5 ms·
We choose to not go to the moon, but do the other things, not because they are hard, but because they are relatively easy, and we can make a quick buck.
by dwringer 10y ago
We choose to not go to the moon, but do the other things, not because they are hard, but because they are relatively easy, and we can make a quick buck.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- rhcom2 10y agoAlso the moon is pretty boring and Elon Musk likes exciting things.
- Svezik 10y agoMaking an automobile that people actually want to buy would be exciting.
- ctdonath 10y agoThere were how many $1000 deposits on Model 3s?
- bplsports92 10y agoI assume this is a joke?
- trafficlight 10y agoHow I wish I could experience the boredom of flying around the Moon.
- olex 10y ago"Relatively" being very much a keyword here. Nothing about sending two people around the moon is easy, there's a reason it hasn't been done in several decades.
- iamatworknow 10y ago>there's a reason it hasn't been done in several decades Because it lost its novelty. Clearly the technology's already been there and had the potential to get better with continued funding. Apollo 11 was a huge moment for the US and the world. We beat the Soviet Union to the moon, and that was the primary goal. By the time Apollo 17 rolled around there were other things going on that grabbed our attention (like Vietnam). We had already spent too much money on the Apollo program and the public didn't really care anymore, so it ended.
- neurotech1 10y agoI disagree about the "quick buck" The surprising thing about this announcement is that its a private mission. SpaceX has long resisted private tourism, to pursue CRS and Commercial Crew missions. I'm sure several billionaires would have written a large check, long ago, to go into orbit.
- stupidcar 10y agoHave they really resisted it? SpaceX haven't had, and still don't have, a spacecraft capable of carrying people into orbit, so it's not like they've left money on the table. Delivering satellites and cargo was a good way to fund and prove the rocket themselves, without which any tourism is obviously a non-starter. And working with NASA on the Commercial Crew programme provides access to NASA expertise and facilities that SpaceX would otherwise have to develop from scratch. I suspect tourism was always part of the long-term plan. If I had to guess why they decided to start with this mission in particular, I think it is probably because it provides a better PR opportunity than simple orbital tourism. SpaceX are clearly very image conscious, and beginning by taxiing billionaires into orbit perhaps sends the wrong signal. It's not doing anything that Russia hasn't already done, and undercuts the idealistic image they put across. On the other hand, sending people beyond LEO for the first time in over forty years is clearly a major accomplishment. And having them be private citizens, even very rich ones, sends a very strong message that private spaceflight has come of age.
- kristianp 10y agoIndeed, the last time people went beyond LEO was Apollo 17 in 1972. Having the capability to do so is a big step towards re-attaining the Apollo level of humans in space. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_17 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_17
- neurotech1 10y agoYes, SpaceX resisted earlier tourism opportunities for a few reasons. One reason was they didn't have the corporate resources to do tourism flights, and do the R&D for CCDev & Commercial Crew Program (CCP), so they focused on Commercial Crew. Another reason is that NASA doesn't want tourist flights to the ISS, and no private destinations were close to ready. Lets say CCP funding was delayed, and a private team offered $400m for tourist flights, they'd have to develop two different Dragon capsule specifications. One for ISS, and one for private tourism. Similar, but with non-identical requirements. With the CCP further along, the different specifications may no longer be an issue. Another reason is SpaceX doesn't have a training program for space tourists, and they'd require a training program. The Russians require 3-6mo of training for a space tourist on the Soyuz. That said, there are reasons SpaceX went for this plan now, and not before.
- gleenn 10y agoEveryone replying is missing this oppositized JFK quote: "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." -JFK
- hsod 10y agoI don't think anyone is missing that, cutesy little jokes like that just don't tend to do well here on HN.
- avmich 10y agoThey are viewed as somewhat missing the point, and so aren't enjoyed.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- mark-r 10y agoI think possibly lots of people are missing it. How well known is Kennedy's speech for those who weren't alive at the time? And yes it was a joke, but contained within the joke is a pointed commentary.
- hsod 10y agoI think it's one of the most famous quotations in the country (it has it's own wikipedia page[0]), and the reference wasn't exactly subtle. I'm betting most downvoters (myself included) got the reference. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_choose_to_go_to_the_Moon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_choose_to_go_to_the_Moon
- strawberrycough 10y agoThe problem with stupid people is they think the obvious is clever and pithy.
- DavidSJ 10y ago
- abecedarius 10y agoThe Apollo program also started with around-the-moon missions before the landing missions.
- elastic_church 10y agolol love it JFKa-ching!
- jackmott 10y agothey went around the moon before landing on it, too.