(October 6, 2024 at 4:43 pm)AFTT47 Wrote:(October 6, 2024 at 4:56 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Why would we need to ‘become a true space-faring civilization’? While I don’t deny that scientific research is serendipitous, Musk’s vision seems like a vanity project unlikely to show practical benefits in either the near or long term.
Boru
I don't suppose we do but we will be extremely limited if we don't.
Musk's vision has already shown practical benefits. Falcon 9 is a major advance over previous rockets. A practical orbital system where the booster is routinely and reliably reused at economic benefit is something most engineers thought impossible. When starship is operational, it will reduce the cost of lifting heavy loads to orbit ten-fold.
I wasn’t clear. It’s unlikely to show any practical, non-space travel related benefits. Unlike the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programmes - all of which generated massive spinoff technologies - SpaceX is only benefiting manned spaceflight. Something I’m not a fan of.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
