tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post5908967394544316726..comments2024-03-28T08:06:43.198-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: Techy Tuesday - Space Tourism Getting CloserSiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-49704302340274020282015-11-25T10:54:45.368-05:002015-11-25T10:54:45.368-05:00Please do note that DC-X flew back in the early 90...Please do note that DC-X flew back in the early 90s:<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_DC-X<br /><br />so neither Bezos nor Musk are stretching the envelope significantly with vertical landings. DC-X was far lower in the flight envelope than either of the rich boys' toys, being roughly the equivalent of an unmanned helicopter with limited range and no payload capability. But it also was 20 years ago, and was publicized widely enough that its methods should be readily available to anyone trying to do VTOL.<br /><br />Bezos is doing his thing out in the middle of nowhere, and there is very little risk to people if his toy fails spectacularly. Musk wants to fly his toy back to land, and Titusville residents ain't gonna be too happy if he drops it on their heads catastrophically. Musk has to work through the Eastern Test Range to make his flights, and Bezos probably has to play with the Western Test Range, because under international law the government of the country from which space vehicles launch is responsible for any problems which jeapordize people or property on the ground.<br /><br />I can prattle on longer if you want, but will stop here for now.Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-55595826394292286612015-11-25T10:38:00.581-05:002015-11-25T10:38:00.581-05:00There are things we can do and things we should do...There are things we can do and things we should do and the intersection of these things is a target rich environment. But private space travel is not in that intersection. I'm not even sure any space travel makes sense never mind private space tourism. One of those things that is outside that intersection is high speed trains. Some high speed trains make 'some' sense. But for the most part high speed trains are built to spread the wealth amongst favored groups (mostly unions) and have zero to do with either need or practicality. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-76255675278021097192015-11-25T00:06:49.901-05:002015-11-25T00:06:49.901-05:00Yeah, it's kind of an "apples-and-oranges...Yeah, it's kind of an "apples-and-oranges" thingf aint exactly easy to do, regardless of scale..<br /><br />The missions for the two boosters are entirely different, and the Falcon weighs considerably more.<br /><br />Still, Blue Origin deserves a hearty "Well Done", as this stufdrjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.com