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All correct, although one other angle might have been the protection of US space technology. Even though SpaceX is private, I believe their technology is not ex
by drawnwren 9y ago
All correct, although one other angle might have been the protection of US space technology. Even though SpaceX is private, I believe their technology is not exportable.
- dtparr 9y agoThat's correct, it's covered by ITAR.
- ChuckMcM 9y agoI did not even think about the ITAR issue, but yeah it isn't like there aren't people out there that would love to pick up a booster with 9 re-usable engines in it. I've always been amused at the bureaucracy getting ITAR licenses to "export" rockets into orbit. But that was when their destruction was assured when they returned.
- tbabb 9y ago> people out there that would love to pick up a booster with 9 re-usable engines in it. Makes me think of the early Keyhole spy satellite program, which returned exposed film to Earth in a capsule. The capsule was to be caught mid-air, and if the catch failed, the capsule would float for five minutes and then sink, with the intent of destroying the sensitive data. It was discovered that Russian subs were circling under the drop zone.