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Based on the comments in this thread, this is the most I've ever been disappointed in the HN community. What Branson & his team did today was incredible and wi

Based on the comments in this thread, this is the most I've ever been disappointed in the HN community. What Branson & his team did today was incredible and will pay off in spades for the future of humanity. I'd rather live in a world with folks like Branson instead of a world made up of the astonishingly short-sighted naysayers here.

mikewarot 5y ago
No, its not incredible. It's basically a supersonic airplane with a few rockets attached so it re-enters the atmosphere the right attitude. Top speed: ~4000 kph Orbital Speed: ~28,000 kph, which is 7 times the speed, 49 times the kinetic energy. Meanwhile, Elon's old car is in space, moving away from earth at about 60,000 kph Source: https://www.whereisroadster.com/ https://www.whereisroadster.com/
alea_iacta_est 5y ago
> What Branson & his team did today was incredible and will pay off in spades for the future of humanity. Terrestrial tourism has already pretty much destroyed this planet, what long-term good can you foresee here, seriously?
- veryoldaccount 5y ago
  > June 3, 2020 > Just created a new account just to tell you we're at least 2 conservatives in tech. Pretty sure I'll get angry and abandon this account very soon again because of the liberal bias here, and their adoration for the downvote button, but whatever, anything for a conservative colleague :) Glad to see your account is living its best life, and that you're using HN as an outlet for your anger. Really this sort of thing should last 3-6 months at most though, that's been the case for me anyway. Maybe you're in a rut? Cheers.
thehappypm 5y ago
I agree. A new industry was just created today. Can’t we just take that in?
SergeAx 5y ago
Yes, it was incredible, but I don't see how it pays off for the future. What we've got here is a tremendously expensive roller coaster with great view and zero-g in the middle. It doesn't have any practical purpose.
machinehermiter 5y ago
I mean I love space but I honestly don't get space tourism. Especially if we compare today to what we should get from JWST. Today basically seems like the ultimate roller coaster/amusement park ride. It just makes me long for the JWST launch all the more.

mikewarot 5y ago

No, its not incredible. It's basically a supersonic airplane with a few rockets attached so it re-enters the atmosphere the right attitude. Top speed: ~4000 kph Orbital Speed: ~28,000 kph, which is 7 times the speed, 49 times the kinetic energy. Meanwhile, Elon's old car is in space, moving away from earth at about 60,000 kph Source: https://www.whereisroadster.com/ https://www.whereisroadster.com/

alea_iacta_est 5y ago

> What Branson & his team did today was incredible and will pay off in spades for the future of humanity. Terrestrial tourism has already pretty much destroyed this planet, what long-term good can you foresee here, seriously?

veryoldaccount 5y ago
> June 3, 2020 > Just created a new account just to tell you we're at least 2 conservatives in tech. Pretty sure I'll get angry and abandon this account very soon again because of the liberal bias here, and their adoration for the downvote button, but whatever, anything for a conservative colleague :) Glad to see your account is living its best life, and that you're using HN as an outlet for your anger. Really this sort of thing should last 3-6 months at most though, that's been the case for me anyway. Maybe you're in a rut? Cheers.

thehappypm 5y ago

I agree. A new industry was just created today. Can’t we just take that in?

SergeAx 5y ago

Yes, it was incredible, but I don't see how it pays off for the future. What we've got here is a tremendously expensive roller coaster with great view and zero-g in the middle. It doesn't have any practical purpose.

machinehermiter 5y ago

I mean I love space but I honestly don't get space tourism. Especially if we compare today to what we should get from JWST. Today basically seems like the ultimate roller coaster/amusement park ride. It just makes me long for the JWST launch all the more.