SpaceX to send privately crewed spacecraft beyond Moon

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List

This thread has been locked

Messages 1 - 20 of total 72 in this topic

<< First | < Previous | Show All | Next > | Last >>

Brokedownclimber

Trad climber

Douglas, WY

Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 27, 2017 - 05:26pm PT

http://www.spacex.com/news/2017/02/27/spacex-send-privately-crewed-dragon-spacecraft-beyond-moon-next-year

Studly

Trad climber

Feb 27, 2017 - 05:49pm PT

I'll believe it when I see it happen.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Feb 27, 2017 - 07:26pm PT

Can I buy gift cards?

jgill

Boulder climber

The high prairie of southern Colorado

Feb 27, 2017 - 08:42pm PT

A year or so ago the Tesla sedan with Ludicrous Option did 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds. I think there's a faster one now. Also up to 360 miles or so on a charge. Enough there to break Earth's gravitational pull! Go for it!

WBraun

climber

Feb 27, 2017 - 08:47pm PT

Those stoopid people don't even know there is no escape by mechanical means.

You can never buy your way to paradise ......

Brokedownclimber

Trad climber

Douglas, WY

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 27, 2017 - 09:26pm PT

In another article, it was stated that the price being paid has not been disclosed, but is probably equivalent to what the Russians charge for a civilian seat on a Soyuz up to the ISS. About 7-8 years ago, that ride was costing $22 Million, but the Russians now want $80 Million apiece to fly our astronauts to the ISS.

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

Sands Motel , Las Vegas

Feb 27, 2017 - 09:32pm PT

Good to see you post Roger...Maybe we can have a supertopo benefit to fly braun one way...?

10b4me

Mountain climber

Retired

Feb 27, 2017 - 09:33pm PT

Yuuuck. Rich people doing rich people things.

F u c k o f f

healyje

Trad climber

Portland, Oregon

Feb 28, 2017 - 01:29am PT

Pretty much says everything that's wrong with capitalism unrestrained by appropriate government oversight and a near total lack of concern for society at large. As a nation and society you know you have your priorities in order when you spend a several hundred million dollars sending a couple of clowns to the moon while our education system suffers enormous student / teacher ratios, most families are one serious illness away from economic ruin, and our national infrastructure is in tatters.

But at least there's an easy fix - up military spending ten percent for completely unknown reasons and slash domestic spending. Yeah, that's the fix.

clinker

Trad climber

Santa Cruz, California

Feb 28, 2017 - 06:10am PT

healyje, should we shut down Hollywood, except for producing documentaries?

The money spent will be for many good paying jobs. Yes, we need to get our priorities in much better alignment. Fix what is bad but don't sell this type of progress as bad, otherwise what is the point of improving our education?

A better future for our students will start with an idea, hope or dream.

I don't begrudge those that make their money from innovation or entertainment. Those that make fortunes off the the backs of others, such as Wells Fargo type bankers or the epi-pen patent producers who jacked up the price because people needed their product to live, should be scrubbing toilets and floors at our schools and prisons, for community service.

Slabby D

Trad climber

B'ham WA

Feb 28, 2017 - 08:28am PT

We all just paid for a couple rich f*#ks to fly around the moon while Elon Musk makes a nice tidy profit. This country is f*#ked in the head. I seriously hope that capsule suffers a depressurization in the deep cold darkness of space.

From the Space X press release-

"Most importantly, we would like to thank NASA, without whom this would not be possible. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which provided most of the funding for Dragon 2 development, is a key enabler for this mission."

Brokedownclimber

Trad climber

Douglas, WY

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2017 - 08:30am PT

I have a more historical viewpoint on this. Much of the progress in the early days of aviation was made by philanthropic prizes to "winners" of various trophies in competitions. Almost all the accomplishments were spurred by that old demon: Money. Glenn Curtiss built many of his innovative airplanes to win cash prizes. Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic solo--for a cash prize. The "2 clowns going around the Moon," may be doing it for a much more altruistic reason than just having fun. They are just getting something for their contribution to society in general. This certainly has the "blessing" of NASA, at least according to their press releases, anyway. It's just playing a game with higher stakes than most of us can afford. I'm sure that were Howard Hughes still alive, he's be involved with it, too.

Edit: In response to Slabby D: The Dragon spacecraft was built for a NASA contract to haul astronauts to and from the ISS. This was a fixed price contract, and not one of the sleazy "cost-plus" deals normally awarded the "big boys." Fixed price. This essentially saves NASA $160 Million for a crew change each flight accomplished to ISS, and is the only way back for many of the science experiments. We the people age getting more return on our dollars this way BEFORE SpaceX utilizes the technology THEY developed to make a few bucks.

High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber

Feb 28, 2017 - 08:56am PT

What disappointing replies.

You'd think we were a bunch of knitters instead of climbers.

High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber

Feb 28, 2017 - 09:36am PT

Your hands appear to be more suited to knitting and there is zero evidence you climb.... Bon Voyage, space cowboy. -DMT

We're the same age, within a year.
When you want to square off CLIMBING, let me know.

and I'll turn on my PM.

You're the epitome here of a kind of superficial Trumpism that
I would love to see humbled (if not humiliated).

High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber

Feb 28, 2017 - 09:54am PT

Your hands appear to be more suited to knitting and there is zero evidence you climb.... Bon Voyage, space cowboy. -DMT

Climbing. Or Skiing. Or Mountain running. Or...

For that matter. Name your game, Smartass.

It's a simple thing, really. Put up or shut up.
At least in regards to me.

Hello?

CLIMBING? Trad? High Sierra? Sport? Gym?
I'm one of the lucky ones... I enjoy them all, I badmouth
none of them.

FYI: I'm out of the office in one minute. But I'll
be back in a few hours.

fear

Ice climber

hartford, ct

Feb 28, 2017 - 10:16am PT

Likely a pipe dream but it'd be a great success if they can pull it off.

I hope they do. There's no reason they couldn't.

They can get much better pictures of the ark.