A community to discuss space & astronomy through a STEM lens
Also keep in mind, mander.xyz's rules on politics
Please keep politics to a minimum. When science is the focus, intersection with politics may be tolerated as long as the discussion is constructive and science remains the focus. As a general rule, political content posted directly to the instanceβs local communities is discouraged and may be removed. You can of course engage in political discussions in non-local communities.
π Science
π Engineering
π Art and Photography
Because it's not about saving money. It's about taking federal money and putting it into the private sector
After the federal government disbands their own internal systems the private sector can ramp up the prices just like they do with every other consumer.
They didn't even start with low prices. SpaceX was gouging NASA from the start.
Launch vehicle estimated payload cost per kg
Launch Vehicle Payload cost per kg
Vanguard $1,000,000
Space Shuttle $54,500
Electron $19,039
Ariane 5G $9,167
Long March 3B $4,412
Proton $4,320
Falcon 9 $2,720
Falcon Heavy $1,500
this is spacex's selling point edited for formating
This article is only referencing cost per launch, which is just stupid. what about cost per kg to orbit? Or cost per kg to geostationary? Or cost per kg to beyond earth orbit? Cost per astronaut seat to ISS? Etc... these are the metrics that actually matter. The article also fails to mention inflation adjusted or not, which is important with the timescales they are using. Low effort ragebait article.
Cancel the contracts!
If we ever get a Democrat administration, the very first thing they must do is cancel all SpaceX contracts immediately, no matter the consequence to NASA timelines.
I don't care if there's a Falcon on the launch pad. I don't care that it's a "contract". Stop all cash day 1. Let them sue.
I'd rather Elon get kicked out and spacex continue doing its work than close it down. they literally offer cheaper costs for launching (the stuff in the article is caused by revolving doors and such), and theyve done some incredible things for the space industry
Elon getting kicked out doesn't change that for every $1 that goes to SpaceX, $0.42 goes to Musk which he will continue to use to overthrow Democracy.