Space Things

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

And it only took keeping the government from getting involved. Capitalism FTW?

It is all government funded...

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Spuds

It is all government funded...

I couldn't easily find a breakdown of capital investment, commercial revenue and government funding, but a cursory search implies the government funding is a small percentage of Space-X budget, certainly not enough to cover the R&D that brought them to where they are.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I couldn't easily find a breakdown of capital investment, commercial revenue and government funding, but a cursory search implies the government funding is a small percentage of Space-X budget, certainly not enough to cover the R&D that brought them to where they are.

Falcon 9 costs were paid by government (Wikipedia for ease of reference):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9_v1.0

Funding Edit
While SpaceX spent its own money to develop its first launch vehicle, the Falcon 1, the development of the Falcon 9 was accelerated by the purchase of several demonstration flights by NASA. This started with seed money from the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program in 2006.[12] SpaceX was selected from more than twenty companies that submitted COTS proposals.[13] Without the NASA money, development would have taken longer, Musk said.[2]

The development costs for Falcon 9 v1.0 were approximately US$300 million, and NASA verified those costs. If some of the Falcon 1 development costs were included, since F1 development did contribute to Falcon 9 to some extent, then the total might be considered as high as US$390 million.[14][2]

NASA also evaluated Falcon 9 development costs using the NASA‐Air Force Cost Model (NAFCOM)—a traditional cost-plus contract approach for US civilian and military space procurement—at US$$3.6 billion based on a NASA environment/culture, or US$$1.6 billion using a more commercial approach.[15][14]

I believe Dragon was also paid by NASA.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

And it only took keeping the government from getting involved. Capitalism FTW?

Yea, if we'd done that in the 60's we may have made it to Mars.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Falcon 9 costs were paid by government (Wikipedia for ease of reference):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9_v1.0

I believe Dragon was also paid by NASA.

It depends on how you look at it. NASA prepaid for flights, providing development funds, but it's not "owned" by NASA the way the previous programs have been. It more follows the military funding model where they are developed by private firms with government funding and guarantees.

Part of the cost is offset by private revenue potential and capital. That did not happen prior to this.

Starship is an example of this. Space-X undercut the other bidders by leveraging the potential commercial aspects of it to reduce the cost for the lander.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

It depends on how you look at it. NASA prepaid for flights, providing development funds, but it's not "owned" by NASA the way the previous programs have been. It more follows the military funding model where they are developed by private firms with government funding and guarantees.

Part of the cost is offset by private revenue potential and capital. That did not happen prior to this.

Starship is an example of this. Space-X undercut the other bidders by leveraging the potential commercial aspects of it to reduce the cost for the lander.

Oh I absolutely understand how it is different than, for example, space shuttle development, but it is still dependent on government investment. There is not yet enough demand to fund a lot of this stuff privately. The phrase "Private industry FTW" is definitely appropriate here, but "Capitalism FTW" seems like it is giving praise to the wrong concept in this particular case.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Falcon 9 costs were paid by government...
I believe Dragon was also paid by NASA.

Well, I stand corrected. Thanks for the refs!

Originally Posted by Spuds

The phrase "Private industry FTW" is definitely appropriate here, but "Capitalism FTW" seems like it is giving praise to the wrong concept in this particular case.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Amazing progress. Starting to feel good about the US space program again.

I'd feel better about it if Elon weren't so deep in the mix.

[x808drifter]

[Irace86.2.0]

[Irace86.2.0]

At a Flat Earther’s house...

“Hey Bobby, what you tink about dis der? You tink dez boyz got on em invisible wires or someting, or y’all tink dez boyz ar in one of doze big, free-fally-wally air planes da Deep State got fur dem fellas down at da N.A.S.A?”

“No, you moron! They are on the international space station, and there is no gravity in space you idiot!”

“But Bobby, why dat der man have a curved Earth behind him?”

“It is just CGI you idiot! Now leave me alone! I’m watching my soap operas!”

“But, but Bobby! The astrolots showed anothder picture of da Earth on da YouTube from da window on der station, an it wus curved too Bobby!”

“Oh shit! Now you made me miss Darla’s confession. It is just distortion from thick, curved glass. Don’t you know anything? Now shut up!”

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

A
“But, but Bobby! The astrolots showed anothder picture of da Earth on da YouTube from da window on der station, an it wus curved too Bobby!”

An object can be both flat and round... Just sayin'

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by nextcar

An object can be both flat and round... Just sayin'

Sounds like a Flat Earther type of comment.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

Sounds like a Flat Earther type of comment.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.