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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   35216 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of June 26, 2023

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What was that, reusability?

Yes. Or more specifically, reusability that reduces costs unlike space shuttle failed attempt.

And some smaller changes that resulted in overall reduced costs.

Starting and running private company building brand new rocket is also really unique achievement. Also human spaceflight as private profitable company.

Other people have done it

Not in way that makes sense. Space shuttle was a major prior attempt and ended more expensive than disposable rockets.

He also does some interesting things with accounting, like overcharging governments by 2-3 times

Well, they still launch cheaper than competition or launch at all. It is hard to say how much overcharging is here, given that almost all activity in this space is governmental.

Of all the companies I would have expected it to work, it was Twitter.

There is possibility that Twitter was fundamentally unprofitable or that Musk is worse fit, or that he started to believe that he is perfect and makes no mistakes.

Yes. Or more specifically, reusability that reduces costs unlike space shuttle failed attempt.

Is there an official breakdown of costs on Falcon 9, showing that they are actually saving money on reusability?

Not aware of anything so detailed (and would be happy to read it!) though not saving on that just means that they managed to

  • find savings elsewhere
  • hide actual saving source

In theory they may run with the same rocket costs and less bloated company and/or less outrageous profits than ULA etc, but it also would be impressive.

Not aware of anything so detailed (and would be happy to read it!) though not saving on that just means that they managed to:

  • find savings elsewhere
  • hide actual saving source

There's also:

  • find an undisclosed source of income
  • keep raising money from investors as they burn through capital without any real profit

I guess that scam of that size would be also quite impressive, though fairly unlikely.

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