Catching a ride from space

[vetran]

I missed that bit. Reminds me of a girl I met at the CUK conference in Bridgewater Services, I think that was the line she used on me.

NLUK in drag again?

[jamesbrown]

I'd have loved to think it was my software controlling that rocket.

They'd never have you back after Ariane 5.

[woody1]

But in the last few years he's gone completely down the hard right-wing GOP rabbithole and shown a really unpleasant side. I genuinely think he has some serious mental health issues, which is concerning for someone in such a powerful position. YMMV.

Previously he'd been an Obama and Biden supporter.

Some say it was his son going trans which made him flip.

[Andy2022]

I don't disagree with that and I admire how he's developed Tesla and SpaceX, they're both quite remarkable.

Both subsidised with oodles of US tax payer money though

[DoctorStrangelove]

Both subsidised with oodles of US tax payer money though

Remarkably common with many of these self made billionaire bros.

[Snooky]

Remarkably common with many of these self made billionaire bros.

His family owned an emerald mine in South Africa. When he moved to the Canada and then the USA he had a generous income from his family as part of the wealth from those emeralds. Not to take away from his significant achievements, but it was hardly a rags-to-riches story. Same with Trump, except he managed to lose most of the many million dollars his father loaned him due to his poor business acumen.

[tazdevil]

Both subsidised with oodles of US tax payer money though

Yes but look at any booming economy and you'll find riches generated with generous subsidies. Take China where the State funds development until a company is successful. Then take us who've forgotten how to generate wealth since around the mid 20thC.

[edison]

I dislike Musk but can only marvel at the technical engineering feats with SpaceX. I have a cousin who works as an engineer on the Starship at SpaceX and it sounds amazing.

On the other hand, I think trying to establish a colony on Mars seems a folly at this point in human evolution.

Musk himself said he is only building the transport, someone else has to build a colony which he estimated could cost between $1-10 trillion.

[Zigenare]

I dislike Musk but can only marvel at the technical engineering feats with SpaceX. I have a cousin who works as an engineer on the Starship at SpaceX and it sounds amazing.

On the other hand, I think trying to establish a colony on Mars seems a folly at this point in human evolution.

Musk himself said he is only building the transport, someone else has to build a colony which he estimated could cost between $1-10 trillion.

Will it work out cheaper to send asylum seekers to Mars rather than Rwanda?

[edison]

Will it work out cheaper to send asylum seekers to Mars rather than Rwanda?

I don't know if sending asylum seekers to Mars rather than Rwanda would work out cheaper.

At the very least, I'd hope there was no British involvement in building any Mars infrastructure as we can't even build an airport runway or a train line on earth. Might have to send some Bulgarian builders and Polish plumbers first.