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?

  • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
    566·
    17 days ago

    Wait, when did NASA land a fully reusable rocket like fucking Buck Rogers?

    Then do it again, but capture it with the freakin’ launch tower?

    When did NASA even have a reusable rocket? Oh, the shuttle, the bastardized money pit for NSA/NRO/Air Force, that appears to have been designed to orbit a surveillance satellite chassis, which most people know as Hubble (it’s one of many, this one being used to surveil the universe, instead of the earth).

    And the shuttle was a quasi-reusable orbiter, not a rocket.

    • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      17 days ago

      I believe NASA could also refurbish and re-use the SRBs, but the big orange tank was expended with every flight. The Space Shuttle Main Engines are actually still in service, we have a small inventory of them and they either have been or will be flown since 2011.

      But I would definitely say that the moment the Falcon Heavy’s two booster stages returned to Cape Canaveral and made synchronized powered landings was the moment 21st century space flight arrived. SpaceX is head and shoulders above what anyone else is doing with reusable rockets and spacecraft. Meanwhile Boeing is in the broom closet huffing Lysol and muttering about quarterly earnings.

      • Hugin@lemmy.world
        3·
        17 days ago

        They could reuse the SRB but the cost to refurbish them was like 90% of a new one. So it wasn’t terribly useful.

    • essell@lemmy.world
      4·
      17 days ago

      Can I just add that “fucking Buck rogers” is an excellent phrase and all three words can mean sex and when combined they don’t.

      • M0oP0o@mander.xyz
        9·
        17 days ago

        The shuttle was a massive and unsafe waste of space ship.

        Not sure what Hubble did to catch this stray however.