Quote Originally Posted by Starlight View Post
Fucking NASA would have screwed it up.

The future of space is in the hands of private ventures now, fortunately. SpaceX's Falcon basically MOCKS NASA's efforts since they retired Saturn. The Falcon Heavy will launch 53k kg to LEO, for 1k/kg if they can meet a 4 launch/year schedule. And they plan more than double that. The Falcon9 rockets were developed to successful launch in 8 years from a startup, and are now supplying the ISS and launching satellites.

NASA is a big part of the problem, not the solution. (The Space Shuttle, on launch costs alone, is 50% more expensive than Saturn V and prevented the development of a decent heavy launch rocket...at least 6 replacement programs I can think of came and went! Heck, the last-gasp "Constellation" program was mostly mildly updated 1970's tech...I would NOT be shocked if NASA never developed their own launch platform again)

NASA's good at rovers and some groundside science research. They should stick to that.
I heard an interesting interview on NPR with the head of SpaceX. It's important to note that NASA has historically relied on private companies like Lockheed, etc. to provide significant expertise and manufacturing, so I'm guessing the NASA's failures cannot be pinned entirely on NASA alone. Also, NASA is providing substantial funding for SpaceX.

Oh, here we go

FLATOW: There has been a lot of fanfare about Dragon being the first private craft to make it to the space station. But in the history of space flight, aren't - doesn't NASA farm out all the rocket ships and things like that, anyhow? What makes this so different? I mean, you know, I'm thinking of Lockheed, Martin Marietta - all of these companies back in history of space travel. They were there. They built the stuff. What makes this different?

MOSKOWITZ: The distinction is a lot more subtle than a lot of people make it out to be. Basically, in the past, NASA would buy a rocket or a spacecraft from a company like Northrop Grumman.

FLATOW: Right.

MOSKOWITZ: Now, they buy services. The company retains ownership of the vehicle. So it's just almost the technicality, but it does have different repercussions for how much control NASA has.