As we write this, we hear that SpaceX’s first orbital flight of the Starship was not a total success. But not a failure (despite how some have claimed that it was). Good for them.
But the entire saga should remind us that government is incredibly bad, not just when it does bad things, but when it tries to do go things. Like promote space travel.
Courtesy of the social media group Aerospace Now:
SpaceX is not perfect. Its founder, owner, and actual manager is far, far from perfect. But compared to the FedGov? Really…
Yes, SpaceX is a government contractor. Just like Northrup-Grumman, Boeing, the United Space Alliance, and hundreds of other firms, present and past. All subject to the inanities of government regulations. Regulations implementing laws that supposedly prevent corruption, theft, and other dire things. But ultimately seem to just benefit corrupt bureaucrats, congresscritturs, and companies. Beltway bandits.
So is SpaceX different? Apparently. Like some government contractors, SpaceX appears to be at least honest enough to sell a service, to sell products, and not simply to rob the taxpayer. Even when having to work with the likes of NASA, DoW, and DOT, to name a few. In essence, with SpaceX, NASA is buying commercial – off the shelf, so to speak. And that is, we submit, far, far better than the usual government procurement process. Where hundreds or thousands of pages of specs, diagrams, instructions, orders, change orders, and more generate more spending, more money in the pockets of certain people for really accomplishing very little besides the inevitable paperwork.
But it doesn’t mean that the company is completely honest. It isn’t a very high standard to be more moral, more honest, than government. Of course, government is doing its best to corrupt not just SpaceX but every other company, from the local convenience store and pizza shop to any large firm that hasn’t succumbed to the temptations and wickedness of human government.
We still like to think that SpaceX is at least a tiny bit of fresh air.
What are your thoughts?
European nightfall?
Readers may recall the well-known science fiction story about a planet where, every few centuries, the multiple suns of its system all set and suddenly, the sky was dark and stars appeared. This event would trigger panic: people would start fires and do more to try and end the darkness. This would lead to mass insanity and the civilization would crash and burn.
Is that happening in Europe? This was a recent posting.
Reports are that French authorities have finally started to do something: enforcing curfews, using police and troops to at least drive the rioters and arsonists away from their haunts. But it may not do much to bring peace.
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