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#80
by
jsgirald
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:04
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No mention of a crew, only 2 passengers?
People, who are going to spend so much money, are probaly ready to learn to push the abort button in case...
But think of a solvable problem, not nearly Apollo 13 leves of bad, wouldn't they like to have a pro who knows what to do and stay calm?
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#81
by
HighlandRay
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:05
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I love the name MoonDragon. His is what we have all been waiting for and more than justifies the funding of commercial flights to ISS. Well done Elon and all at SpaceX
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#82
by
Star One
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:05
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I'm somehow glum about this announcement. I mean, it's great that this move is happening - that the technology and processes will be developed to further humanity into space. But at the same time - to have that first great leap in 50 year go to ... tourists!?. This hurts and makes me a bit angry. People with extreme amounts of money are yet again able to buy their way though life. I would have been happier if the announcement read: "Wealthy private individuals donate significant money to SpaceX to train and launch two engineering citizen scientists on a free return orbit of the moon. The two future private astronauts will be chosen based on merit, education, and their ability to stimulate and captivate the future generation of space explorer..." (you get the idea).
Am I alone in this?
Would you rather have these wealthy individuals spend their money on overpriced wines, cars, and yachts? They are investing it in SpaceX instead, a company that will bring us to Mars one day!
Absolutely spot on. Better they drive space exploration that other less palatable options.
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#83
by
JamesH65
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:05
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I'm somehow glum about this announcement. I mean, it's great that this move is happening - that the technology and processes will be developed to further humanity into space. But at the same time - to have that first great leap in 50 year go to ... tourists!?. This hurts and makes me a bit angry. People with extreme amounts of money are yet again able to buy their way though life. I would have been happier if the announcement read: "Wealthy private individuals donate significant money to SpaceX to train and launch two engineering citizen scientists on a free return orbit of the moon. The two future private astronauts will be chosen based on merit, education, and their ability to stimulate and captivate the future generation of space explorer..." (you get the idea).
Am I alone in this?
If I had enough money to do this, would I spend it on someone else doing it?
No, no I wouldn't. I'd damn well go myself. If you have money, why can't you spend it on yourself?
On the even brighter side, this will fund a huge amount of development that previous SpaceX would have to fund themselves.
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#84
by
Jarnis
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:06
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No mention of a crew, only 2 passengers?
Autopilot is the crew
Dragon 2 is designed to be fully automatic anyway. Just self-loading cargo.
Now obviously whoever is paying for the trip gets trained for all foreseeable emergencies, just like astronauts would be, but during nominal mission they would not need to do anything except observe.
Respect to whoever is forking out quite the sum for a seat on this historic adventure.
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#85
by
Orbiter
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:06
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SpaceX's entire paradigm is to bring paying customers to Mars in the thousands, so I'm not sure why one would be glum at the prospect of paying customers going to the Moon.
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#86
by
jpo234
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:06
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No mention of a crew, only 2 passengers?
From SpaceX news post:
"Other flight teams have also expressed strong interest and we expect more to follow. Additional information will be released about the flight teams, contingent upon their approval and confirmation of the health and fitness test results."
Suggests to me that the other seats are for sale, but the existing two are willing to pay for the whole show themselves if nobody else steps up.
Surely this refers to a different flight. They can't stuff more than 3 people into a dragon for a full week.
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#87
by
georgegassaway
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:07
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Is it certain that the existing Dragon heat shield can withstand the faster re-entry from returning back from the moon?
I was wondering about a retro-burn shortly before re-entry to reduce velocity a bit, but have no idea if there would likely be enough fuel left (If needed, if the current heat shield is only good for LEO re-entry velocities).
Side note, please be careful about political garbage, I could see that get out of hand real quick.
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#88
by
Rocket Science
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:07
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So, coincidence that just when Trump seems to start pushing NASA to go for the moon first, Elon might beat them too it...?!
What are the odds that Trumps want to own that show and demands NASA to either get there first or put NASA astronauts in the MoonDragon?
Not going to happen, he could care less... However; he'll still take credit for it when it happens during his term knowing him...
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#89
by
Star One
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:07
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I love the name MoonDragon. His is what we have all been waiting for and more than justifies the funding of commercial flights to ISS. Well done Elon and all at SpaceX
Doesn't that name infringe a Marvel copyrighted character.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moondragon
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#90
by
gospacex
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:07
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I'm somehow glum about this announcement. I mean, it's great that this move is happening - that the technology and processes will be developed to further humanity into space. But at the same time - to have that first great leap in 50 year go to ... tourists!?.
The problem with it is ... ?
This hurts and makes me a bit angry. People with extreme amounts of money are yet again able to buy their way though life.
I am angry when, say, rich people manage to circumvent the law with their money. Here, I don't see a slightest problem: they spend their money for a fleeting moment of fame - and to help SpaceX finance R&D. Fine with me.
I would have been happier if the announcement read: "Wealthy private individuals donate significant money to SpaceX to train and launch two engineering citizen scientists on a free return orbit of the moon. The two future private astronauts will be chosen based on merit, education, and their ability to stimulate and captivate the future generation of space explorer..." (you get the idea).
You are free to become a billionaire and then do that.
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#91
by
Jeff Lerner
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:07
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No mention of a crew, only 2 passengers?
No crew. Just the passengers.
Goes to show you how completely automated SpaceX D2 will be.....No "pilot" needed..even to a trip around the moon !!
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#92
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:08
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Great to see that we have gotten to a point that someone can buy a seat past the moon "off the shelf" (congratulations to both SpaceX and NASAcommercial cargo/crew for creating a new market!)
That being said, will definitely be delayed into 2019, and 2020 and even -21 aren't beyond the scope of delay (this is SpaceX after all)
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#93
by
Welsh Dragon
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:08
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Is it certain that the existing Dragon heat shield can withstand the faster re-entry from returning back from the moon?
I was wondering about a retro-burn shortly before re-entry to reduce velocity a bit, but have no idea if there would likely be enough fuel left (If needed, if the current heat shield is only good for LEO re-entry velocities)
Dragon heatshield has always been said to be ok for BEO. And that's current Dragon.
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#94
by
Oli
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:09
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Great news! SpaceX finally getting into space tourism. Why did they not talk about this earlier? I hope there will be more customers in the future.
2018 sounds super optimistic to me though as usual. First the FH and Dragon 2 must prove themselves before flying tourists around the Moon. Unless this is meant to be a political statement...
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#95
by
Jakusb
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:09
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I love the name MoonDragon. His is what we have all been waiting for and more than justifies the funding of commercial flights to ISS. Well done Elon and all at SpaceX
Doesn't that name infringe a Marvel copyrighted character.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moondragon
Play it smart and both companies might love the usage.
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#96
by
jpo234
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:09
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No mention of a crew, only 2 passengers?
People, who are going to spend so much money, are probaly ready to learn to push the abort button in case...
But think of a solvable problem, not nearly Apollo 13 leves of bad, wouldn't they like to have a pro who knows what to do and stay calm?
Once the dragon is underway, there is little that can be done. There is no engine to do fancy maneuvers.
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#97
by
Rocket Science
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:11
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Those that aren't happy, just think of how many SpaceX lunar missions could have been funded with what has been already spent on CxP/SLS/Orion thus far... The waste...
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#98
by
envy887
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:12
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I'm somehow glum about this announcement. I mean, it's great that this move is happening - that the technology and processes will be developed to further humanity into space. But at the same time - to have that first great leap in 50 year go to ... tourists!?. This hurts and makes me a bit angry. People with extreme amounts of money are yet again able to buy their way though life. I would have been happier if the announcement read: "Wealthy private individuals donate significant money to SpaceX to train and launch two engineering citizen scientists on a free return orbit of the moon. The two future private astronauts will be chosen based on merit, education, and their ability to stimulate and captivate the future generation of space explorer..." (you get the idea).
Am I alone in this?
If NASA wants to send scientists of Dragon 2, they can:
"If NASA decides they want to do the first lunar orbit mission, obviously we would give them priority," Musk said.
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#99
by
gospacex
on 27 Feb, 2017 21:13
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Those that aren't happy, just think of how many SpaceX lunar missions could have been funded with what has been already spent on CxP/SLS/Orion thus far... The waste...
Some $20B and counting?
