CatastrophicFailure Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 1 hour ago, sevenperforce said: I didn't know many middle class people with hundreds of thousands of dollars saved up for a half-hour tourist trip. Massive, crushing debt is a thing. No, seriously. Get that number down from “hundredS” to just around one hundred thousand, and you start nibbling that upper-middle class demographic. Extremely dedicate space fanatics who, say, have a nice chunk of equity in their home they don’t mind mortgaging out. Maybe cash in an investment. Arguably radical financial decisions, certainly, but that’s for an arguably radical experience. The Tesla S and X are in a similar price range, and a chunk of those owners aren’t “hyper-rich,” just very dedicated to the cause and willing to make personal sacrifices for it. Besides, if private spaceflight ever is going to hit the realm of the true middle class, it’s got to start somewhere. And here we have not one but two companies on the verge of starting commercial flights, that competition will be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Middle class people climb mount Everest. That's what, 50k, plus several weeks off work? I think you have to be sub-100k territory, honestly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimate Steve Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 6 minutes ago, tater said: Middle class people climb mount Everest. That's what, 50k, plus several weeks off work? I think you have to be sub-100k territory, honestly. If it gets down to somewhat under 50k I can decide between a year of college and a trip into space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barzon Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 and guess what 99% of space nerds would do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnemoe Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 48 minutes ago, tater said: Middle class people climb mount Everest. That's what, 50k, plus several weeks off work? I think you have to be sub-100k territory, honestly. Couple of other points, Everest is extremely physical demanding. New glen is simply not having specific health issues. And New Glen is safer, guess the space shuttle was safer than mount Everest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 5 minutes ago, magnemoe said: Couple of other points, Everest is extremely physical demanding. New glen is simply not having specific health issues. And New Glen is safer, guess the space shuttle was safer than mount Everest True, but it's such a short ride. My point though was it's presumably accessible to some really dedicated middle class people who are willing to sacrifice if it's in the 50k range. More than that? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCgothic Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 18 minutes ago, magnemoe said: Couple of other points, Everest is extremely physical demanding. New glen is simply not having specific health issues. And New Glen is safer, guess the space shuttle was safer than mount Everest New Shepherd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnemoe Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 2 minutes ago, tater said: True, but it's such a short ride. My point though was it's presumably accessible to some really dedicated middle class people who are willing to sacrifice if it's in the 50k range. More than that? No. i agree, now for the $1M segment $50K is not an large deal. Had an idea of using crewed starship for standard satellite launches. This would be an mini cruise. And it probably fail to impress your grandkids as their friends mother was on an one month in LEO and one down for some years now. Still I was among the first 100 on Moon north pole, Yes I payed $1M to be an glorified intern but it was worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimate Steve Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 34 minutes ago, RCgothic said: New Shepherd. Technically New Shepard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotius Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 If only they were more ferociter building actual rockets... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 46 minutes ago, Scotius said: If only they were more ferociter building actual rockets... They actually want to build them inside, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatastrophicFailure Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 1 hour ago, tater said: They actually want to build them inside, lol. Troglodytes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSK Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 And nary a water tower in sight. It’s like they’re not even trying. Next you’ll be telling me they make their rockets out of aluminininum alloys and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Sorta also belongs with ULA, but I will put it here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikegarrison Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 I noticed a lot of nuts in the closeups have provisions for lockwires, but there are no lockwires. I wonder if that's because this build is just for show, or if they just use those nuts but don't use lockwires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Got an email from Blue Origin this morning (I'm signed up for their mailing list): Quote Today, Blue Origin is proud to announce a national team to offer a Human Landing System for NASA’s Artemis program to return Americans to the lunar surface by 2024. Blue Origin has signed teaming agreements with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper. These partners have decades of experience supporting NASA with human space flight systems, launch vehicles, orbital logistics, deep-space missions, interplanetary navigation and planetary landings. Our combined experience is uniquely positioned to meet NASA’s needs for the Artemis program. Each partner will bring their industry leading solutions to the following roles: Blue Origin, as prime contractor, leads program management, systems engineering, safety and mission assurance, and mission engineering while providing the Descent Element that is based on the multi-year development of the Blue Moon lunar lander and its BE-7 engine. Lockheed Martin develops the reusable Ascent Element vehicle and leads crewed flight operations and training. Northrop Grumman provides the Transfer Element vehicle that brings the landing system down towards the Moon. Draper leads descent guidance and provides flight avionics. “National challenges call for a national response. We are humbled and inspired to lead this deeply committed team that will land NASA astronauts on the Moon,” said Bob Smith, CEO, Blue Origin. “Combining our partners’ heritage with our advance work on the Blue Moon lunar lander and its BE-7 engine, our team is looking forward to working with NASA in support of the Artemis program.” “Lockheed Martin has been honored to help NASA explore space for more than 50 years, providing deep space robotic missions, planetary landers, space shuttle heritage and the Orion exploration spacecraft,” said Rick Ambrose, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space. “We value Blue Origin’s thoughtful approach to developing human-rated flight systems, and are thrilled to be part of a national team with this mix of innovation and experience. We look forward to safely and sustainably returning our nation to the surface of the Moon by 2024.” “Northrop Grumman’s commitment to put Americans back on the moon dates back over 50 years ago with the delivery of the first lunar lander for the historic Apollo Program,” said Blake Larson, corporate vice president and president of Innovation Systems, Northrop Grumman. “Along with our ongoing work on the Space Launch System boosters, astronaut escape system, and the Gateway habitat, we are proud to be a part of the Blue Origin national team to support NASA’s Artemis program and the ambitious goal to return to the moon by 2024.” “When the nation needs precision guidance, it calls on Draper,” said Kaigham J. Gabriel, President and CEO, Draper. “We guided Apollo to the moon and back nearly 50 years ago. We’re ready to do it again with the Blue Origin team for Artemis.” It’s time to go back to the Moon, this time to stay. -Gradatim Ferociter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Dunno how fresh this Blue Moon lander concept is: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenperforce Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 26 minutes ago, tater said: 25x reuse? FLEX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Usual drill. Entrepreneurial innovation requires lower cost of access to space. Only possible through real, operational reuse. Land, refuel, fly again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sh1pman Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 1 hour ago, tater said: Usual drill. Entrepreneurial innovation requires lower cost of access to space. Maybe we will see a radical price reduction from SpaceX when NG starts flying. Until then, no reason for SpaceX to leave money on the table. So, turns out, you need TWO rocket companies with reusable rockets to see the actual reduction in space access cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.