Let the Countdown Begin

They’re baacckkk!

Launch scrubbed due to weather...

The next launch attempt is slated for Saturday, May 30, at 3:22 p.m. ET.

I have been an enthusiastic follower of the space program since the late fifties but I am mystified by all of the hoopla over this launching. Its like it has never been done before , history in the making ect. We have been putting people into space since the sixties. Granted this is a private company in partnership with NASA, something new, but I still fail to see all of the excitement. Considering Russia has been sending people to the international space station with regularity with none of the grandstanding. Am I missing something here?

oilcan13

Yes, the return to manned space flight with American rockets...It’ll be the first time in nearly a decade that people have launched to orbit from American soil, and it’ll be the first time that a private vehicle takes them there....It's kind of a big deal, recovery of lost revenue and all...

Well call Me narrow minded but I still don't see it.

oilcan13

Well with low cost rocket launches, mining becomes a real possibility...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2019-10-22/want-to-be-a-trillionaire-try-space-mining-video

When we first launched into space, the technology, whether it be materials, electronics, process development, health, ect... basically leapfrogged.

and now that we’re returning to space, I see this happening again.

the only other time this happens is during the time of war. I think it’s great.

My thoughts...on a less esoteric approach, this launch brings the United States Space Program, and not just its Astronauts, back into relevance and a leadership role.

It's the return trip that I find more interesting.

They may find a couple of diamonds where the sun don't shine.

Space diamonds....

"FLOWN space diamonds!! ...If you have the provenance to back those up I'll give you a TWO million for the pair!!"

Hate being the negative Nancy here, that some member don’t take very well...

There is a drawback to space exploration that could bring space exploration to a halt. And that the Kessler Syndrome

One one hand, it’s create space exploration create new ideas, processes and materials, ect... but it also creates the debris In space with every launch where from earlier threads here on CR4 has been discussed where NASA tracks.

Time to scale up and get those lazy astronauts working on cleaning up the area around the ISS!