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I'm not in software so maybe my viewpoint is just different but I also wouldn't expect NASA to give me the mechanical blueprints for a rocket, or even a concret

I'm not in software so maybe my viewpoint is just different but I also wouldn't expect NASA to give me the mechanical blueprints for a rocket, or even a concrete launch pad nor would I expect the local government to give me the the electrical schematics for the stop light systems, even though doing so would in no way prevent them from continuing to use these systems/items

munk-a 4y ago
Honestly, why not? It's quite likely there has been a decent amount of information passing back and forth between NASA and various private space companies - there isn't a sane reason to require everyone to make the same mistakes that you've already learned from. Additionally while releasing rocket specifications probably won't result in any at-scale replicas it's a good way to feed the hobbiest community and possibly get some neat ideas back. There are some components of rocketry that deserve careful consideration in sharing (i.e. rocket fuels) but a lot of those have mostly leaked at this point and the government has other reasons to limit their production and thus limits the supply of chemical components. Much like with software there are going to be some secret components related to communication and the like - but those can be cherry picked from the information and deliberately hidden... similar to how most software teams don't check all their private SSH keys into public repos (usually).
- gehwartzen 4y ago
  I agree with you and would love more "real world" things to be open source. I do like the ethos within software/tech that things are open-sourced often. It doesn't exist to nearly the same degree in many other "physical world" type industries. I think government/ bureaucracy moves slowly and most people working within them don't come from a software background so a lot of the older norms of not sharing things (outside of things like data/documents) is just the way things are done. I expect to a lot of these people sharing a source code is treated exactly the same as sharing any other mechanical designs which they just often don't do. Hopefully both things will change.
datavirtue 4y ago
I expect the rocket plans. Why the fuck wouldn't you expect the rocket plans? Unfortunately, letting companies own plans they were contracted to develop is actually a form of payment to those companies. GE's entire best-in-class commercial jet engine line was built from military blueprints they own and control but who's design was fully funded by the American people. This is bragged about openly within the company. Elon had to go to Russia to get rocket plans. We have truly dropped the ball on this.

munk-a 4y ago

Honestly, why not? It's quite likely there has been a decent amount of information passing back and forth between NASA and various private space companies - there isn't a sane reason to require everyone to make the same mistakes that you've already learned from. Additionally while releasing rocket specifications probably won't result in any at-scale replicas it's a good way to feed the hobbiest community and possibly get some neat ideas back. There are some components of rocketry that deserve careful consideration in sharing (i.e. rocket fuels) but a lot of those have mostly leaked at this point and the government has other reasons to limit their production and thus limits the supply of chemical components. Much like with software there are going to be some secret components related to communication and the like - but those can be cherry picked from the information and deliberately hidden... similar to how most software teams don't check all their private SSH keys into public repos (usually).

gehwartzen 4y ago
I agree with you and would love more "real world" things to be open source. I do like the ethos within software/tech that things are open-sourced often. It doesn't exist to nearly the same degree in many other "physical world" type industries. I think government/ bureaucracy moves slowly and most people working within them don't come from a software background so a lot of the older norms of not sharing things (outside of things like data/documents) is just the way things are done. I expect to a lot of these people sharing a source code is treated exactly the same as sharing any other mechanical designs which they just often don't do. Hopefully both things will change.

datavirtue 4y ago

I expect the rocket plans. Why the fuck wouldn't you expect the rocket plans? Unfortunately, letting companies own plans they were contracted to develop is actually a form of payment to those companies. GE's entire best-in-class commercial jet engine line was built from military blueprints they own and control but who's design was fully funded by the American people. This is bragged about openly within the company. Elon had to go to Russia to get rocket plans. We have truly dropped the ball on this.