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Starbase, LA

spacex.com

161–170 of 641 posts

Re: Starbase, LA

#161
post #34

It’s easy to be pessimistic about Musk timelines/ big tech but I am thrilled that ambitious, real world, hard projects are happening in the US again.

I love that people see a website about one of musk’s ideas and go “wow this is real and happening” in the year of our lord 2026

These comments are so strange, because you’re demonstrating how far your head is in the sand, willfully.

Of course Musk talks big. He is almost always late. Lots of things have never happened, or have not yet worked (but they’re still trying)

At the same time he has monumental successes that nobody, ever, has achieved. Worlds safest car (multiple times) worlds highest selling car (model y), car of the year, massive factories building at a speed and quality that made Toyotas CEO say they’re in trouble and have a lot to improve.

The whole supercharger network that smashes every other one.

World’s first reusable rocket, done it 300 times now. Only two others have done it once. By far, by far more launches than every country and company in the world put together. Starship coming along.

To say that he never does anything is a very, very strange set of blinders to view the world through

Re: Starbase, LA

#162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

somewhat topical video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3dSjY4j7Ak tl;dw -- louisiana has a ton of natural resources and wonderful harbors, but has allowed corporations to get away with almost anything without paying their fair share of taxes, cleaning up their waste, or generally being held accountable. And likely related, there is a long history of rampant corruption in the area. With sea levels rising and cancero…

I haven't had time to watch the video but my understanding was a lot of the Louisiana coast have big problems with rising sea levels and much of it in the process of falling underwater. Perhaps it's relatively trivial to reinforce the coast for the forseeable I don't know. The plans for the site involve extracting significant amounts of natural gas to make methane to burn for the rocket fuel. If they hit the launch l…

They're also the folks working on the largest co2 -> methane converters in the world. Because that's how they'll need to make fuel on Mars, and no one else on earth wants to fund an expensive technology to replace an inexpensive gas pumped from the ground. By definition, these reactors will have to be capable of producing enough fuel for a rocket in order to be fit for purpose. That opens the door for carbon neutral operation. It's tough to imagine a greener rocket than a fully reusable one that's carbon neutral running on methane. Sure beats spewing hypergolics or solid rocket fuels.

Re: Starbase, LA

#163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Space data centers still make absolutely no sense.

When nobody lets you build a land data center they're going to make a lot of sense.

The cost of getting them there will be absurd and even if someone was willing to fund it, where do you put the heat they will generate?

Re: Starbase, LA

#164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of good, hard working people in that area that would love to have these jobs open up.

What are the chances they'll employ cheap labor they can just use as election fodder for stealing hard-working american jobs? Either that or pay decent wages for American workers that'll drive up construction prices and worsen the inflation which is already crazy due to these criminal tariffs.

ITAR requires them to employ US citizens.

Re: Starbase, LA

#166
post #2

Man if this actually starts to happen it's a good time to be a welder, concrete worker, or any general contractor or tradesman in Louisiana. Coastal Louisiana is some of the poorest areas in the US even more so than the valley in Texas where Starbase Texas is located. Probably 10-20 years worth of solid work building out that site.

I live around a lot of those people in SW Ohio who find themselves traveling to states like Louisiana for welding, electrical and general contracting work because the expertise isnt there. I have to imagine much of the same will happen and if anything they might reap rewards following construction. Regardless I would assume little to no relevant expertise exists there at the moment.

Re: Starbase, LA

#167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

This sums up my and many others timeline of his understanding of engineering diciplines: https://mastodon.social/@rodhilton/109572674700288958

Posts like this is why HN is made fun of now in circles where real engineering happens. In reality you would not be able to follow what he's talking about because it would be well over your head.

Re: Starbase, LA

#168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love that people see a website about one of musk’s ideas and go “wow this is real and happening” in the year of our lord 2026

Of all of Musk's ventures, SpaceX seems to actually do things and not just say they do things.

[dead]

Re: Starbase, LA

#169
post #34

It’s easy to be pessimistic about Musk timelines/ big tech but I am thrilled that ambitious, real world, hard projects are happening in the US again.

You're being down-voted (and so shall I) but I think you're right. Despite all the animosity towards him, Musk is doing things that are economically meaningful for our nation. We'll need a few more of "him" to dig us out of this situation I reckon, but overall I still hope it's possible. (Anyone asking antagonistic questions can go ahead and save their fingers, I won't respond to the petty comments.)

[flagged]

Re: Starbase, LA

#170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love that people see a website about one of musk’s ideas and go “wow this is real and happening” in the year of our lord 2026

These comments are so strange, because you’re demonstrating how far your head is in the sand, willfully. Of course Musk talks big. He is almost always late. Lots of things have never happened, or have not yet worked (but they’re still trying) At the same time he has monumental successes that nobody, ever, has achieved. Worlds safest car (multiple times) worlds highest selling car (model y), car of the year, massive f…

>At the same time he has monumental successes that nobody, ever, has achieved.

"Nobody ever" doesn't really feel accurate here.

>Worlds safest car (multiple times)...

According to which body? Tesla's interpretation of NHTSA data? Some other organization? Did other cars prior to Tesla's inception obtain this title "multiple times"?

>... worlds highest selling car (model y)...

In 2023, the Y peaked at ~1.22 million. In 1923, the Model T sold ~2.09 million.

>... car of the year...

Numerous bodies label things "car of the year", and many cars were named that before and after Teslas were produced.

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