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Coveny
New Member
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - 02/09/2018 : 23:21:16
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I’ve always been a big fan of magnetic levitation trains in vacuum tubes like the Virgin hyperloop. This project is inspiring. It could bring the globe together and better the lives of everyone on the planet. The concept is from Musk and it’s awesome on many different levels, but he’s not backing that horse. He wants to go to space, but rather than working with the maglev technology of a Startram he’s trying to re-invent the wheel with fossil fuel based rockets. To add insult to injury for his first package into space he sent a Tesla as a publicity stunt. I share the sadness for the waste of an opportunity for research and advancement that this represents.
http://www.iflscience.com/space/not-everyone-is-happy-about-elon-musk-sending-his-car-into-space/
And it’s not like Musk isn’t renewable energy conscious. His solar collecting shingles are very nice, and pretty cool. Even if I’m his Powerwall is un-inspiring it’s at least an attempt to move away from fossil fuels.
Now I tried to think positively about this. I tried to convince myself that this is just advertising, and it’s working. I should admit that a lot of people are talking about it. I’ll also admit that as this was the maiden voyage so as Musk said, “there is a good chance this monster rocket blows up”, but the whole thing just seems like such a waste to me. He could have easily sent up expendable experiments, or I’m sure he could have gotten some investors to take a risk with a contingency that if the rocket blew up they wouldn’t have to pay for the trip, but if it was successful they had to pay him and he could have recouped some much-needed capital on his passion project.
I get the infatuation with space, but it just seems like to me that he’s throwing reason out the window in pursue of his dreams.
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2018 : 13:26:29 [Permalink]
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Sending a Tesla into space wasn’t such a dumb idea
The Symbolism of Elon Musk Sending a Car Into Space
Thing is, with only a 50/50 chance of the Heavy Falcon not blowing up, is the cost of a more science productive payload worth the risk? And let's face it. Even for a test flight a lot of science is happening, including the orbit of the Tesla that demonstrates a way to bring provisions and science back and forth from Mars, the landing of multiple first stages from the same flight and the size of the payload (weight) that can be delivered and sent off to other planets. I don't think Musk came anywhere close to sacrificing science for publicity in this launch considering that it did show what is possible. I guess I don't mind a bit of playfulness because it hopefully has a way of firing up people with the idea that manned spaceflight is both exciting and science worthy, which has been somewhat lost over the years.
I'm not sure why you think Musk has thrown the maglev technology and his involvement in it overboard for SpaceX. The fact is, SpaceX is already a going concern and so is Tesla. Musk has said that he will help work on the technology and also announced that he's back in the game. And you know... Musk is also an idea man. If other companies build on his concept, I see nothing wrong with that.
This is from February 2nd of this year. Everything you ever wanted to know about Elon Musk's fever-dream train-in-a-tube.
| Oh, and Elon Musk is back in the game. The hyperloop progenitor started by hosting a series of student engineering competitions, using a short length of tube he built at SpaceX’s headquarters. Then, last summer, he confirmed he wants to build a hyperloop of his own. His plans are particularly vague, but he thinks the tubular system would go great with the tunnels he wants to create using another new venture, the Boring Company. |
Given what this flight and what Musk has accomplished so far, I'd have to say it's nit-picking to complain about sending a Tesla into space. It made me happy to see "Don't Panic," a reference to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy" on the dashboard. I sincerely doubt that future missions will be as playful. But given the nature of this test flight, it felt a bit like the cherry on the cake.  |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2018 : 18:39:06 [Permalink]
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Rumor has it there was a copy of Hitchhiker's in the glove box. The whole Starman thing was also an homage to Heavy Metal.
I'm gonna give Coveny one more shot at posting something on this discussion forum that he sticks around and discusses. I'm getting sick of the drive-by ads-that-look-like-posts thing. |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2018 : 21:14:01 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
Rumor has it there was a copy of Hitchhiker's in the glove box. The whole Starman thing was also an homage to Heavy Metal.
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Really? I thought it was a reference to David Bowie's, Starman.
Huh. |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2018 : 22:26:45 [Permalink]
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| The name may have been for Bowie, but the image of a space-suited driver in a convertible? Straight outta Heavy Metal. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Malachi Hammer
New Member
4 Posts |
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My issue with Musk sending a Tesla into space
