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Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches by TeMPOraL on Tuesday February 06, 2018 @04:35PM (#16320039)
But. We are making them!

I've almost lost hope around the end of the Space Shuttle program. I thought it will be only satellites, ISS and occasional science probe launches. SpaceX single-handedly restored my faith in the future of space activities again, and with other player on the scene, we now have realistic hope of seeing an actual industry in space within our lifetimes.

Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches by tomaskafka on Tuesday February 06, 2018 @04:51PM (#16320208)
I didn't think I'd say it, but after reading @Pinboard's history of a space shuttle, I'm glad we're moving past politicized too big to fail projects. http://idlewords.com/2005/08/a_rocket_to_nowhere.htm
Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches by snrplfth on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @01:32PM (#16326796)
Which is amusing, because @Pinboard absolutely cannot stand SpaceX and mocks them constantly.
Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches by kuschku on Tuesday February 06, 2018 @04:48PM (#16320176)
And the amazing thing is, even if SpaceX should fail, an entire industry has started to happen.

Arianespace has spent years developing new rocket engines specifically for reusability, and has started building prototype rockets.

Bezos’ company has mastered landing, and is directly building their mars rocket.

In 5 years we’ll likely see at least 3 major companies up there with SpaceX, and true competition in space.

Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches by TeMPOraL on Tuesday February 06, 2018 @04:55PM (#16320246)
Yes!

Moreover, there's lots of companies in every vertical needed for bootstrapping the industry - ground services, satellites, in-space manufacturing, asteroid prospecting & mining... all in the early stage, all betting on cheaper access to space than it was just few years ago. We're in a critical moment where things suddenly start adding up and - I hope - will form something great!

Re:SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches by andygates on Thursday February 08, 2018 @09:45AM (#16332283)
And Linkspace in China are making good progress with their scale prototype too (they just posted the first untethered hop video to their twitter).

It rather looks as if the tail-landing reusable booster stage is a "steam engine" type of eureka form factor, and everyone's going to be doing it. Yay!