11–20 of 183 posts
I think the new, smaller BFR is still too big. It seems to me like a rocket about the size of the New Glenn [1] would more sense. But then I'm not a rocket scientist. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Glenn
Who cares if Musk's predictions are realistic? He is doing us all a tremendous service by keeping Mars in the public conversation.
Sending humans to Mars seems less attractive to me than sending robots to Ceres. Is there an argument for Mars that doesn't include the phrase "multi-planet species"?
Sending humans to Mars seems less attractive to me than sending robots to Ceres. Is there an argument for Mars that doesn't include the phrase "multi-planet species"?
And in the case that "multi-planet species" is the goal, is there a better target? I'm not aware of one.
Sending humans to Mars seems less attractive to me than sending robots to Ceres. Is there an argument for Mars that doesn't include the phrase "multi-planet species"?
* Human capability >> robotic capability
* Mars as a very long term "Backup Earth"
* If you can go to Mars with humans you can go to the Moon with humans as well.
* Human capable systems can also carry robots, the reverse is not always true.
Last year, it was the Interplanetary Transport System, but now Musk has regressed to using the original, cheeky "code name" BFR, in which the B stands for big, the R stands for rocket, and the F stands for fun. (Not really). I'm always astounded that apparently we still can't say fuck lest some bogeyman (real or imaginary) jump out and make you regret it. It's a fucking word. For fuck's sake. I mean, at the point whe…
Is this an American cultural thing, or are other cultures just as averse to public swearing?
So for the most part I would say "either swear or don't", but if you are going to play that game, you need to be better at it, and call it something like "a big functional rocket" or "a big futuristic rocket", which is plausible, and then remain completely straight-faced, forever, never admitting in public or private there could be any other meaning for the acronym, ever. Leave historians a hundred years from now guessing.
"Wink wink, I'm not cussing!!!" is just another version of "I'm not touching you!!!".
Last year, it was the Interplanetary Transport System, but now Musk has regressed to using the original, cheeky "code name" BFR, in which the B stands for big, the R stands for rocket, and the F stands for fun. (Not really). I'm always astounded that apparently we still can't say fuck lest some bogeyman (real or imaginary) jump out and make you regret it. It's a fucking word. For fuck's sake. I mean, at the point whe…
Is this an American cultural thing, or are other cultures just as averse to public swearing?
Last year, it was the Interplanetary Transport System, but now Musk has regressed to using the original, cheeky "code name" BFR, in which the B stands for big, the R stands for rocket, and the F stands for fun. (Not really). I'm always astounded that apparently we still can't say fuck lest some bogeyman (real or imaginary) jump out and make you regret it. It's a fucking word. For fuck's sake. I mean, at the point whe…
Is this an American cultural thing, or are other cultures just as averse to public swearing?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is this an American cultural thing, or are other cultures just as averse to public swearing?
It's not particularly more professional to cheekily use an obvious substitute in place of 'fucking', either. If you are saying "big ... fun ... rocket" or "big freakin' rocket" anyone over the age of 6 will know what you are doing and, if they are inclined to feel uncomfortable or offended, will still be so. So for the most part I would say "either swear or don't", but if you are going to play that game, you need to…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is this an American cultural thing, or are other cultures just as averse to public swearing?
It's not particularly more professional to cheekily use an obvious substitute in place of 'fucking', either. If you are saying "big ... fun ... rocket" or "big freakin' rocket" anyone over the age of 6 will know what you are doing and, if they are inclined to feel uncomfortable or offended, will still be so. So for the most part I would say "either swear or don't", but if you are going to play that game, you need to…