United States of America Space program

[Rockstar]

Damn we're good another textbook launch thats two within a week. To the moon baby!

[Gerald]

We have been to the moon before, it is not time for a bigger step?

[Commander Wallace]

This is a good clip. I have been following Elon Musk as he continues to push the accessibility of space for everyone. I like how innovative Elon Musk is and his approach to engineering obstacles.

[Texas Red]

THE US IS BACK IN BUSINESS BABY

[mapuc]

I predict following.

Within the next 30-40 years NASA, ESA, and other state supported space agency will become one organisation.

I don't know how it will be organized.

Markus

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by mapuc

I predict following.

Within the next 30-40 years NASA, ESA, and other state supported space agency will become one organisation.

I don't know how it will be organized.

Markus

I predict that NASA will either become increasingly privatized, or increasingly cooperate with private companies, until it maybe even becomes the tail of the dog only.


Space is an expensive place to be in, government budgets less and less are capable to finance it.


Edit:
Gargamel beat me to saying somehtign similiar.

[Sean C]

Originally Posted by Gerald

We have been to the moon before, it is not time for a bigger step?

We have been to the Moon before. But we forgot how ... so we need to re-learn a few things. Should be simpler this time, though. Last time we did it with slide rules. (As a slide rule enthusiast I should point out that WE DID IT WITH SLIDE RULES FFS!!!)

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Gerald

We have been to the moon before, it is not time for a bigger step?

Oh we've been to the moon. But the next time we go, its to establish a permanent base and begin exploiting its resources in preparation for that next step.



NASA doesn't build rockets. It's a bloated bureaucracy in the executive branch of federal government. Politicians set national agenda, the agency comes up with a plan to meet it. All of the stuff we launch into space is built for the government by private companies, even the Apollo Program Saturn V rocket was.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

NASA doesn't build rockets. It's a bloated bureaucracy in the executive branch of federal government. Politicians set national agenda, the agency comes up with a plan to meet it. All of the stuff we launch into space is built for the government by private companies, even the Apollo Program Saturn V rocket was.

Very few things are built by the US government. Buildings, computers, cars, military hardware, rockets, launch pads, etc are all built by commercial contractors.



Yes the Saturn V and it's components were made by contractors (Boeing, North American, Northrup Grumman, Douglas just to name a few), but to claim it wasn't "made by NASA" does a disservice to the program and it's legacy.


Atlas, Titan, Electron, Falcon 9, Falcon 9 Heavy, New Shepard, Starliner, Dragon, Starship, SpaceShip2, etc are all made by domestic private companies, some under contract from NASA, some not. SLS is a purely NASA program, with it's own dedicated launch vehicle, and can therefore be said to be "made by NASA".


The reason we're trending towards privatization of the space industry is down to cost. SpaceX handles almost everything in house, once the initial costs of building a new vehicle are covered, the marginal cost to launch a F9 is only $15 million, 2/3 of which go into building the non-reusable second stage. Compared to the "low cost reusable" space shuttle at $450 million.


That's why we'll see the cast majority of launches trend towards private companies, and away government entities. Private companies do things more efficiently, but that efficiency can come at a price, and sometimes that price is safety. That's the governments will end being regulatory agencies more than anything in the future.

[Rockstar]

Sorry, I was just trying to say that NASA isn't going private because its not in the business of building rockets. Its a federal government agency and the driving force behind our national space program. It exists because there isn't a private company on this planet that has the resources to finance projects like these. Similar maybe to why the Europe Union formed its own space agency in order to centralize research and development and the financial resources to achieve more than any one company or state could.




I still think NASA is a bloated bureaucracy though.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Sorry, I was just trying to say that NASA isn't going private because its not in the business of building rockets. Its a federal government agency and the driving force behind our national space program. It exists because there isn't a private company on this planet that has the resources to finance projects like these. Similar maybe to why the Europe Union formed its own space agency in order to centralize research and development and the financial resources to achieve more than any one company or state could.




I still think NASA is a bloated bureaucracy though.

Another possibility would be that US government sell NASA to Elon Musk Space.
The reason should be to save money and let other with money and vision to take over NASA.

Just a thought.

Markus

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Oh we've been to the moon. But the next time we go, its to establish a permanent base and begin exploiting its resources in preparation for that next step.



NASA doesn't build rockets. It's a bloated bureaucracy in the executive branch of federal government. Politicians set national agenda, the agency comes up with a plan to meet it. All of the stuff we launch into space is built for the government by private companies, even the Apollo Program Saturn V rocket was.

It is absolutely necessary to explore the planet more, however, there is a need for focus so that the budget goes to specific goals and not to very remote places that may not be practically feasible in the time of mankind ... the latter, however is not carved in stone as other factors control this.

[Rockstar]

All aboard! Sign-up for the next flight to Mars in 2026.

https://mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name/

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

All aboard! Sign-up for the next flight to Mars in 2026.

https://mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name/

What do the tickets cost?

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Damn we're good another textbook launch thats two within a week. To the moon baby!

There's been at least 3 this week, and a few more scheduled within the next week.



It seems only SpaceX and NASA get any headlines, but there's quite a few private companies who have thriving commercial satellite programs going.

Originally Posted by mapuc

I predict following.

Within the next 30-40 years NASA, ESA, and other state supported space agency will become one organisation.

I don't know how it will be organized.

Markus

Just the opposite. Commercial systems will overtake the federal ones, as it is currently happening in the US, and the Space agencies will be no more than regulatory agencies. Science missions will be funded, with governmental help as usual, by Universities, launched on heavy lift commercial rockets. This could happen tomorrow if they wanted, the Falcon Heavy did launch a car to an apogee around mars orbit.