In reply to: Goddamn, that’s cool. * posted by Irishted
I've seen some companies - led by big names like SpaceX and Blue Origin - that have spearheaded a lot of new tech development. Things like reusable rockets, very large satellite constellations, and small satellite tech. Great stuff.
But for every one of those, I've seen about five companies that never should have gotten off the drawing board. It seems like Newspace culture brings out the worst elements of Silicon Valley startups. From how they treat their personnel to the obfuscation about their business plan, even as far as never intending to accomplish what they set out to do.
So yeah, it's hard for me to get excited about Newspace, either, but I have a healthy amount of respect for what SpaceX has accomplished here.
There's a huge amount of activity there, but they all seem to be focused on the same customers with novelty technology that isn't clear if it will really give some substantial benefit.
To your point, fundamentally rewriting the economics of getting to space, both LEO and beyond, is worthy of both celebration and optimism for what could be next.
But it goes beyond that. Some of these companies are simply a cash grab. They have no intention of completing the task they state to the VCs when fundraising.
In two companies that I'm familiar with, the products would fundamentally violate the laws of physics. For one in particular, it's likely a front to produce a similar tech that could be used for more...nefarious purposes.
Get something out there, and figure out how to make money on it later. Access to LEO is so cheap now, high schools are launching microsatts.
...there were 165 “satellite” companies out there. Maybe one or two would make it. Reference OneWeb going tits up, and they were well capitalized!
Talk about a financially well-run company. They kept their head down, paid off debt, and are now planning to pay out a dividend. I found it impressive as you hear so little about them as compared to the big Telco plays.
Or the computer. It fills an entire floor after all.
Although at this point, that is pretty old hat.
The next big thing for space will be Starship and Super Heavy. If SpaceX can get that working, that will not only be the world's tallest and heaviest rocket, but also a huge step forward in reusability as the entire rocket will be reusable.
If nothing else, the development makes for some entertaining TV.
I read it was the third major failure of a Starship engine test. Optimist in me says SpaceX is good at analyzing and adapting to these failure scenarios.
The previous three were tank failures. This one appears to be a failure with the Ground Support Equipment. Speculation is that the hoses that feed liquid methane to the rocket separated after the engine fire. All that free propellant caught fire and destroyed the vehicle.
The important part of the failures is that they've had three failures in four months. The rate of improvement is impressive. They just destroyed SN4 and SN5 is already ready to put on the test stand (thought the test stand will need to be rebuilt). The failures are setting them back weeks rather than years.
It was pretty badass watching the first launch. It was awesome going to the cape and watching Sally Ride on her first mission.
I think SpaceX is more important and will result in a deeper, more meaningful impact on humankind. Cheap affordable access to Space is what was supposed to be the promise of the shuttle. It was never realized.
It will be a huge event. Not 1969 level, but a big deal. The video alone will be amazing.
If we said we wanted to go the moon ASAP, how long would it take to get there?
I kid.
I suppose the computer revolution was a natural off shoot of the space race, but the Shuttle was an expensive diversion that was value engineered to be jack of all trades, master of none.
Fight the power!