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The pods already on their way via SpaceX http://www.times-standard.com/general-news/20180706/wing-inflatables-assisting-with-thai-soccer-team-rescue http://www.

The pods already on their way via SpaceX http://www.times-standard.com/general-news/20180706/wing-inflatables-assisting-with-thai-soccer-team-rescue http://www.times-standard.com/general-news/20180706/wing-inf...

wallflower 8y ago
Wing Inflatables is a partner for SpaceX. This is pretty smart as they had expertise in flotation devices. The general assumption that SpaceX was designing and manufacturing these out of SpaceX spacecraft material was wrong. In fact, they were probably en route via Elon's private jet around the time he started tweeting about them. > 14/ "What is interesting is, if you know #California at all, we are 350 miles north of #SanFrancisco in a little town, #Arcata. That is a little #riverrafting town. We manufacture inflatable recovery parts for #SpaceX". > 15/ "So we have a relationship. When Elon had an idea he asked our engineering team to get a hold of us. It was wonderful to see it all come through", says Branagh, Wing Inflatables' president and CEO. https://twitter.com/WendyDent/status/1015795955621191680 https://twitter.com/WendyDent/status/1015795955621191680 http://www.wing.com/ http://www.wing.com/
- Robotbeat 8y ago
  I think they may be sending some of the SpaceX material as part of the inflatable tunnel idea. It's a backup plan (to a backup plan) at this point.
- arkades 8y ago
  It wasn’t a general assumption: he said as much in a tweet. “Got more great feedback from Thailand. Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull. Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2018”
  - wallflower 8y ago
    Hmm, it appears that SpaceX designed their own escape pod, separate from the Wing Inflatables which were flown to Thailand. While it is clear they didn't finish it in time for the very time sensitive Thai cave rescue operation, they are testing it out in a pool. Video of it being tested: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1016063173139427329 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1016063173139427329

wallflower 8y ago

Wing Inflatables is a partner for SpaceX. This is pretty smart as they had expertise in flotation devices. The general assumption that SpaceX was designing and manufacturing these out of SpaceX spacecraft material was wrong. In fact, they were probably en route via Elon's private jet around the time he started tweeting about them. > 14/ "What is interesting is, if you know #California at all, we are 350 miles north of #SanFrancisco in a little town, #Arcata. That is a little #riverrafting town. We manufacture inflatable recovery parts for #SpaceX". > 15/ "So we have a relationship. When Elon had an idea he asked our engineering team to get a hold of us. It was wonderful to see it all come through", says Branagh, Wing Inflatables' president and CEO. https://twitter.com/WendyDent/status/1015795955621191680 https://twitter.com/WendyDent/status/1015795955621191680 http://www.wing.com/ http://www.wing.com/

Robotbeat 8y ago
I think they may be sending some of the SpaceX material as part of the inflatable tunnel idea. It's a backup plan (to a backup plan) at this point.
arkades 8y ago
It wasn’t a general assumption: he said as much in a tweet. “Got more great feedback from Thailand. Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull. Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2018”
- wallflower 8y ago
  Hmm, it appears that SpaceX designed their own escape pod, separate from the Wing Inflatables which were flown to Thailand. While it is clear they didn't finish it in time for the very time sensitive Thai cave rescue operation, they are testing it out in a pool. Video of it being tested: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1016063173139427329 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1016063173139427329