Posted on 11/21/2017 10:14:32 AM PST by Elderberry
I still regard Musk as a huckster (and he is one, although IMHO he is also absolutely convinced that he’s going to accomplish what he says), but when they managed to shoot their fourth Falcon 1 without a hitch, from that guano-pile island in the Pacific, with essentially no infrastructure, after three really bad launch failures, I realized that he and SpaceX had to be taken seriously.
...
He’s no more a huckster than Trump is. They are both guys who get things done.
If the fourth launch had failed, SpaceX would have been out of business. They got the NASA contract shortly after the success.
http://www.spacex.com/missions
“The vehicle was launched a total of five times. Falcon 1 achieved orbit on its fourth attempt, in September 2008 with a mass simulator as a payload. On 14 July 2009, Falcon 1 made its final flight and successfully delivered the Malaysian RazakSAT satellite to orbit on SpaceX’s first commercial launch (fifth launch overall). Following its fifth launch, the Falcon 1 was retired and succeeded by Falcon 9.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_1
“As of October 30, 2017 there have been a total of 44 launches of various versions in the Falcon 9 family. Out of these, 42 missions were successful, one mission failed to reach orbit, and one mission successfully launched the primary payload to the correct orbit but failed with the secondary payload. Additionally, one rocket exploded on the launch pad in a pre-flight test; it is included in the list and mission statistics but not counted in launch numbers.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_and_Falcon_Heavy_launches
It’s better, of course, if I didn’t have to help pay for it. :^)
Of course Musk is a huckster, he's continuously claiming things that aren't true, such as his out-of-a-can AGW nonsense which is part of his selling job regarding making humanity multiplanetary -- and we won't be multiplanetary until Mars humans are self-sufficient, which they won't be, period, even assuming he can get them there for the outrageous (but ever-shrinking, according to Musk) cost aboard his (ever-shrinking) coloniy ships. He also states the ridiculous lie that "living on Mars will be the easy part" -- cash their checks, drop them off, bring the ship back empty, send another group who finds the first group is dead, then go to prison. The transcontinental use of his BFR is perhaps the most egregious lie though -- he won't be able to get that approved for passengers in the US or other countries for probably twenty years, if ever. And the cost of shooting them across the Pacific may come down in cost, but will never be so cheap as to make it possible to bankroll interplanetary colonization. This isn't about getting things done, it's wishful thinking. I've noticed he gets impatient and prickly when called out on some of his choices, even with the Tesla vehicles -- he's smart, but so are lots of people, and like anyone, he's not always right, but insists that he always is.
The cash goes from your pocket to his, and will continue to do so year after year.
But if you don’t see the con, I can’t help you.
Which was also the case with NASA's shuttle program. Musk has delivered what the shuttle promised and failed to deliver. So I ask again....where is the con?
How is that any different than cash going into the pockets of ULA just to keep them existing regardless of whether they even bid to launch a payload or not? At least SpaceX is driving DOWN the cost of launches and reducing the cost to taxpayers for the government to maintain its fleet of satellites, both civilian and military. If you seriously think SpaceX is a “con” and their reusable rockets are a hoax, then man the hell up and show up to a launch/landing. I dare you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3j2HjI82mI
Unfortunately Free Republic has been taken over by idiots who have been duped by youtube videos convincing them that SpaceX is a literal hoax and that their rockets do not really come back and land, it’s all just “CGI.” I guess they allowed their emotional and/or religious dislike of space and space programs to influence their beliefs and allow them to be conned into believing it’s all fake. It makes it a lot easier to then justify the belief that SpaceX is “bad” for America even though they’re driving down launch costs dramatically. It enables them to hide behind the banner of “smaller government” while they attack a private company that actually is reducing taxpayer costs to launch satellites.
Some people are very smart, but without wisdom.
I think its all real—but the space program is a total joke.
The law of diminishing returns is twenty years past on this boon-doggle.
If you’re serious, then get off the internet. We don’t need luddites like you. You apparently take telecommunications, GPS, and weather forecasts for granted, among other important applications that SpaceX commercial launches like this are vital for. Throw away your computer and your cell phone or you’re a hypocrite.
I support technology, but I believe there is a secret space program—and the public one is the joke...
Oh good grief, so you’re another nutter who makes FR look bad. Yes, there’s a secret space program, but it still relies on rockets to get into orbit I’m sorry to tell you. In fact, it’s fair to say that SpaceX rockets are a part of the secret space program since some of their launches are in direct support of it. Zuma will be the next one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.