Big plans for SpaceX

[Chris Bergin]

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1

[FransonUK]

That was a good read. Well he seems to have the money, so what he wants to do is just down to integration and succesful flights.

Are we seeing two good private sections here? Elon and SpaceX with the payload opportunities and Rutan with the passenger opportunities?

[Chris SF]

But isn't he aiming big too soon. He's got to get Falcon 1 up first and then expand from there. Walking before you can run.

[Sergi Manstov]

He has long term ideas, but I would comment he needs to focus on the short term goals.

[tommy]

I like his style all the same, he needs to talk big to keep people interested.

[braddock]

More importantly, Elon needs to talk real big right now if he hopes to block the formation of the ULA and the new exclusive Air Force launch contract policies.  I think it's kind of a shame, since he is starting to come across as cocky.  But obviously he has his supporters in the government who right now are fighting on his behalf against the ULA and the new contracting policies, so I think he has to talk the talk to make himself seem viable even if he isn't quite walking yet.

That said, you can't say a company founded with the mission to colonize mars isn't just a little ambitious...

The Federal Trade Commission ruling on the ULA might be due this week.  SpaceX successfully delayed it by filing the lawsuit last month.

-braddock

[Sergi Manstov]

What happens if SpaceX lose the lawsuit?

[Justin Space]

What lawsuit, can someone link me up as I don't know about that?

[CuddlyRocket]

Sergi Manstov - 15/11/2005  11:22 AM

He has long term ideas, but I would comment he needs to focus on the short term goals.

I agree. He has yet to get a rocket off the ground. A successful flight is more convincing than even the most well-founded plans. Hard data trumps assertion every time.

[SRBseparama]

That's my feeling too. It's all very good saying what you want to do, but until you're proven it doesn't mean too much.

[Bruce H]

Even when Falcon 1 does have a succesful flight he has a long long way to go to build on that. Building bigger rockets have extra complications and it'll only get tougher.

[Avron]

SRBseparama - 15/11/2005  6:23 PM

That's my feeling too. It's all very good saying what you want to do, but until you're proven it doesn't mean too much.

Ditto... but then again they do have to look for investment capital, so a little vaporware (hardware in this case) is a good start.. all part of a marketing campain.

[realtime]

He'd better not lay it on too thick, or he'll cross that fine line between "confident" and "cuckoo".

[rubicondsrv]

my biggest fear about spacex is if they have a launch failure and lose financial backing like conestoga did.

[publiusr]

He just needs to get some of that Dubai/Brunei oil money somehow.

I never did understand the Palm Island/World tsunami bait.