I don't know what I'm more impressed with, the fact that we can remote pilot a helicopter drone on another planet or the fact that we filmed it at the same damn time.

I think our rate of progress is now starting to show that we could see a colony on Mars within our lifetime, albeit maybe a very small focused one. I think the real biggie is going to be not having to launch from Earth as it prohibits what we can achieve, once we can launch from space/low gravity it will open up so many possibilities. I'm hopeful my kids will see some incredible things happen in their lifetime.

That is the thing, I think it is more realistic that..


1. In our lifetime a small "we made it" team to mars MAY happen.
There is a show on Netflix called Away (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8787802/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2) Which is more a drama than Sci-Fi but a world further ahead of us in tech and getting to Mars for them is a nightmare and they have some made up tech to help with food, water etc which does not exist yet.


2. It is more realistic to set further space exploration where you, as you point out mate less hurdles so things like gravity. So setting up properly on the moon, building launch platforms on the moon and establishing there will be far better for further space exploration missions as well as everything else. This being at least under way with people staying there long term is more realistic.

Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 13, 2021, 09:10:22 AM

How far we have come. I mean, that almost looks like CGI. We're hopefully entering a new golden era for space exploration and I think expectations have been well and truly crushed, generally. This is about the best humanity can strive for right now, as it's all going pretty wrong on the surface.

I'm no Musk fanboy, but I'm certainly gaining a new level of respect for what he's achieving with SpaceX and Tesla.

The issue seems to be the flip maneuver, which may be a bit too difficult. Might be better to do it earlier and give the fuel/oxidiser a little longer to settle down.

And yes, if you were to take it as part of a sci-fi film or series you might consider it near impossible. CGI would be easy enough to do.

My issue with Musk isn't that he's doing all this but is he trying too hard, too fast? We have no idea of what effects low gravity will have on humans long term, or their offspring.

The flip maneuver is actually a success and that part has worked every time with the ailerons working perfectly. It is the engine combination and control setup because of the mass and roles of each engine getting to play nice which is the fundamental issue.


Musk is taking risks but making money. He is a bit odd but he is doing a lot of right things because he is making the tech and pushing it and trying to show value as soon as possible for investors initially. Keeping them confident of the pay of despite possible negative media coverage and hick ups and keep going forward as with Tesla.


While companies are doing their own battery tech, trying new tech Tesla is intending to lead the way, pushing prices down with gigafactories and eventually having other companies by batteries off them as well as making the cars.
Something that may or may not pan out with the charging stations having other companies pay to use those etc.


Getting in there first tends to pay off in most things if it is solid.


Mar's is a bit marketing thing and that may or may not happen but companies establishing stuff on the moon for mining or other operations is realistic (maybe not our lifetime) and being the company with the experience and reliability will be a big thing.

Trump again still calling it all rigged etc.
Is the grift still continuing?
He lost more legal battles and it was proven in court the recurring payments scam was just that and illegal and he has to pay like 170million back so surely not still grifting to continue the big lie?


If not then he really believes it was all rigged and that is very much  and then for so many Republicans still kissing his ass... 

Trump does not have to believe it, all he's doing is making a controversy and letting the Republican idiots run with it.

If they were really up to handling this I think that Trump would find a rope or gun at his home and kill himself. Everyone would feign sadness for a few minutes then get on with their lives.

Real problem with the USA is not Trump but the way the Republicans have dummed down their voters resulting in the hijacking of the Republican party and congress people.

Trump again still calling it all rigged etc.
Is the grift still continuing?
He lost more legal battles and it was proven in court the recurring payments scam was just that and illegal and he has to pay like 170million back so surely not still grifting to continue the big lie?


If not then he really believes it was all rigged and that is very much  and then for so many Republicans still kissing his ass...