SpaceX launched its mega rocket Starship but lost both the booster and the spacecraft in a pair of explosions minutes into a second test flight. The rocketship reached space following Saturday's liftoff from South Texas, but communication was then lost.
Looks like the ship got farther this time. Still, not a complete success
Playing devil's advocate - it looks like the main advancement made by SpaceX is the reusable rockets. Do you think this has a material benefit to space travel going forward?
In terms of the real economy, I would think this is beneficial.
Devil advocacy aside, I'm skeptical that reusable rockets should take priority over other possible areas of advancement; and of course, the inefficiencies and waste of the private sector should go without saying.
It certainly has potential, but again, reusable rockets aren't an entirely new concept either (look at the space shuttle for example). My main problem is that they patent their designs, so any successes they have don't benefit humanity, they only benefit SpaceX's stockholders.
Playing devil's advocate - it looks like the main advancement made by SpaceX is the reusable rockets. Do you think this has a material benefit to space travel going forward?
In terms of the real economy, I would think this is beneficial.
Devil advocacy aside, I'm skeptical that reusable rockets should take priority over other possible areas of advancement; and of course, the inefficiencies and waste of the private sector should go without saying.
It certainly has potential, but again, reusable rockets aren't an entirely new concept either (look at the space shuttle for example). My main problem is that they patent their designs, so any successes they have don't benefit humanity, they only benefit SpaceX's stockholders.