this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2024
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Dependence on SpaceX has been a concern for the Pentagon, which wants multiple vendors of rides to orbit.

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[–] FlexibleToast@lemmy.world 42 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The important part about this is that Vulcan doesn't just use yet another Russian bought rocket engine. It uses BE-4, from Blue Origin. Finally, someone other than SpaceX building rockets. Too bad it's the other out of touch billionaire with too much power and influence that is doing it.

[–] WHYAREWEALLCAPS@kbin.social 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Right? What could possibly go wrong by putting our future in space in the hands of a bunch of narcissistic dickbag billionaires?

[–] TimeSquirrel@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Nobody ever said it we start spreading into space, we won't be taking all our current problems with us. Star Trek kinda gave us a rosy vision.

[–] dynamojoe@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

It's probably going to be more like the Expanse but more violent, oppressive, and jingoistic.

[–] FlexibleToast@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Rosy? Star Trek said we had to go through a nuclear apocalyptic war before learning to cooperate.

[–] MumboJumbo@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

SYLRC (Support Your Local Rocket Company) Seriously though, there's a lot of new ones coming online and/or developing: Stoke, Astra, Relativity, Rocket Lab, etc… Yeah, it sucks that two of the behemoths are ran by egomaniacal sociopaths, but some of the other ones are bringing some cool tech and innovation to the table, and even getting government contracts.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Well... Capability wise there's still a huge gap between SpaceX and all the rest. The Vulcan is only competition for Falcon 9 because the DoD wants an alternative at all cost.

[–] LesserAbe@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Yeah, this is not a competitor in terms of cost or launch cadence. Just good to have any second option.

[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

So the company is called Vulcan?

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

A Boeing-Lockheed joint venture's launch of a new Vulcan rocket

It's the first sentence of the article....

[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I'm talking about the title. My bad.

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago
[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

India and China have active space programs, and all other concerns aside, the more, the merrier. I really hope ESA starts demonstrating some progress; it's about the only thing that could shame the US Gov into properly funding NASA.

[–] sunbeam60@lemmy.one 2 points 2 years ago

ESA demonstrating progress?! Maybe by Ariane 9. Whatever abomination Ariane 6 is, it ain’t competitive.