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Not for the US, but for NASA in particular. They haven't been able to send anyone themselves since the Space Shuttle, and they sorely need more capabilities in
by chton 12y ago
Not for the US, but for NASA in particular. They haven't been able to send anyone themselves since the Space Shuttle, and they sorely need more capabilities in that area.
It's mostly notable for its deep-space focus, directly intending to use the rocket to go to mars.
- antimagic 12y agoBut I don't understand what NASA gains by buying bespoke hardware instead of simply buying a Dragon launch. It seems weird - a very expensive case of "Not Invented Here". This is particularly true given Elon Musk's publicly announced ambitions for beyond-LEO missions using the Falcon stack, and his demonstrated ability to execute on his ambitions.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]
- chton 12y agoI assume they want to be independent of external companies. Nobody else is seriously developing capabilities to lift >100 tons in orbit at the moment, considering the only other craft ever capable of that was the Energia. If nobody else does it, better do it yourself.