ADVERTISEMENT

OT: SpaceX Starship Launch & Booster Capture - Truly Amazing

What they’re doing on so many levels is remarkable. It’s crazy that it isn’t talked about more.
Starlink is revolutionary as well.
I wonder when SpaceX will go public? One of my funds has a small position with SpaceX (0.80%). Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund - FBGRX.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ManasquanMike
gMd7sN3.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: T2Kplus20
This is some real Star Trek shit.

I love watching SpaceX stuff
They way they get the crowds of employees screaming and yelling, and with music to the space vids is better than movies.

If anyone has Spotify Premium ($12/month) Walter Issacson's bio in audio version is included and worth a listen. He's smart obviously but he's been very tenacious with both opportunities and problem solving. He's like that guy that climbed El Capitan without safety clips ("Free Solo"). Alex Honnold was brave and skilled but he had calculated all the risks and moves in his head. I also like that he's been into the arts and PC games. He decided to buy Twitter while playing "Elden Ring."

 
This seems like it should be bigger news?

What normally happens to the boosters if they are not caught?
 
  • Like
Reactions: T2Kplus20
This seems like it should be bigger news?

What normally happens to the boosters if they are not caught?

Falcon's boosters have been landing on terrestrial and sea platforms with tripods.

Super Heavy booster is biggest of all and the scale can be hard to gauge.
The tower is about 400ft and taller than Statue of Liberty .
Aiming and such is a task but the contact with the "chopstick" catchers were another problem - can't just drop it in willy nilly

"Following a successful liftoff, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and coast, the Super Heavy booster performed its landing burn and was caught by the chopstick arms of the launch and catch tower at Starbase. Thousands of distinct vehicle and pad criteria had to be met prior to the catch attempt, and thanks to the tireless work of SpaceX engineers, we succeeded with catch on our first attempt."


You can see cars and boom truck next to the tower
DzXW7z1.jpeg
 
tctmagazine.com





This is amazing to me - the engineering is remarkable.

Musk’s organization is top notch and appears to plow through red tape. It is an engineers company.

Contrast SpaceX with the disaster that Boeing has become. They used to be an engineers company and are now fat at the government trough and have lost their way.
 
tctmagazine.com





This is amazing to me - the engineering is remarkable.

Musk’s organization is top notch and appears to plow through red tape. It is an engineers company.

Contrast SpaceX with the disaster that Boeing has become. They used to be an engineers company and are now fat at the government trough and have lost their way.
The Boeing documentary on Netflix is pretty good. Shows that the company lost its way when they merged with MD and brought in those execs who were more about business.
 
Space X is doing al right with the $15 billion it has received from government contracts.
When Elon wants to do something , he gets a government contract to do it.
And in 2014, Musk sued the US Air Force over a $11 billion contract awarded to the United Launch Alliance. Space X wound up receiving concessions then dropped the suit after the Air Force agreed to speed up its efforts to certify Space X to launch military satellites — and making more launches available for Space X to compete on.
That wasn't the only time Muck sued in behalf of his Space X in 2005, Musk's company sued the government alleging Boeing and Lockheed Martin had engaged in anti-competitive behavior meant to keep Space X from letting its Falcon 9 compete in government contracts.

Here's a shocker In 2020, Space X was awarded almost $900 million in rural broadband subsidies from the FCC under Trump. But in 2022, the FCC rescinded that funding because Space X had failed to meet its burden.
 
"chopsticks".. that's what they were calling the arms that caught the booster. Isn't it amazing that no NASA engineers / admins ever considered trying to save money by reusing boosters.... tax dollars provided unlimited funding I guess.. why bother.
 
Space X is doing al right with the $15 billion it has received from government contracts.
When Elon wants to do something , he gets a government contract to do it.
And in 2014, Musk sued the US Air Force over a $11 billion contract awarded to the United Launch Alliance. Space X wound up receiving concessions then dropped the suit after the Air Force agreed to speed up its efforts to certify Space X to launch military satellites — and making more launches available for Space X to compete on.
That wasn't the only time Muck sued in behalf of his Space X in 2005, Musk's company sued the government alleging Boeing and Lockheed Martin had engaged in anti-competitive behavior meant to keep Space X from letting its Falcon 9 compete in government contracts.

Here's a shocker In 2020, Space X was awarded almost $900 million in rural broadband subsidies from the FCC under Trump. But in 2022, the FCC rescinded that funding because Space X had failed to meet its burden.
All communications companies seem to skimp on meeting the goals used to give them tax breaks. Verizon certainly did with FIOS roll-out in NJ... just stopped doing it. They got concessions to roll it out everywhere in Jersey.. set up limited measurements for their milestones.. no doubt allowed by friendly politicians/bureaucrats.. then got further concessions and stopped rolling it out preferring to charge mobile users more for data while cashing in their tax benefits.


"Here's a shocker In 2020, Space X was awarded almost $900 million in rural broadband subsidies from the FCC under Trump. But in 2022, the FCC rescinded that funding because Space X had failed to meet its burden."

Oh.. let's see.. what changed between 2020 and 2022? Surely no politics were involved in deciding that "Space X failed to meet its burden".. right? STORY LINK hint: Musk bought Twitter in 2022
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ashokan
Space X is doing al right with the $15 billion it has received from government contracts.
When Elon wants to do something , he gets a government contract to do it.
And in 2014, Musk sued the US Air Force over a $11 billion contract awarded to the United Launch Alliance. Space X wound up receiving concessions then dropped the suit after the Air Force agreed to speed up its efforts to certify Space X to launch military satellites — and making more launches available for Space X to compete on.
That wasn't the only time Muck sued in behalf of his Space X in 2005, Musk's company sued the government alleging Boeing and Lockheed Martin had engaged in anti-competitive behavior meant to keep Space X from letting its Falcon 9 compete in government contracts.

Here's a shocker In 2020, Space X was awarded almost $900 million in rural broadband subsidies from the FCC under Trump. But in 2022, the FCC rescinded that funding because Space X had failed to meet its burden.
Now do Boeing and the rural broadband bill.
 
All communications companies seem to skimp on meeting the goals used to give them tax breaks. Verizon certainly did with FIOS roll-out in NJ... just stopped doing it. They got concessions to roll it out everywhere in Jersey.. set up limited measurements for their milestones.. no doubt allowed by friendly politicians/bureaucrats.. then got further concessions and stopped rolling it out preferring to charge mobile users more for data while cashing in their tax benefits.


"Here's a shocker In 2020, Space X was awarded almost $900 million in rural broadband subsidies from the FCC under Trump. But in 2022, the FCC rescinded that funding because Space X had failed to meet its burden."

Oh.. let's see.. what changed between 2020 and 2022? Surely no politics were involved in deciding that "Space X failed to meet its burden".. right? STORY LINK hint: Musk bought Twitter in 2022

The DC Orcs at work.
They said they needed "more competition" and Starlink was a monopoly
That meant they want to divert gov money to other hive Orcs who get nothing good done and wreck things for those who do.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/...competition-spacexs-starlink-unit-2024-09-11/
 
  • Like
Reactions: newell138
Musk argued AGAINST government subsidies for rural broadband. Said he'd do it anyway.. and in a way that paid for itself. But if others would get the contract he might as well apply for it.. and he won it. Then, after he became an enemy of the DNC state by buying twitter and not suppressing free speech with which the DNC disagreed.. then, suddenly, 3 of the 5 FCC board decides they can look at the 2025 milestones for "progress" and apply them in 2022 to cut off Musk's contract.

And yet, Hurricane Helene comes along in 2024 and it is Musk's Starlink that provides the rural broadband they now rely upon.

Same for the government contract to carry astronauts to the space station.. Boeing gets twice the money that Space X did.. yet Space X had to bring Boeing's passengers back.

At what point do even Musk-haters have to admit that Musk gives VALUE to the government for the government money he gets while others... well, they probably give Dem politicians, and their friends and family, "value".
 
Last edited:
Musk argued AGAINST government subsidies for rural broadband. Said he'd so it anyway.. and in a way that paid for itself. But if others would get the contract he might as well apply for it.. and he won it. Then, after he became an enemy of the DNC state by buying twitter and not suppressing free speech with which the DNC disagreed.. then, suddenly, 3 of the 5 FCC board decides they can look at the 2025 milestones for "progress" and apply them in 2022 to cut off Musk's contract.

And yet, Hurricane Helene comes along in 2024 and it is Musk's Starlink that provides the rural broadband they now rely upon.

Same for the government contract to carry astronauts to the space station.. Boeing gets twice the money that Space X did.. yet Space X had to bring Boeing's passengers back.

At point do even Musk-haters have to admit that Musk gives VALUE to the government for the government money he gets while others... well, they probably give Dem politicians, and their friends and family, "value".

From reading his bio I saw he gets very into things but then can turn on a dime.
He doesn't get too locked-in and can adjust - he's kind of been doin that with Tesla.
Between the CCP and DC its a bad crease to get stuck in.
Personally I don't know how he does SpaceX, TwtterX, Tesla, Starlink, Neurolink, AI and podcasts at the same time.
 
From reading his bio I saw he gets very into things but then can turn on a dime.
He doesn't get too locked-in and can adjust - he's kind of been doin that with Tesla.
Between the CCP and DC its a bad crease to get stuck in.
Personally I don't know how he does SpaceX, TwtterX, Tesla, Starlink, Neurolink, AI and podcasts at the same time.
It's because he is only a physics guy.. a common sense guy. Not a scientist.. not a researcher. He thinks big and then hires others to do all the work. He brings in good people who shares his vision and he allows them to succeed. He doesn't have to babysit an operation.

He is not some empty suit that needs others to set direction while pretending to be in charge and taking all the credit. Musk is Walt Disney as compared to Bob Iger. Disney had his animation studio and film studio and then teh parks. He started out drawing and doping voices and inventing things needed for his endeavors.. but he also brought in good people who could do it.. lead animation.. lead filmmaking.. lead park design and management. Iger? He brings in yes men. He wants his fingerprints on everything. And produces crap while actively thwarting those who show imagination and leadership qualities. And get this.. Iger's net worth today is about the same as Walt's was when he died.. in today's dollars... about 700M-750M. That makes no sense.

Musk is worth every penny he has made.. from the private sector and from government contracts.
 
Last edited:
It's because he is only a physics guy.. a common sense guy. He thinks big and then hires others to do all the work. He is not some empty suit that needs others to set direction while pretending to be in charge and taking all the credit. He brings in good people who shares his vision and he allows them to succeed. He doesn't have to babysit an operation.
You must be right because its the only explanation.
There have been times when the wheels are coming off and Musk gets the business through the rough seas.
He contrasts with Jobs who didn't quite have the same tech chops like Musk (or like his partner Woz).

As so many things deteriorate its reassuring to see its also an age where the right people start showing up at the right time.
Famous historians have said a civ dies when it can no longer meet challenges
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: newell138
It's because he is only a physics guy.. a common sense guy. Not a scientist.. not a researcher. He thinks big and then hires others to do all the work. He brings in good people who shares his vision and he allows them to succeed. He doesn't have to babysit an operation.

He is not some empty suit that needs others to set direction while pretending to be in charge and taking all the credit. Musk is Walt Disney as compared to Bob Iger. Disney had his animation studio and film studio and then teh parks. He started out drawing and doping voices and inventing things needed for his endeavors.. but he also brought in good people who could do it.. lead animation.. lead filmmaking.. lead park design and management. Iger? He brings in yes men. He wants his fingerprints on everything. And produces crap while actively thwarting those who show imagination and leadership qualities. And get this.. Iger's net worth today is about the same as Walt's was when he died.. in today's dollars... about 700M-750M. That makes no sense.

Musk is worth every penny he has made.. from the private sector and from government contracts.
Huh? Since when did physics become not a science and common sense instead?
 
  • Like
Reactions: RUGiddy777
It's because he is only a physics guy.. a common sense guy. Not a scientist.. not a researcher. He thinks big and then hires others to do all the work. He brings in good people who shares his vision and he allows them to succeed. He doesn't have to babysit an operation.

He is not some empty suit that needs others to set direction while pretending to be in charge and taking all the credit. Musk is Walt Disney as compared to Bob Iger. Disney had his animation studio and film studio and then teh parks. He started out drawing and doping voices and inventing things needed for his endeavors.. but he also brought in good people who could do it.. lead animation.. lead filmmaking.. lead park design and management. Iger? He brings in yes men. He wants his fingerprints on everything. And produces crap while actively thwarting those who show imagination and leadership qualities. And get this.. Iger's net worth today is about the same as Walt's was when he died.. in today's dollars... about 700M-750M. That makes no sense.

Musk is worth every penny he has made.. from the private sector and from government contracts.
 
"it's not stupid if it works" has yet to be fully tested with the starship and booster designs, but it was very cool and a tremendous accomplishment.
 
Huh? Since when did physics become not a science and common sense instead?
Well.. Yes, physics is science and I suppose Space X is largely physics.. but the idea is that the Musk skill his business relies upon for its core is not his scientific prowess. Musk doesn't do the research.. the science.. behind all his businesses. Other people do that. But Musk's physics background helps him figure out what's possible.. what's profitable.. and sets the goals of his businesses accordingly. That's how I see it anyway.
 
Well.. Yes, physics is science and I suppose Space X is largely physics.. but the idea is that the Musk skill his business relies upon for its core is not his scientific prowess. Musk doesn't do the research.. the science.. behind all his businesses. Other people do that. But Musk's physics background helps him figure out what's possible.. what's profitable.. and sets the goals of his businesses accordingly. That's how I see it anyway.
Read the Isaacson biography and watch the tours of Starbase with Everyday Astronaut on YouTube (highly recommend). Musk knows every detail of every part of those rockets. Musk does indeed do the research. He is the chief engineer at SpaceX. In ~6 years, through self-education, collaboration and mentorship, SpaceX went from an idea in Musk's head to their first launch. His brain is very different from ours, so it's hard to fathom how one person can have so much depth of knowledge. But, when you listen to long form, technical interviews, and listen to his coworkers speak about him, it's real.

He is truly a once in a generation genius and should be celebrated for what he is doing for humanity. The haters out there (not you), should take a long look in the mirror. Why some want to tear him down will forever be a mystery to me. Maybe they hate themselves and/or hate humanity.
 
Read the Isaacson biography and watch the tours of Starbase with Everyday Astronaut on YouTube (highly recommend). Musk knows every detail of every part of those rockets. Musk does indeed do the research. He is the chief engineer at SpaceX. In ~6 years, through self-education, collaboration and mentorship, SpaceX went from an idea in Musk's head to their first launch. His brain is very different from ours, so it's hard to fathom how one person can have so much depth of knowledge. But, when you listen to long form, technical interviews, and listen to his coworkers speak about him, it's real.

He is truly a once in a generation genius and should be celebrated for what he is doing for humanity. The haters out there (not you), should take a long look in the mirror. Why some want to tear him down will forever be a mystery to me. Maybe they hate themselves and/or hate humanity.
Yes, Musk understands it all and can explain it in detail.. but he himself has said he rejected the idea of being a research scientist... that he could not have a big enough impact if he limited himself like that. And the context of what I was responding to was the question as to how Musk can have so many balls in the air. He cannot possibly be the real chief engineer everywhere AND do all his public appearances.

That is not a knock on his intelligence nor his knowledge and abilities.. it is merely trying to explain how he can have such a big impact everywhere in his organizations. He chooses good capable people because he knows what it takes... and he organizes things to promote success.

Watching his Space X team cheer as rocket after rocket failed and exploded.. learning from failures.. purposefully. That is understanding how progress works.. how the process works.

Not being satisfied with just making a new car company but seeing the future of robotics and transport and aiming for the intersection to bring a car company well beyond simply selling cars. Is that engineering? What engineering school teaches that? That is that genius move that you referenced.. and signs of that are everywhere.

Don't just aim to build rockets to send to space.. build them to be cheaper, launch more frequently, be more dependable, and, oh, at the same time, support another business idea you have to bring satellite-based broadband to off-gridders everywhere in the world.

Then you got the Twitter purchase.. which, I think, is just another "system" move. If the USA is a system, then free speech was an important organizing element in the success of that system.. and if that is eliminated or limited, the system may fail. He plunks down his own money to support that system that we all rely upon.
 
  • Love
Reactions: rubigtimenow
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT