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In a sense, all the ostensible science missions are really about national prestige and are therefore national security missions in a round-about way. I saw a r
by lupusreal 3y ago
In a sense, all the ostensible science missions are really about national prestige and are therefore national security missions in a round-about way. I saw a recent presentation given by Michael Griffin in which he makes this point; the HST wouldn't really be worth all the trouble if not for the "America flexing on the world" angle.
https://youtu.be/4L8MY056Vz8 https://youtu.be/4L8MY056Vz8
- philwelch 3y agoSure, but who’s actually launching those science missions these days? It’s all commercial providers. Recycling 1970’s technology into SLS and making it even less reusable isn’t a flex on the world, it’s pork barrel politics.
- lupusreal 3y agoI share your thoughts towards the lameness of SLS, but consider: would it even be happening if not for the threat of China going to the Moon? It seems to me that the whole point is to spoil China's fun.