Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   simonbp (simonbp@social.linux.pizza)'s status on Friday, 21-Feb-2025 05:29:57 JST simonbp

   in reply to

   To note, the K-1 would've been a fully reusable launch vehicle, something SpaceX has still failed to achieve two decades later.

   • Embed this notice
     simonbp (simonbp@social.linux.pizza)'s status on Friday, 21-Feb-2025 05:29:59 JST simonbp

     Just a reminder that SpaceX only exists because of ISS. Without the NASA COTS ISS Commerical Cargo demo contract in 2006, they were just another obscure space launch startup that had repeatedly failed to get to orbit. Without COTS and ISS, their commercial prospects were pathetic. And then they had the massive luck that their only competition for COTS (the technically superior Kistler K-1) ran out of money too quickly, allowing Falcon 9 to be very late on delivery and still come out on top.

     Also, SpaceX already has the contract to deorbit ISS, and so any delay to the deorbit is likely because they are behind schedule.

     Steve's Place repeated this.