months. Bone embrittlement is one thing that comes to mind.
Isn't firing rockets into space World War Two technology? Musk likes to talk about sending rockets to Mars. Okay, it takes something like six months for a rocket to get from Earth to Mars. And, because of the need to time the launch when Earth and Mars are closest to one another, there is a limit to the ideal window for launch. So, Musk may be building "the biggest rocket ever," it's still a rocket and limited by physics as to what it can do.
Somewhere along the line, NASA lost it's way in space exploration. They got bound up in space shuttles flying to useless orbital space stations. Then there is the politics of the issue. The public in general may have lost interest in space exploration, once the thrill of the moon landing faded away. The public, and therefore politicians, may have lost the will to spend the large amounts of money that are involved. I think the current doctrine of the government is to have private enterprise make the next moves.
Which leads me to wonder, is Musk's real motivation in space travel just a means of milking contract money out of the government? He has some big contracts connected to Space X. Musk poses as "the idea guy" who overcomes barriers to innovation. So why is he pursuing WW2 technology at Space X? Shouldn't he be working on new tech beyond rocketry that will get vehicles to Mars in less than six months? Maybe he should watch Star Trek for new propulsion technology ideas. If he sticks with rockets, he will forever have the problem of low payload, long time in flight, and too expensive for sustained, regular flight.
Another thing about Musk. He seems to be apt to dismiss things as extraneous that he doesn't want to pay for. For example, a PR dept. at Tesla. Space exploration is more than firing rockets. There is a huge area of concern, study and research involved with the human factor in space exploration. Why do I get the notion that this is an area that Musk won't spend money on? Yes, granted that NASA has studied this extensively. But I'm sure there is more that needs doing before we start strapping people into a rocket for six months. Bone embrittlement is one thing that comes to mind.
