So I’ve heard and seen the newest launch, and I thought for a private firm it seemed cool they were able to do it on their own, but I’m scratching my head that people are gushing about this as some hail mary.

I get the engineering required is staggering when it comes to these rocket tests, but NASA and other big space agencies have already done rocket tests and exploring bits of the moon which still astounds me to this day.

Is it because it’s not a multi billion government institution? When I tell colleagues about NASA doing stuff like this yeaaaars ago they’re like “Yea yea but this is different it’s crazy bro”

Can anyone help me understand? Any SpaceX or Tesla fans here?

  • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    I thought it was the boosters that were in retrospect pointlessly refurbished and would have been cheaper to make new.

    Are you sure it was also the shuttle itself being cheaper to make new? The shuttle also took something like 6 months to refurb. Reusable, but not rapid.

    • weew@lemmy.ca
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      17 hours ago

      Not remake the entire shuttle, but to simply design a disposable rocket and build a hundred of those, instead of a space plane.