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There are lots of rocket companies, some outside of the US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_companies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis
by wheels 14y ago
There are lots of rocket companies, some outside of the US:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_companies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_com...
To be honest, I don't really get the hubbub about this launch. It's a business innovation, not a scientific one. We've been putting unmanned rockets into space for 70 years.
- dagw 14y agoI don't really get the hubbub about this launch. It's a business innovation The business innovation is what the hubbub is all about. People aren't excited because of the science, but because this is a watershed moment in the business of space. All successful technological revolution have to pass through two critical phases, when it becomes possible and when it becomes profitable. This is a big step in phase two.
- lonnyk 14y agoAlso - this is the first business to recover a spacecraft and _will_ be the first business to dock with the ISS
- DennisP 14y agoWell, 55 years since Sputnik, getting to orbit's a lot harder than just touching space. But it's not only for what they did with this launch. The rocket meets NASA's requirements for carrying humans, once they finish building an escape system. It's also a lot cheaper per pound of cargo than what we've been using. A successful dock with the ISS will mean they're well on track to carry astronauts there, and to carry tourists to Bigelow's orbital hotel. So far there have been only two successful manned space programs, both run by superpower governments. Now it looks like a fairly small private company is going to pull it off. That's a pretty big step forward.
- sliverstorm 14y agoThe hubbub is because for a little while it was looking like rockets and space might have become a thing of the past for the USA.
- drzaiusapelord 14y agoThis is a little like saying "What's so great about the personal computer? Universities have giant room sized computers and have had so for a long time!" I just wish people had this kind of enthusiasm and press for every launch. There are great missions flown all the time and no one really cares. The SpaceX people are amazing, but so are the NASA, ESA, ISRO, Chinese, and Russians. All launches are beautiful and amazing.
- pbreit 14y agoThat's what the hubbub is about, if you don't get it you're not trying.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]