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Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

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Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#161

Post by postingawayonhn »

Danox wrote: post #105
ph4rsikal wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is indeed a huge success but it also underlines how far ahead the rest of the world is.

So what should they do nothing? They have to get started somehow if Japan and China can do it so can Europe, and I think long-term once again, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand won’t be far behind…

I think New Zealand is ahead. RocketLab was the second company in the world after SpaceX to get a privately developed launch vehicle to orbit, back in 2017. They've now had 86 successful launches from their NZ launch site.

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#162

Post by ACCount37 »

rexskimmer wrote: post #73
hypfer wrote: post #22

This is a huge success, but it I think also tells us that the EU is further decoupling itself from the US. Slowly but steadily. Which is obviously the right thing to do, but it's interesting that it's not just a hypothetical anymore.

They started developing this rocket in the late 2010s, way before the current US craziness (or the current level of craziness anyway). Independent access to space is always desirable for countries that can muster the resources, but this is just one of many companies that appeared back then as a response to SpaceX's initial success.

Yeah this is just the effect of SpaceX showcasing "space launch is no longer the realm of government efforts only".

They kicked off the wave of commercial space launch - and now, it reached the EU too.

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#164

Post by AshleyGrant »

anonymars wrote: post #156
xyzelement wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it mean that? Europe has had a space agency for a while now. So this story isn't "Europeans finally started to launch for space" but a private European company chose to launch from a continental location. It's funny how we can't be celebrate a European achievement without trying to interpret it into relationship to the US.

Have there been other rocket launches from continental Europe?

Orbital? Maybe not. Sub-orbital and ballistic? Absolutely.

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#165

Post by consumer451 »

chabska wrote: post #153
capocasa wrote: post #33

This is such a breath of fresh air

Not for the Sami people who have to inhale the rocket exhaust blast.

Istar's Spectrum rocket does not use RP-1 (kerosene), like Falcon 9 and Electron, which burns very dirty.

They are using liquid propane, which burns extremely cleanly, especially when combined with their liquid oxygen.

There is a lot of noise, but that should be the only pollution generated by this launch.

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#166

Post by whatsThisBtn4 »

sebmellen wrote: post #148
whatsThisBtn4 wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd split it into 2 camps. Elites who realize Europe isn't a unified group or has a military strong enough for defense.. And people who get wet when France says they are going to send soldiers to Ukraine and it never materializes. The general population has 0 understanding of international relations. It's the United States and China right now. Any other belief comes from someone who has read 0 international relations…

Realpolitik sorely lacking

Even the "educated" people on HN have literal incorrect understanding.

It's a difficult problem to solve.

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#167

Post by anonymars »

AshleyGrant wrote: post #164
anonymars wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have there been other rocket launches from continental Europe?

Orbital? Maybe not. Sub-orbital and ballistic? Absolutely.

Oh yes, I think everyone remembers Germany's ballistic rockets

"Don't say that he's hypocritical,

Say rather that he's apolitical.

'Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?

That's not my department,' says Wernher von Braun."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjDEsGZLbio

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#168

Post by clickety_clack »

vladms wrote: post #127
clickety_clack wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coupled or uncoupled, an equal relationship between the US and the EU is much healthier. Europe should have an economy, military and industrial capacity similar to the US.

While in the current case I agree it is the path that should be taken, ideally I would prefer efficient relations, where people cooperate rather than having to duplicate everything because they don't trust their neighbor (should I make my bread because the baker might decide to poison me?!). But having educated people everywhere is hard, so some people, because they don't get how some stuff works, they try to abuse f…

“Speak softly and carry a big stick”. A Europe that is internally powerful can conduct trade in the fair and liberal way that matches its ideals.

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#169

Post by noir_lord »

petcat wrote: post #154
xyzelement wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it mean that? Europe has had a space agency for a while now. So this story isn't "Europeans finally started to launch for space" but a private European company chose to launch from a continental location. It's funny how we can't be celebrate a European achievement without trying to interpret it into relationship to the US.

[flagged]

Yeah, in the same way that as a home owner I’d be “obsessed” with my neighbour if he was showing a predilection towards arson.

I’d love to be able to go a day without having to see whatever the latest stupidity we’ll have to deal with the fallout from is, I really would.

Re: Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

#170

Post by cccbbbaaa »

anonymars wrote: post #156
xyzelement wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it mean that? Europe has had a space agency for a while now. So this story isn't "Europeans finally started to launch for space" but a private European company chose to launch from a continental location. It's funny how we can't be celebrate a European achievement without trying to interpret it into relationship to the US.

Have there been other rocket launches from continental Europe?

From a sovereignty perspective, does a launch from continental Europe actually matter when Arianespace/CNES/ESA has been launching from France for decades?
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