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To: NorthMountain; V_TWIN
SpaceX is a NASA contractor. NASA wants them to develop Starship. NASA money is partially underwriting this. I’m really tired of the NASA vs SpaceX meme. It’s wrong and stupid.

I dunno. While it might be technically wrong, there's still some truth there. This is not the NASA of the 1960's or even 70's or 80's. There's no way the present-day NASA could pull this off (and as cheaply as Musk does!)

58 posted on 10/13/2024 9:05:57 AM PDT by Lazamataz (If you are upset the bullet missed, contact me immediately. I'll make sure your bullet doesn't.)
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To: Lazamataz; V_TWIN

No, it’s not the NASA of yore. And until US.gov is purged of “Didn’t Earn It” it won’t be.

BUT ...

The NASA of yore isn’t necessarily what some people think it was.

NASA doesn’t build rockets, and never did.

NASA did not build the Mercury spacecraft, nor the Redstone and Atlas rockets which launched them.

NASA did not build the Gemini spacecraft, nor the Titan-II rockets which launched them.

NASA did not build the Apollo spacecraft, nor the Saturn rockets with launched them.

NASA did not build the STS “space shuttles”.

NASA did not build the various Atlas, Titan, Delta rockets it used to launch various robotic spacecraft.

Etc.

And now, NASA doesn’t build the Falcon and Vulcan rockets on which its present day missions are launched.

Contractors built all those things. NASA has from its beginning had a very close relationship with and dependence upon its contractors.

SpaceX is, and has been for essentially its entire existence, a NASA contractor. Falcon-9 and both versions of Dragon are built, in part, to meet the requirements of NASA (and USAF/USSF) missions. NASA’s vision for a return to the Moon includes Starship.

To pit NASA and SpaceX against each other represents a failure to understand history and present day reality.

(BTW, the abortion that is “SLS” can be laid almost entirely at the feet of Congress.)

As a relevant aside. USAF doesn’t build airplanes. USN doesn’t build ships or aircraft. USMC doesn’t build rifles. Etc.


66 posted on 10/13/2024 12:57:42 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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