https://eu.statesman.com/story/business ... 825474002/
So here's an interesting one: SpaceX is facing bankruptcy if it cannot launch a spaceship full of paying customers at least every two weeks. Which it currently is not doing.
And this should not be surprising. Space flight is currently only for the super rich. As in, even a low millionaire does not have the money.
https://www.space.com/tom-hanks-says-no ... ace-launch
Here is Tom Hanks revealing that he turned down the spaceflight that William Shatner went on as he would have had to spend $28 million for the privilege. Even for Hanks that isn't pocket change (which also shows you just how rich Shatner is but I digress).
Once you run out of super rich people then you have run out of customers.
SpaceX in financial trouble
Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
A few things:clearspira wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:24 pm https://eu.statesman.com/story/business ... 825474002/
So here's an interesting one: SpaceX is facing bankruptcy if it cannot launch a spaceship full of paying customers at least every two weeks. Which it currently is not doing.
And this should not be surprising. Space flight is currently only for the super rich. As in, even a low millionaire does not have the money.
1) They're having production problems with this big new rocket that's aiming to get the price per pound to orbit down a lot.
2) There's more than people in terms of cargo. One of the other advantages of getting the big rocket working is that it will make it cheaper to set up satellite internet.
I think it has more to do with Shatner being over 90 years old.clearspira wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:24 pmEven for Hanks that isn't pocket change (which also shows you just how rich Shatner is but I digress).
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Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
Good to see another of Elon's bad ideas failing. Shame it was propped up with so much government money though.
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Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
That's not quite correct. What they are having troubles with is, producing enough engines to meet their deadlines, namely the "Raptor"-variant. Hardly surprising, given they somehow thought they can magic up one such engine per day by this time... But hey, just another Elon Musk pipe-dream going up in flames. Or rather, not going up in flames this time around.
Oh right, Elon's personal Kessler Syndrome waiting to happen to carry his name into the caged-onto-Earth future of mankind. I ain't bothered by that particular project failing.
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Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
It's almost like privatizing the space industry was a bad idea that just lets the richest man in the world steal billions of dollars from the American Public.
Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
/shrugMadner Kami wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 2:04 amThat's not quite correct. What they are having troubles with is, producing enough engines to meet their deadlines, namely the "Raptor"-variant. Hardly surprising, given they somehow thought they can magic up one such engine per day by this time... But hey, just another Elon Musk pipe-dream going up in flames. Or rather, not going up in flames this time around.
If someone said, "car manufacturers are experiencing production troubles" in reference to the semiconductor shortage, it wouldn't be entirely accurate but it wouldn't be entirely wrong either. When the engines are being manufactured by the same company as the producer of the finished product, I think calling it a production problem is fairly reasonable, or at least more so than calling it a demand problem.
I just wanted to provide an example of "not sending millionaires on glorified vomit comets".Madner Kami wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 2:04 amOh right, Elon's personal Kessler Syndrome waiting to happen to carry his name into the caged-onto-Earth future of mankind. I ain't bothered by that particular project failing.
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Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
SpaceX can at least get crew and supplies to the space station. NASA's regular contract for developing a manned vehicle with Boeing is way over budget and behind schedule with myriad design problems.Draco Dracul wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 7:09 am It's almost like privatizing the space industry was a bad idea that just lets the richest man in the world steal billions of dollars from the American Public.
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Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
Shatner rode Blue Origin, Bezo's outfit, not SpaceX.clearspira wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:24 pm https://eu.statesman.com/story/business ... 825474002/
So here's an interesting one: SpaceX is facing bankruptcy if it cannot launch a spaceship full of paying customers at least every two weeks. Which it currently is not doing.
And this should not be surprising. Space flight is currently only for the super rich. As in, even a low millionaire does not have the money.
https://www.space.com/tom-hanks-says-no ... ace-launch
Here is Tom Hanks revealing that he turned down the spaceflight that William Shatner went on as he would have had to spend $28 million for the privilege. Even for Hanks that isn't pocket change (which also shows you just how rich Shatner is but I digress).
Once you run out of super rich people then you have run out of customers.
A managed democracy is a wonderful thing... for the managers... and its greatest strength is a 'free press' when 'free' is defined as 'responsible' and the managers define what is 'irresponsible'.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
― Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
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Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
But the cost cannot be that different. In fact if it is, that is even more proof that SpaceX isn't cost effective.Mickey_Rat15 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 2:16 pmShatner rode Blue Origin, Bezo's outfit, not SpaceX.clearspira wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:24 pm https://eu.statesman.com/story/business ... 825474002/
So here's an interesting one: SpaceX is facing bankruptcy if it cannot launch a spaceship full of paying customers at least every two weeks. Which it currently is not doing.
And this should not be surprising. Space flight is currently only for the super rich. As in, even a low millionaire does not have the money.
https://www.space.com/tom-hanks-says-no ... ace-launch
Here is Tom Hanks revealing that he turned down the spaceflight that William Shatner went on as he would have had to spend $28 million for the privilege. Even for Hanks that isn't pocket change (which also shows you just how rich Shatner is but I digress).
Once you run out of super rich people then you have run out of customers.
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Re: SpaceX in financial trouble
I'm not sure how that actually contradicts my point. Unless Boeing suddenly became a government owned corporation like USPS when I wasn't looking.Mickey_Rat15 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 2:14 pmSpaceX can at least get crew and supplies to the space station. NASA's regular contract for developing a manned vehicle with Boeing is way over budget and behind schedule with myriad design problems.Draco Dracul wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 7:09 am It's almost like privatizing the space industry was a bad idea that just lets the richest man in the world steal billions of dollars from the American Public.
Personally I think we should just use a Soyuz copy or derivative, it's a proven reliable technology that you could then tweak and improve on as necessary.