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Cost. That's what Musk wants to drive down. He has said so explicitly and unambiguously many times. How to bring the cost of launches down? Don't throw the roc
by igravious 9y ago
Cost.
That's what Musk wants to drive down. He has said so explicitly and unambiguously many times. How to bring the cost of launches down? Don't throw the rockets away each time. How to bring the cost of boring down? Increase the speed of the machine (here the multiplicative factor is time, reduce time, reduce cost, ergo increase speed.) How to not throw away rockets each time, reuse them by making them land without damaging them.
I'm not sure he "makes tunnels the way you make spaceships". These are the similarities.
(1) Search for a social problem: lack of cheap access to space, traffic congestion, fossil-fuel propulsion
(2) Figure out what the factor limiting progess: rocket reuse, 3-d traffic network, battery tech for EVs
(3) Focus all your energy on that problem: figure out how to land a rocket, figure out how to bore tunnels for a fraction of the price, build a gargantuan factory optimised to drive down the cost of battery production
Look folks. There's no magic formula here. It's not rocket science. (Except in one case). I'd say what is common to all three ventures is Musk's personality. Tackling enormous problems. Getting to the heart of the problem. Self-belief. Drive. Focus. Tenacity. Bravery. Great engineering skills. Surround yourself with talented people who get shit done and have the same optimism as you. Wash, rinse repeat. What the biotech community need to be figuring out is not how to clone monkeys, but how to clone Musk.
hagiography over :)
- yohann305 9y agoA good chunk of the new generation of kids is watching SpaceX's success. This drives the kids' attention to Musk which ultimately kids take him as a role model. Kids will follow his steps and thread of thoughts, which is in some way "nurture cloning". We cannot conceive what Musk is actually doing on the next generation, it's going to be amazing
- igravious 9y agoI watched the Falcon Heavy launch with my kid and she was gob-smacked. I don't remember anything like that growing up.
- VVyattPrentice 9y agoonions. I could only draw on my experience of Challenger for reference. Such contrast.
- enricotal 9y agoI could not agree more. Cost is the ultimate pain point.
- ForHackernews 9y agoThe problem of cost in American tunnel projects has essentially nothing to do with technology.[0] I strongly doubt Musk will succeed in this effort, but if he does, it will be because he's managed to bypass existing labour agreements and/or violate labour and safety laws, not because he has invented a new way to dig a tunnel. [0] https://slate.com/business/2018/02/better-technology-isnt-the-answer-to-the-woes-at-amtrak-the-mta-and-elsewhere.html https://slate.com/business/2018/02/better-technology-isnt-th...
- igravious 9y agoWell shoot, somebody better tell Elon that. :)
- ForHackernews 9y agoNobody can tell Elon anything.