14 thoughts on “Elon’s Presentation On Mars Plans”
It is missing a part that I consider crucial. Put a constellation of Starlink satellites in Martian orbit to provide global navigation and communication before trying to establish residence on the planet.
Now that Musk has taken a step back from trying to save the country, will SpaceX progress as fast as people predicted when they complained about him trying to save the country?
I strongly suspect the answer to your question is ‘yes.’ Not that SpaceX wasn’t progressing while Elon was (mostly) gone. And not that DOGE won’t be doing the same in his absence now that it’s a going concern. Elon has said he still intends to look in on DC from time to time. Good, say I.
Perhaps… Keeping the SpaceX development team motivated and moving in the same direction must be like herding cats. The personal touch and most importantly “being there” instead of playing at being a political figure can only help from a leadership view point — “Follow Me! instead of “Follow orders!”, as it were.
The dangerous implication is that without Musk, SpaceX will turn into just another pointless Americo-Marxist organization. He’s in his 50s and fat, with another 15 years of productive life at best.
Would Isaacman – or any other nominee – made much difference regarding the NASA budget cuts? I don’t think so. The administrator can certainly lobby – push for fave projects and money.
But the NASA budget is in Congressional hands now. Not sure whether Isaacman (or anyone else) will matter much at this point.
You are probably right, but I was looking at it as Isaacman being the only person that could maybe save NASA from itself. Perhaps we will be surprised who Trump is able to find to put in charge, but at this point, I think there is nothing to save.
I was at a dinner party last night chatting with a person, who had run his own machine shop. The topic of NASA came up, and he asked, “has NASA done anything recently?” It hasn’t, not in terms of human spaceflight. To the extent it has, it is because SpaceX provides it with a capability to keep ISS resupplied with cargo and humans. Without Musk, who most NASA employees I know loath online, ISS would already be in the Indian Ocean.
Isaacman could have spent the next few years arguing with Congress and the unions but he will have to settle for being a billionaire who flies jets and spacecraft,
It is missing a part that I consider crucial. Put a constellation of Starlink satellites in Martian orbit to provide global navigation and communication before trying to establish residence on the planet.
There was mention of putting Starlinks in Martian orbit, iirc.
However, did you catch the bit about how big the next starlinks will be?
Wasn’t much in it but interesting nonetheless.
Now that Musk has taken a step back from trying to save the country, will SpaceX progress as fast as people predicted when they complained about him trying to save the country?
I strongly suspect the answer to your question is ‘yes.’ Not that SpaceX wasn’t progressing while Elon was (mostly) gone. And not that DOGE won’t be doing the same in his absence now that it’s a going concern. Elon has said he still intends to look in on DC from time to time. Good, say I.
Perhaps… Keeping the SpaceX development team motivated and moving in the same direction must be like herding cats. The personal touch and most importantly “being there” instead of playing at being a political figure can only help from a leadership view point — “Follow Me! instead of “Follow orders!”, as it were.
The dangerous implication is that without Musk, SpaceX will turn into just another pointless Americo-Marxist organization. He’s in his 50s and fat, with another 15 years of productive life at best.
Isaacman’s nomination was pulled. He’s out.
Who will the next nominee be?
There’s no way to tell because Fox News doesn’t have a dedicated space reporter.
William Shatner?
Unbelievable. Sabotage.
Would Isaacman – or any other nominee – made much difference regarding the NASA budget cuts? I don’t think so. The administrator can certainly lobby – push for fave projects and money.
But the NASA budget is in Congressional hands now. Not sure whether Isaacman (or anyone else) will matter much at this point.
You are probably right, but I was looking at it as Isaacman being the only person that could maybe save NASA from itself. Perhaps we will be surprised who Trump is able to find to put in charge, but at this point, I think there is nothing to save.
I was at a dinner party last night chatting with a person, who had run his own machine shop. The topic of NASA came up, and he asked, “has NASA done anything recently?” It hasn’t, not in terms of human spaceflight. To the extent it has, it is because SpaceX provides it with a capability to keep ISS resupplied with cargo and humans. Without Musk, who most NASA employees I know loath online, ISS would already be in the Indian Ocean.
“Approximately 53% of NASA’s workforce is in a bargaining unit that is represented by a labor union.”
https://www.nasa.gov/careers/nasa-unions-bargaining-units/#:~:text=Unions%20at%20NASA,of%20Government%20Employees%20(AFGE).
Isaacman could have spent the next few years arguing with Congress and the unions but he will have to settle for being a billionaire who flies jets and spacecraft,