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They're still using disposable rockets like the Indians and europeans. Tough luck. The future of space belongs to Starship!
True, but they can still spend tons of government money and make a Moon or Mars landing happen even with disposable rockets. Don't get me wrong, I think Elon Musk will do it first. But America has a problem with funding NASA appropriately. The Chinese government can do whatever the hell it wants.
But America has a problem with funding NASA appropriately.
Nah. NASA has a problem with controlling costs - or, rather, with Congress meddling to direct funds into the right districts.
There's no reason for SLS to be as expensive (and late) as it is, except that Uncle Sam has agreed to pay - and - with the cost-plus model - the more setbacks, the higher the profit.
Nah. NASA has a problem with controlling costs - or, rather, with Congress meddling to direct funds into the right districts.
There's no reason for SLS to be as expensive (and late) as it is, except that Uncle Sam has agreed to pay - and - with the cost-plus model - the more setbacks, the higher the profit.
I think NASA needs consistant funding. Problem is that half the public doesn't even care.
I think NASA needs consistant funding. Problem is that half the public doesn't even care.
NASA has consistent funding, just not at 1960's moonshot levels. Time to pass the torch to private industry for mining, manufacturing, power production, etc. Falcon Heavy and Starship are the keys to the kingdom.
The Chinese can afford to build 100 Long March rockets a year. If they mount an Apollo-style program.
Even 100 disposable Chinese rockets consuming 5% of China's yearly GDP won't compete with a handful of commercial Starship launches.
Whoever owns a reusable ultra heavy launch vehicle owns the solar system. Wealth and resources beyond imagining. No environmental (or any) regulations.
I think NASA needs consistant funding. Problem is that half the public doesn't even care.
NASA needs to stop building lift vehicles. It's not their job, and it was never supposed to be. But designing heavy rockets create jobs in the right districts.
Rumor has it that SpaceX can build a Raptor engine at about a cool million in parts and labor. That's the most modern, most advanced operational rocket engine in existence. Full-flow methane fuel. Easily reusable.
NASA is putting 1970s Space Shuttle engines on the SLS. And Aerojet's contract to build 18 of these has been valued at 1.79 billion. Carry the one, that's 100 million per engine. Oh, and they're throwing them away. Four per launch.
We're not underfunding NASA, we're telling them to spend money in a stupid, wasteful manner. Take the SLS budget, buy launch capacity on the open market, and return to NASA's job: Pushing the envelope. Build payloads. NASA/JPL does that better than anyone else. I want to see manned missions to asteroids and robotic blimps over Venus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wac_432
NASA has consistent funding, just not at 1960's moonshot levels. Time to pass the torch to private industry for mining, manufacturing, power production, etc. Falcon Heavy and Starship are the keys to the kingdom.
....
Whoever owns a reusable ultra heavy launch vehicle owns the solar system. Wealth and resources beyond imagining. No environmental (or any) regulations.
SN-8's latest flight was a tour de force in what can be done if you ditch the hyper-careful political monster that is today's NASA and go back to their roots. Fail early, fail often, and learn. Meanwhile, effin' Lockheed has found a problem in an already-built Orion that may take a year to fix.
SN-8's latest flight was a tour de force in what can be done if you ditch the hyper-careful political monster that is today's NASA and go back to their roots. Fail early, fail often, and learn. Meanwhile, effin' Lockheed has found a problem in an already-built Orion that may take a year to fix.
That test was awesome, can't wait for SN9!
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