@onlylemons.bsky.social
Well, they have nukes now (and regularly threaten us and their neighbors), so we know what _didn't_ work. If we're serious about stopping Iran from ending up just like that, it's probably a good idea to avoid following the same strategy.
June 23, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Well, they have nukes now (and regularly threaten us and their neighbors), so we know what _didn't_ work. If we're serious about stopping Iran from ending up just like that, it's probably a good idea to avoid following the same strategy.
Bill Clinton was preparing strikes on North Korea, but then Jimmy Carter got involved and led talks with the North Korean regime (stopping any strikes from going forward). Unfortunately, diplomacy alone doesn't seem to stop these countries from getting nuclear weapons.
June 22, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Bill Clinton was preparing strikes on North Korea, but then Jimmy Carter got involved and led talks with the North Korean regime (stopping any strikes from going forward). Unfortunately, diplomacy alone doesn't seem to stop these countries from getting nuclear weapons.
So I'll toss in the typical disclaimer that I don't support murder, but there's a recent pattern where the greediest, most evil people on the planet not only never see justice for the horrible things they do, but they're actually rewarded. Many of us are tired of the injustice.
December 9, 2024 at 9:32 PM
So I'll toss in the typical disclaimer that I don't support murder, but there's a recent pattern where the greediest, most evil people on the planet not only never see justice for the horrible things they do, but they're actually rewarded. Many of us are tired of the injustice.
I strongly support Ukraine and want to continue seeing updates about it, but I can't look at even one more image of that criminal orange pig. Not one.
December 9, 2024 at 9:29 PM
I strongly support Ukraine and want to continue seeing updates about it, but I can't look at even one more image of that criminal orange pig. Not one.
There's no such thing as a temporary territorial loss. If Ukraine can't take their land back, they'll never get it back.
December 2, 2024 at 10:48 AM
There's no such thing as a temporary territorial loss. If Ukraine can't take their land back, they'll never get it back.
I think $10 million per launch is aspirational and based on the assumptions that no major refurb is needed between flights and that a huge number of vehicles will be built. Starship's supposed to be fully reusable, though - this is supposedly what will keep the cost low.
November 20, 2024 at 4:09 AM
I think $10 million per launch is aspirational and based on the assumptions that no major refurb is needed between flights and that a huge number of vehicles will be built. Starship's supposed to be fully reusable, though - this is supposedly what will keep the cost low.
As far as I know, the only government contracts associated with this launch system (so far) involve development of the HLS for Artemis moon landings. Most of the funding was private (one of the reasons SpaceX created Starlink was so the profits could fund this).
November 20, 2024 at 3:58 AM
As far as I know, the only government contracts associated with this launch system (so far) involve development of the HLS for Artemis moon landings. Most of the funding was private (one of the reasons SpaceX created Starlink was so the profits could fund this).
Again, the only time this relates to taxpayers is when it's being used to launch gov't payloads. Also, do you know how much super heavy lift launches cost in the past? Even if these launches ended up being $50-100 million each, this is still a lot lower than the billions an SLS launch would cost.
November 20, 2024 at 3:48 AM
Again, the only time this relates to taxpayers is when it's being used to launch gov't payloads. Also, do you know how much super heavy lift launches cost in the past? Even if these launches ended up being $50-100 million each, this is still a lot lower than the billions an SLS launch would cost.
Nearly all of the fuel (and oxidizer) has already been used by the time of touchdown.
November 20, 2024 at 3:34 AM
Nearly all of the fuel (and oxidizer) has already been used by the time of touchdown.
FAA, not FCC.
November 20, 2024 at 3:11 AM
FAA, not FCC.
Yeah, but now the Rs will take credit for an objectively good economy. Inflation's already come down to below 3%, so they'll take credit for that too.
November 20, 2024 at 2:00 AM
Yeah, but now the Rs will take credit for an objectively good economy. Inflation's already come down to below 3%, so they'll take credit for that too.
SLS, and all other space tech, is currently built by private contractors (like Boeing).
November 20, 2024 at 1:18 AM
SLS, and all other space tech, is currently built by private contractors (like Boeing).
There are many reasons why catch requirements might not be met. Could be something as simple as it being too windy at the tower.
November 20, 2024 at 1:09 AM
There are many reasons why catch requirements might not be met. Could be something as simple as it being too windy at the tower.
I know he did, and it pisses me off that he did, but it's still kind of shitty seeing a lot of people cheer for tech failures and dismissing the accomplishments of an entire spaceflight company (which are real, and, if we're being honest, pretty cutting edge) because the CEO's a prick.
November 20, 2024 at 1:07 AM
I know he did, and it pisses me off that he did, but it's still kind of shitty seeing a lot of people cheer for tech failures and dismissing the accomplishments of an entire spaceflight company (which are real, and, if we're being honest, pretty cutting edge) because the CEO's a prick.
FCC approved the flight plan, including water touchdown in the event that catch requirements (meant to protect the public) aren't all met. The Starship is a stainless steel vehicle containing methane and oxygen as fuel/oxidizer, so there isn't much of an environmental impact here.
November 20, 2024 at 12:59 AM
FCC approved the flight plan, including water touchdown in the event that catch requirements (meant to protect the public) aren't all met. The Starship is a stainless steel vehicle containing methane and oxygen as fuel/oxidizer, so there isn't much of an environmental impact here.
These Starships are (for the time being) experimental vehicles doing test flights -- not full production vehicles delivering payloads. They're much cheaper than traditional launches and aren't funded by government or taxpayers.
November 20, 2024 at 12:57 AM
These Starships are (for the time being) experimental vehicles doing test flights -- not full production vehicles delivering payloads. They're much cheaper than traditional launches and aren't funded by government or taxpayers.
As the first stage descends, they check against a list of catch requirements (which are extensive for public safety); if they don't all pass, they divert to offshore ocean splashdown. No comment on the last part. I'm an engineer myself (not for SpaceX) and I hate that this is being politicized.
November 20, 2024 at 12:53 AM
As the first stage descends, they check against a list of catch requirements (which are extensive for public safety); if they don't all pass, they divert to offshore ocean splashdown. No comment on the last part. I'm an engineer myself (not for SpaceX) and I hate that this is being politicized.
I'm no fan of Elon as a person, but NASA rockets are built by other defense contractors (Boeing) and are more conservative in their technologies (they never try to propulsively land or reuse their rockets). SpaceX's been enormously successful in advancing space tech and bringing down launch costs.
November 20, 2024 at 12:47 AM
I'm no fan of Elon as a person, but NASA rockets are built by other defense contractors (Boeing) and are more conservative in their technologies (they never try to propulsively land or reuse their rockets). SpaceX's been enormously successful in advancing space tech and bringing down launch costs.
This isn't Starship and the Starship test flight today wasn't a failure. I'm as anti-Trump as they come (and can't stand Elon), but we should try to be correct in what we say and shouldn't root against progress of spaceflight technology.
November 20, 2024 at 12:42 AM
This isn't Starship and the Starship test flight today wasn't a failure. I'm as anti-Trump as they come (and can't stand Elon), but we should try to be correct in what we say and shouldn't root against progress of spaceflight technology.
The first stage landed off the coast of FL; second stage landed in the Indian Ocean.
November 20, 2024 at 12:39 AM
The first stage landed off the coast of FL; second stage landed in the Indian Ocean.
They determined during descent that catch requirements weren't going to be met, so they did a water landing instead (which always explode because the rocket topples over in the water). I can't stand Musk, but we shouldn't be rooting for failure here.
November 20, 2024 at 12:38 AM
They determined during descent that catch requirements weren't going to be met, so they did a water landing instead (which always explode because the rocket topples over in the water). I can't stand Musk, but we shouldn't be rooting for failure here.