So I’ve heard and seen the newest launch, and I thought for a private firm it seemed cool they were able to do it on their own, but I’m scratching my head that people are gushing about this as some hail mary.

I get the engineering required is staggering when it comes to these rocket tests, but NASA and other big space agencies have already done rocket tests and exploring bits of the moon which still astounds me to this day.

Is it because it’s not a multi billion government institution? When I tell colleagues about NASA doing stuff like this yeaaaars ago they’re like “Yea yea but this is different it’s crazy bro”

Can anyone help me understand? Any SpaceX or Tesla fans here?

  • I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    70
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    2 months ago

    I’ve seen so many people grudgingly pretending what they saw wasn’t one of the coolest fucking things they’ve seen all year all because they hate Musk. Like, you know he’s not personally involved in the design or manufacture of these things right? By all accounts he’s more of a hindrance and these amazing fears of engineering have been accomplished despite him, not because of him.

    I personally don’t really care how big of a douche Musk is, as long as he’s willing to fund these kinds of things.

    • greedytacothief@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      41
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      2 months ago

      So I was teaching some kids snowboarding, one kid started talking to me about musk on the chairlift. He tells me that musk is the greatest engineer to ever live. I say that he’s really more of a business man buying up companies. Kid is not convinced. I tell him that the only engineering that musk may have done was software engineering on PayPal. Kid thinks that’s great support of his claim.

      Adults and 11 year olds are pretty much the same, so I would say there’s lots of people that think musk is a super genius. Probably a dwindling amount, but there’s a lot of people on earth.

      • turmacar@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        12
        ·
        2 months ago

        He bought co-founder status at Paypal too IIRC. He was ousted in part because he wanted to rename it “x.com”. Weird that.

      • Tabooki@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        2 months ago

        He’s literally the chief ticket designer as well as CTO. Deeply involved in the engineering.

    • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      What did people see that was so cool?

      I personally don’t really care how big of a douche Musk is, as long as he’s willing to fund these kinds of things.

      He’s not funding this, dude. We are. Space X gets massive government contracts and subsidies. The rest comes from income streams like Starlink.

    • ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      8
      ·
      2 months ago

      you know he’s not personally involved in the design or manufacture of these things right?

      He actually is. Everyday astronaut has done several interviews with him and the dude knows about rockets and engineering.

      • Tabooki@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        2 months ago

        He’s the chief rocket designer as well as chief technology officer. He’s deeply involved and is well regarded as an incredible engineer