• Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    This wouldn’t be a problem if we still had NASA doing the shuttle program, or some continuation of it, rather than outsourcing our spacecraft to the cutthroat lowest-bidder private sector.

    While I like the sentiment, you should know that you are absolutely, completely, 100% wrong.

    The space shuttle was the deadliest spacecraft in human history, not just in the US, but in the entire world. And mind you, NASA spacecrafts are all also quite literally built from parts delivered by the lowest bidder.

    For the record Boeing sucks and is doing a pretty crappy job right now, but regardless, it would be safer to launch on the Starliner 20 times in a row than to ride in the space shuttle once. At least the Starliner has a launch escape system.

    • Angry_Autist (he/him)@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I followed the Space Shuttle program pretty heavily as a kid and got to see a few launches from the Cape.

      Truly loved the innovative look and the futuristic (lol, at the time) feel.

      In retrospect, it was a good try with bad funding, and an exceptionally expensive satellite positioner that never lived up to its promised turn around time.

      I loved it, but it kind of was an objective flop.