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Posted on 05/02/2021 1:15:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
NASA has suspended work on SpaceX’s new $2.9 billion lunar lander contract while a federal watchdog agency adjudicates two protests over the award, the agency said Friday... Elon Musk's SpaceX was picked by NASA on April 16th to build the agency's first human lunar lander since the Apollo program, as the agency opted to rely on just one company for a high-profile contract that many in the space industry expected to go to two companies... SpaceX’s private Starship development will likely continue.
A digital illustration of SpaceX's Starship lunar lander sitting on the Moon's surface, as proposed to NASA under its Artemis program. Image: SpaceX
(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...
Gets the contract for a new ISS and hands it off to Bezos aka 's8ck it' -- Musk doesn't need it. It's a science platform and Putin payoff machine.
Now Musk has a nearly-free mule hauler without having to lift it, and an emergency escape space if any of the first 2 Mars missions, which are basically going to follow each other one-two, don't button up exactly right.
Not even out of spite, he's going to do it, period. Getting the contract allows further development of the Starship technology, and the real goal is Mars colonization. All NASA and its stooges (along with some people whom I don't regard as stooges) ever talk about is the ****ing Deep Space Gateway, which is a plan for another overpriced space trailer park. It is just a pork barrel and has no purpose for existing other than to award contracts.
I saw that too, I took it to mean come on give me a real race
“I dunno. That artist’s conception of the SpaceX lander... that’s a long climb down/up to the living quarters (which I assume is atop that stack).” ELEVATOR is the primary means of egress and ingress. The elevator has a ladder system integrated into it, in case of malfunction.
We think alike about that. Probably will use a sort of dumbwaiter / crane type thing, similar to the way some monasteries have controlled access and security for centuries, and window washers clean the outsides of skyscrapers.
Agreed that Musk's patently obvious goal is to get one or maybe more cargo-laden SNs into Mars orbit in the 2022 launch window.
Bezos could strap himself into the pilot seat just to prove the workability of his device. /s
I'd agree, but then I saw a couple of artists' conception of the Starship compared with the ISS:
So, is mankind’s exploration of space is being side-tracked by the politicians whose pockets need lined? I hope this is not happening. I don’t want mankind being conned for ransom by unknown trough feeders holding science hostage.
SpaceX was supposed to launch its Starship prototype, SN15, on April 30th. It is said it was postponed due to bad weather. This was to be its first high altitude test. No word on when that launch is rescheduled.
Musk is not paying anything, SpaceX is developing starship on their own dime. If the administration pulls the lunar starship lander, SpaceX will go to the moon anyway
The Old Negro Space Program
I certainly hope so -- there will have to be cargo deliveries to the surface before the first colonists arrive. Probably something like construction battalions as well, but why do people thing Musk is so hot on vehicle autonomy (and boring tunnels)? :^)
Monday is flight test day
I believe StarShip SN15 is GO FOR LAUNCH early tomorrow morning ABOUT 7am PST / 10am EST and I have a STRONG feeling this one is going to LAND without incident.
SpaceX overwhelms with a multitude of active projects, building it's knowledge base with Falcon9 StarLink missions, Crew Dragon manned missions to ISS, StarShip testing for future Mars landing (and now hopefully for moon as well), and probably some classified projects I'm unaware of..
Elon is today's Goddard, Oppenheimer, etc.. The car and rocket visionary of our time.
Tune in early tomorrow morning to watch the SN15 launch live on YouTube, FReepers! Let's hope it doesn't get scrubbed again! GOD SPEED, SN15.. LET'S DO THIS! I predict it WILL land without any sort of "sudden rocket disassembly", lol.
The “Big Guy” must not have gotten his 10%.
Doge to the Moon. Then to Mars.
SN15 Monday, I think I heard (half-asleep, as YouTube streamed away) that the earlier scrub was due to problems with one of the engines.
Earthbound astronomers would complain about the glare off Bezo’s head.
So, is mankind's exploration of space isbeing side-tracked by the politicians whose pockets need lined?
Their fingers are in everything.
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