nickik

86 ms·

721.
by nickik 6y ago
Lots of stuff: https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPR&c=8705&s=2... But even if you design to those standards, doesn't mean you will actually get certified. And as SpaceX learned, the interpretation
722.
by nickik 6y ago
> A nuclear first stage launching from inside your biosphere is not a great idea I disagree. There are nuclear rocket designs that don't have radioactive exhaust. Sure, its a little bit of a problem if it explodes, but not to bad. A
723.
by nickik 6y ago
The discipline in terms of orbit cleanup is actually far better. All sats need to have a de-orbit plan. We are also getting far better at monitoring both systematic and individual high accuracy measure. Both US and ESA are improving that te
724.
by nickik 6y ago
That argument really doesn't work. Most of those censors are needed in orbital rocket too. Shuttle software was far more complex then Falcon 9 and it runs on 70s computers. GPS is not really needed, its just there as a backup. Launchin
725.
by nickik 6y ago
> Second stage reusability on the Rocket Lab Neutron will be much easier than the Falcon 9 because the carbon fiber frame doesn't need a heatshield. I may be wrong on this, but I believe they can just slam the second stage into the
726.
by nickik 6y ago
The Falcon Heavy has 27 engines and works fine. Its not the number of engines that is the problem. The problem is how efficient is your engine, how is the Trust-to-Weight ratio. To do a reusable launcher you need to be really damn efficient
727.
by nickik 6y ago
> Additionally, a smaller rocket is useful for some human spaceflight applications. If you only need to launch two astronauts in orbit to fix a satellite, it’d be nice to have a smaller rocket option. That's a nice theory. But that
728.
by nickik 6y ago
> And being human spaceflight capable is also really good. What does that even mean? Going threw the NASA certification? Why would NASA even do that? There is capsule that could even launch on the rocket that currently exists. We will se
729.
by nickik 6y ago
Well, I mean its basically what NASA originally asked for. A few changes could make it Ok, the real problem is the cost. This kind of architecture should be very cheap. If it isn't, its just pointless.
730.
by nickik 6y ago
Things are really not looking so hot for BlueOrigin if they do not get the Human Landing System for the Moon contract. They seem to focus on that, but I think most space fans, don't want them to get it. The Dynetics lander and the Spac
731.
by nickik 6y ago
There is lots of lithium. But lithium is kind of a tricky, its almost more chemical then a base metal. Qualifying a new lithium extraction technology is tricky, and every brine is different. Lithium is not tricky to find, its trick to extra
732.
by nickik 6y ago
But that same technology is also available for nickel based batteries. So the relative performance doesn't change when comparing chemistry.
733.
by nickik 6y ago
The advantage in BYD packaging you can also get to the same extend with other batteries. As Tesla does with their next generation platform. So that argument doesn't really make sense.
734.
by nickik 6y ago
This is so stupid. Yes, he was a aggressive on AI, wow what a insight, that most of your list, now everything he ever says is equally wrong even when on a whole lot of other things he was right. Even when it is proven that on tons of issues
735.
by nickik 6y ago
They had to announce something because what they announced last time had lost all credibility and was clearly not happening. If this is indication of a greater culture change is highly questionable.
736.
by nickik 6y ago
Well, SpaceX has a 'tourist' mission planned for this year, and its not very likely to slip much. https://www.space.com/spacex-unveils-inspiration4-all-privat...
737.
by nickik 6y ago
Not the case, there are parts arriving in TX all the time. Downcomer being an example. That said, what they are doing in Boca is clearly very impressive and its much more then just an integration facility.
738.
by nickik 6y ago
> It's exciting to see BO making progress on their campaign to catch SpaceX in the commercial launch space. They are actually falling behind faster then they are catching up. > I'm curious whether the slow, deliberative appr
739.
by nickik 6y ago
Nukes and rockets exist.
740.
by nickik 6y ago
Thiel is wrong. What is happening in batteries is insane. SpaceX is doing amazing things in space and many smaller companies are doing great things too. Starlink itself is revolutionary, Starship is arguably even more so. And btw the advanc
741.
by nickik 6y ago
The whole point of the article is that, the issue with the SLS is that its not one single argument that explains everything. Its about a whole history of bad in terms of government processes on a government program like that.
742.
by nickik 6y ago
Wow. Amazing. I am impressed. Many have been making some or all of these arguments for many years. A great overall article bring together a lot of issues. And as long and as this great article is, there are so many things that he hasn'
743.
by nickik 6y ago
That's incredibly unlikely. Blue Origin has spend a huge amount of money already to develop their own orbital rocket. The build a huge rocket factory and a huge engine factory. They have their own control rooms and the own launch pads.
744.
by nickik 6y ago
No sorry it wont. The Vulcan only requires 2 engines and will have very low launch rate. That is nowhere near enough money to finance what Blue is spending. Blue Origin business model now and for years to come is selling Amazon stock.
745.
by nickik 6y ago
If you measure by amount of space craft or tons to orbit, SpaceX is so utterly dominate its not even funny. More then 50% global tons to orbit and SpaceX themselves are already the largest operate of satellites. Not only are they the larges
746.
by nickik 6y ago
We evaluation the plan of its own merits beyond just saying 'didn't work in the past so want work now'. The reality is a lot of knowledge was GAINED since then as well. This program will be very different then Apollo, not a c
747.
by nickik 6y ago
That's a pretty terrible argument. First of all 'believe' can not be measured, and the argument that Nixon believed more in government then Obama is more then questionable. In fact it was Nixon who totally fucked up the manne
748.
by nickik 6y ago
It would do some gravity stuff that now other missions are doing already. It would have picked up a single small bolder and brought it to LEO. Non are relevant for resource mining.
749.
by nickik 6y ago
Absolutely disagree, and I think the waste majority of space nerds do so as well. ARM was a mission literally designed so Obama so NASA would have something to do with SLS and Orion. It was a pretty terrible mission that basically nobody wa
750.
by nickik 6y ago
Falcon Heavy is the cheapest kg to orbit rocket in the world by far right now and the largest one. Super Heavy is only a first stage booster. Combined with the Starship upper stage this system is also called Starship. This system is still i

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