The war of words continues...Can you spot at least four things wrong with the following sentence (from an <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-25/what-spacex-can-teach-us-about-cost-innovation.html> article "about" SpaceX[/url]):"Another similar space venture is still using fuel-inefficient surplus Russian rocket engines built in the 1960's that cost more to run and maintain over time. Due to their finite number, the company has a limited future unless like SpaceX it develops its own engine."I find the date the article was issued (April 25) interesting...
Quote from: antonioe on 05/08/2013 02:43 pmThe war of words continues...Can you spot at least four things wrong with the following sentence (from an <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-25/what-spacex-can-teach-us-about-cost-innovation.html> article "about" SpaceX[/url]):"Another similar space venture is still using fuel-inefficient surplus Russian rocket engines built in the 1960's that cost more to run and maintain over time. Due to their finite number, the company has a limited future unless like SpaceX it develops its own engine."I find the date the article was issued (April 25) interesting...OK, I'll bite:1. Fuel ineffcient??2. Cost more to run??3. Finite number?? Umm, yes, until more are built...just like Merlins are finite in number...until more are built...4. Limited future unless own engine developed??Ah, the indignities.
3. I think the point is that no more are being built. No more have been built in nearly 40 years, which means the production line has to be created nearly from scratch, which is going to be a capital intensive process. Although IIRC either Aerojet or Orbital has a license to build NK-33's AJ-26's in the US.And one you missed: NK-33 were built in the 1970's.
Quote from: antonioe on 05/08/2013 02:43 pmThe war of words continues...Can you spot at least four things wrong with the following sentence (from an <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-25/what-spacex-can-teach-us-about-cost-innovation.html> article "about" SpaceX[/url]):"Another similar space venture is still using fuel-inefficient surplus Russian rocket engines built in the 1960's that cost more to run and maintain over time. Due to their finite number, the company has a limited future unless like SpaceX it develops its own engine."I find the date the article was issued (April 25) interesting...So much wrong there. The author, like so many, wants to write an Antares versus Falcon 9 fight to the death kind of story. But there is no story. Antares is in its own class. SpaceX has decided to battle United Launch Alliance. That's the story, but for some reason it seems so much less interesting. - Ed Kyle
Well, Luker Steve one error is they have not won, but are still winning
I usually don't respond to Elon's jabs, but that one just left me out of breath... the part that hurt me the most was the implication "Another similar space venture [Orbital, I guess - who else?] ... the company has a limited future unless like SpaceX it develops its own engine."*SIGH*... the company, not the rocket...Now, I don't think Mr. Agan came up with that one by himself. But why? Why is it necessary to sling mud at others to succeed in business?The whole thing reminds me of Salvor Hardin's favorite maxim...
I usually don't respond to Elon's jabs, but that one just left me out of breath... the part that hurt me the most was the implication "Another similar space venture [Orbital, I guess - who else?] ... the company has a limited future unless like SpaceX it develops its own engine."
"a incorrect in forestry"?
I'm sorry - you're right. I apologize. As a matter of fact, I saw Gwynne last night at the AIAA fellows dinner (she was just elected a fellow) and got up to her "gauntlet" (a long-standing tradition at the AIAA fellows dinner is an "attack" of each newly elected fellow by his/her friends and supporters as they come down from the stage after receiving the award - hence the "gauntlet")
Elon makes a much bigger deal about the Merlin's T/W than is justified IMHO. The reporter's mistaken fuel efficiency claim sounds like a distorted version of Merlin's record T/W, so Elon is in part responsible for that mistake.