Three Congressmen Are Using Red Tape to Bind SpaceX to Earth

Slate.com ^ | 12AUG2014 | Phil Plait

[Jack Hydrazine]

Hey, remember Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the guy who threw needless layers of bureaucracy at SpaceX because the private space company was doing its job of launching rockets into space a little too well? Well, it looks like he’s being joined by gentlemen from the other side of the Capitol: Three congressmen are trying to do the same thing.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I’ve been waiting for this to happen and now it has.

[4rcane]

corruption? They probably trying to protect another company from competition

[glorgau]

SpaceX must not be “lobbying” well enough.

[The Great RJ]

Imagine 100 years ago if Congress had similarly meddled with the fledgeling auto industry... we would still be driving around in horse and buggies.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Preston Tucker knows all about this. He made his cars a little too well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Tucker

[Calvin Locke]

Redstone Arsenal and its suppliers/contractors?

[Resolute Conservative]

They don’t have enough queers, muslims, and minorities to make them diversity worthy to compete with NASA.

[W.]

There ought to be a law against politically harassing a particular business to benefit another who donates to the harasser’s campaign. Heh, there probably is but it’s not enforced. And all republicans to boot. [Push a button and vaporize the lot, you say?]

[DocJhn]

I would reckon Space-X will have to relocate to the Moon to rid them selves of the political bureaucracy! Sad to see 4 -R’s behind the names as success seems to lurk on the Horizon! I guess funding is needed for an Alabama space port??????

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yep, you can bet that there is money tied to this that can be traced back to the politicians.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Take my love
Take my land
Take me where I cannot stand.
I don’t care
I’m still free
You can’t take the sky from me!
~Firefly

[Organic Panic]

Exactly the case. SpaceX and Virgin Galactic aren’t feel good federal jobs programs. They are private industry that will embarrass NASA. How does SpaceX make muslims feel good about themselves if it isn’t their number one objective?

[RedMDer]

All contributions are for the current quarter expenses.



FReepathon day 42.


Two percent a day keeps the 404 away.

[Flick Lives]

That’s why this whole thing looks to me to be a transparent attempt from members of our Congress to hinder a privately owned company that threatens their own interests. I’ll note that Boeing (the major SLS contractor) has a big plant in Alabama, Brooks’ (and Shelby’s) home state, and United Launch Alliance has its HQ in Colorado, home to Gardner and Coffman (it’s even in Coffman’s district). This sounds more like they’re trying to protect their own turf more than honestly wanting transparency from SpaceX.

FedGov doing what it does best; political payoffs and paybacks.

[PapaBear3625]

The US space launch industry is currently dependent upon Russian booster rockets. SpaceX would end that, and deprive Russia of income.

[DoodleDawg]

They don’t have enough queers, muslims, and minorities to make them diversity worthy to compete with NASA.

Read the story. They weren't building their rockets in Alabama. That was their big crime.

[Cincinatus]

Poor little Elon -- $800 million in federal grants and subsidies over the last decade and its just not enough. Doesn't Congress realize that Musk is one of Obama's biggest political contributors? How dare they require that SpaceX comply with federal acquisition regulations that all other companies have to deal with?

Once we sent people to the Moon. Now, we are supporting Obama's crony capitalist wealth transfer program. That's progress for you.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Don’t worry. Obama will save him!

[Professional Engineer]

Never Re-elect Anyone.