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Tech COMMENTARY columnist James B. Meigs joins us today to discuss his piece, “We’re Living in a New Space Age”—and the launch of the massive rocket yesterday by Elon Musk’s SpaceX that was both a triumph and a disaster. Give a listen.
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The TV series was called “Salvage One”, Andy Griffith’s character owns a junk yard, he dreams of going to the moon, and salvaging the artifacts left on the moon by the Apollo program to sell them. The series only lasted 2 seasons of a total 20 episodes. The series ran in 1979.
SpaceX’s test was a complete triumph. No disaster at all.
Thanks so much for the discussion on this topic. What a thoroughly enjoyable change from Covid and politics.
It is absolutely amazing what is being accomplished by SpaceX. At first I thought Elon Musk was out to lunch. Now I think he may actually make things happen!
It shows the inefficiency of the government and cost plus contracting. He’s designed a launch system that NASA needs in a fraction of the time, and at a fraction of the development costs.
Its ironic, that we think of NASA and launch vehicles as being a high tech industry, when its just not true – a design gets frozen the first time it successfully flies, its technology remains stuck in the 1990 or even the 1970s.
Thanks for providing the additional perspective and comparison. I admit to being rather sentimental about NASA…
It all makes Elon Musk’s achievements all the more impressive. I hope there are more people out there like him in every field.
Yes, I am also sentimental about NASA, but that NASA doesnt exist anymore. The spirit and force of will that put a man on the moon in 8 years is long gone. NASA is now a jobs program – its been politically engineered for congressional support. NASA’s new mission is to distribute cash to the politically connected aerospace firms.
Think of it, SLS development started in 2004 (Starting as the Constellation program) The first American in space, Alan Sheppard flew in May 1961, the final lunar mission Apollo 17 flew in August 1971. The entire manned program from zero space flights – to man on the moon, was slightly more than 10 years! NASA is missing 2 things vital for its performance, a destination and a schedule.