This groundbreaking launch, the second of a SpaceX Dragon capsule and the first on a NASA-related mission, takes a small step, and a giant leap, for privatized spaceflight.
ASIDE: I wonder if Rep. Paul Broun considers spaceflight a lie from the pit of hell?
This is awesome for SpaceX. What’s even cooler is that one of the nine engines failed, but the computers compensated as they were designed to and the flight was still successful.
Also, can we get our SpaceX news without political commentary?
It’s a vestige of the fact that this was going to be a part of a “Newspace,” and then I realized the news by itself should stand. I then reneged just slightly. When an elected official who sits on the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee– a committee not unconnected to decisions which can affect space exploration– expresses his belief (in the last week) that evolution, the Big Bang, and embryology (how does one disbelieve embryology?) are lies created by Satan, it’s probably something worth mentioning in our science posts. However, it should have been posted in a separate “Newspace,” as I initially intended,or as a comment below the article.
I added an ASIDE: marker to that comment. Does that help?
Too late. Now Google Ads are serving up political crap.
I don’t see any, but I’m in Canada, so I get different ads anyway.
Well explained. Thanks.
And that item is fitting for a Newspace item.
I’m a huge fan of SpaceX, and think they’re doing some great work. As I watched the video and they were rolling out the falcon 9 and tilting into position, I couldn’t help but think of the fabled rail transported ICBMs of the Cold War. The thought of a private company launching their own rocket back then was nearly unthinkable. This is so awesome to see.
I know, I know, they’re still launching from an Air Force base and the mission is paid for by the gov’t. But SpaceX will be able to launch this thing on their own in the future too (hopefully man rated at some point!). I realize that there are other private launch providers too, but still, its cool they’re all out there expanding the commercial space capability.