I guess he is actually back in charge of his companies.
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Well, at least it was a private company rocket ship and not my tax dollars.... Right?
In total, $20.7 billion pleged/paid to SpaceX since 2008, $8.7 billion actually paid as of a few months ago, $3.4 awarded/pledged in just 2024.
Its funny, I remember being raised conservative and being taught that no one spends money as wisely as someone spending their own money.
Welp, thats out the fucking window for all subcontractors, as well as... just give poor/homeless/rent overburdened people money, and they'll help themselves far more efficiently than a giant bureacracy will.
I mean, yes. The advantage of fixed priced contracts over traditional cost plus contracts is that instead of Boeing twiddling their thumbs for three years wasting time trying to figure out why their original design is shit and having the government pay for it, space x is just out a rocket. Government gives 0 shits. I wonder if there penalties built in if it’s behind schedule
With a functioning federal government I would agree with you. But unfortunately they have an open checkbook right now, with no accountability or critical oversight.
I hate to be this guy, but this is just... not true. That's not how this works at all. How is the government giving SpaceX money outside of a contract? They aren't.
Everyone wants to find a reason to hate SpaceX because Musk, but the truth is SpaceX is a well-ran innovative company.
Besides the federal government trying to strong arm governments into purchasing star link?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/elon-musk-starlink-trump-tariffs/
SpaceX is a well-ran innovative company
their rocket just blew up
This is not evidence to the contrary, especially when the company is intentionally trying to find the limits on a development article.
Falcon 9 (the only rocket they actually sell launches on) is one of the most reliable launch vehicles in the world.
I mean you’re right in a sense, but usually when I iterate on a design it gets better not worse.
I think it's not fair to say that iteration doesn't ever include any steps back. Development isn't always straightforward and it doesn't always go perfectly.
Well, I did say usually. Regressions happen. I’m just being sarcastic because I don’t like Nazi-owned enterprises. /me shrugs
This is not evidence to the contrary
besides the whole rocket blowing up thing?
https://enginepatrol.com/two-gr-corollas-caught-fire-toyota-refuses-to-honor-the-warranties/
Here are two Toyota vehicles randomly bursting into flames. Toyota makes shitty cars (ranked 3rd most reliable by consumerreports.org, btw). https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/
It's a good thing those cars had working doors
repeating the same thing does not make your point stronger
Their unmanned test rocket just blew up. Boo hoo
This is actually a triumph for Musk. SpaceX has figured out how to blow up their rockets without all the cost and time required to prepare for a launch.
They are getting better at blowing rockets. The goal is a 24h turnaround, blow one rocket, bring a new one and blow it again in less than 24h
Maybe we can gaslight him into thinking he's the only one fit to pilot the Starship, making him insist on being aboard it for future tests.
I mean if he was piloting it, it wouldn’t have blown up! He’s the best and smartest person ever, all the best people are saying it. I think he should definitely pilot them all!
This only matters to me if he was in it at the time so I can organize a party.
Early analysis suggests that one of the high-pressure nitrogen gas tanks in the cargo bay ruptured. This would be unrelated to the rocketry aspects of Starship, those tanks are pretty plain vanilla technology and if this is actually what happened it's weird because those tanks are rated for way higher safety margins.
Why can’t he just blow up.
Thoughts and prayers... lol
Aw, it doesn’t actually call out Elmo in the headline. :(