Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

nypost.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 127 posts

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#71

Post by slfnflctd »

SideburnsOfDoom wrote: post #19

3 days in space means that there must be facilities for eating, and toilet facilities. Are these detailed anywhere?

My main thought since they first announced this trip was, what are they going to do for 3 entire days? That's a lot of time for people who haven't been trained up the way astronauts have to potentially experience some extreme mental states.

Being stuck in a tiny, tiny space with strangers and absolutely no way out seems like it could potentially cause issues even for people who have been psychologically screened. Hopefully these "experiments" they're supposed to be running will help keep them occupied & distracted.

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#72

Post by detritus »

Razengan wrote: post #70
detritus wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The term itself will become meaningless if hundreds, thousands (millions..) of people start lofting into the heavens every year. Fundamentally, these guys have about as much control over their experience as your 'real' astronauts do.

But are all people on a cruise ship sailors?

Are cruise ships on ballistic trajectories and mostly controlled remotely?

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#73

Post by cblconfederate »

areoform wrote: post #45

We have crossed the rubicon. Hayley Arceneaux will become the first individual with a prosthesis to go to space. In the 60 year history of crewed spaceflight, we have never put a human with titanium bones in orbit. Nor, have we sent anyone up who has met any of the requirements to be otherwise classified as "disabled". Until now. It is the indicator of a profound tipping point. The very first astronauts were required…

One of the first animals to go to space was an untrained, probably uneducated and penniless female dog.

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#74

Post by Oreols »

thow-58d4e8b wrote: post #40
fallingknife wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first Tesla is a car for rich people only. The reason for Tesla's 700b valuation is the innovation that Tesla has made in producing the model y and model 3 and the current goal of producing the first $25k mass produced electric car.

> first $25k mass produced electric car That ship has sailed a few years ago: Volkswagen e-Up, Seat Mii, Renault Twingo, several models from BYD, Dacia Spring, Smart EQ, Fiat 500e, and even Renault Zoe or MG ZS in some markets. All under 25k€, including value added tax

Indeed. I was recently considering getting an ev and it's amazing how much choice you have in the "budget" segment. Dacia Spring is 17k€ (VAT included) and it offers 250km of range. Granted, it's equipped only with an airco and a basic infotainment, but still.

The only way Tesla can make a dent in this market is by offering autopilot and much greater range at 20k or so. Or by making a bloody fast car for young people (which will cannibalize their own sales probably).

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#75

Post by SideburnsOfDoom »

slfnflctd wrote: post #71
SideburnsOfDoom wrote: post #19

3 days in space means that there must be facilities for eating, and toilet facilities. Are these detailed anywhere?

My main thought since they first announced this trip was, what are they going to do for 3 entire days? That's a lot of time for people who haven't been trained up the way astronauts have to potentially experience some extreme mental states. Being stuck in a tiny, tiny space with strangers and absolutely no way out seems like it could potentially cause issues even for people who have been psychologically screened. Hop…

For a long flight, I make sure to take a freshly stocked ebook reader. They are light and have great battery life.

Reading in space seems like missing the point of the "once in a lifetime" trip though. They probably have "fun activities" planned.

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#77

Post by zarzavat »

slfnflctd wrote: post #71
SideburnsOfDoom wrote: post #19

3 days in space means that there must be facilities for eating, and toilet facilities. Are these detailed anywhere?

My main thought since they first announced this trip was, what are they going to do for 3 entire days? That's a lot of time for people who haven't been trained up the way astronauts have to potentially experience some extreme mental states. Being stuck in a tiny, tiny space with strangers and absolutely no way out seems like it could potentially cause issues even for people who have been psychologically screened. Hop…

"Trapped alone in a small room with no way out", sounds like a few experiences I've had while travelling since January 2020. Elon, if you're reading, I'm happy to volunteer myself for the next mission.

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#79

Post by ForHackernews »

Galaxity wrote: post #62
ForHackernews wrote: post #39

> The soon-to-be-astronauts Maybe this is just me, but I think we need a new word for people who pay to take a ride on a spacecraft but have nothing to do with the operation or mission of that spacecraft. "Payload" seems rude, perhaps "passengers"? Whatever they are, they're not astronauts.

They have everything to do with the operation and mission of the spacecraft. They will do as much as NASA astronauts do on dragon spacecraft. I understand the point that the word astronaut is reserved for highly trained individuals working for NASA, but the rants about it I keep seeing online on various forums are just so mean spirited for some reason. Calling them payload, seriously?

> They will do as much as NASA astronauts do on dragon spacecraft.

Yes, the ISS crew are mere passengers on SpaceX capsules. Just because I buy a ticket on a 737 doesn't make me an "aeronaut".

You can call it mean-spirited if you want, but the point is that some titles should only be earned, not purchased.

Re: SpaceX cleared for historic civilian launch next week

#80

Post by enkid »

SideburnsOfDoom wrote: post #64
lmilcin wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't you overhyping it a little bit? Crossing the Rubicon (Rubicon is a river)? Civilians were being already sent in 1986 (unsuccessfully...) and in 1990 (successfully). What's a difference between a civilian that has or has not a prosthesis? It is not like they are going to be doing some kind of superhuman feats. They could have sent a disabled person just as well in 1986 if they decided so. If I remember there we…

> Crossing the Rubicon (Rubicon is a river)? "Today, the phrase crossing the Rubicon is a metaphor that means to pass a point of no return." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Rubicon Overhyped or not; that's a perfectly valid metaphor to use to phrase it. I'd go with "milestone" which is less hype, but is also a metaphor, as no actual stone marking out a mile will be involved.

I think the poster is saying it's not really a single point if no return and therefore isn't a great analogy. Crossing the Rubicon was about a single act that so broke the status quo it was impossible to undo that. This is more about the accumulation of a bunch of small steps making minor adjustments to the status quo instead of a singular act.
Post reply on HN