General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSpace X. Just how regulated is it?
How much regulation does the private Space X program get? Is this one of those public-private partnerships where the government allows a private corporation to break all the rules as long as it does work for them that wouldn't get public support if the information was in the public domain?
FSogol
(45,488 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)but is there no watch dog keeping an eye on what a private space corporation is sending up in space from our soil and what their intentions are in the long run?
madokie
(51,076 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)outside of being called "private."
oldhippie
(3,249 posts)Or is that "private"?
Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)Seriously? We're on a Liberal website, where you see all demands for government regulation on private corporations and you suddenly take the argument that a private space corporation, which launches rockets loaded with jet fuel, doesn't fit the model?
oldhippie
(3,249 posts)... they haven't done anything to elicit the newspaper's attention. Have you?
As others have asked, what makes you think that Space-X isn't getting oversight? Just because it isn't in the newspaper? That's what it looks like.
Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)private enterprise? That should be news enough.
oldhippie
(3,249 posts)It's not like this is new.
Ever heard of Orbital Sciences? Founded in 1982? I knew one of the founders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_Sciences_Corporation
Space-X is a Johnny come lately.
It doesn't happen every day, but there are a bunch of private space enterprizes. Space-X is the one currently of interest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_spaceflight
Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)Frankly, I disagree.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)An educated guess would be that there is oversight by a federal agency on what is sent up on their rockets.
Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)It's not a confidence booster knowing how abusive some of these public-private partnerships can get.
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)If or when they're caught with their hand in the cookie jar, so to speak, then I'll worry about it, but until then.....
Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)so I'm quite sure that there is federal oversight on what is launched, they also do cargo supply flights for NASA.
http://www.spacex.com/about
Under a $1.6 billion contract with NASA, SpaceX will fly at least 10 more cargo resupply missions to the ISS, for a total of at least 12 and in the near future, SpaceX will carry crew as well. Dragon was designed from the outset to carry astronauts and now, under a $440 million agreement with NASA, SpaceX is making modifications to make Dragon crew-ready.SpaceX is the worlds fastest-growing provider of launch services. Profitable and cash-flow positive, the company has nearly 50 launches on its manifest, representing close to $5 billion in contracts. These include commercial satellite launches as well as NASA missions.
Currently under development is the Falcon Heavy, which will be the worlds most powerful rocket. All the while, SpaceX continues to work toward one of its key goalsdeveloping reusable rockets, a feat that will transform space exploration by delivering highly reliable vehicles at radically reduced costs.
Seems like a pretty good private/public venture so far.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)If you're aware of anything to indicate the contrary, we'd all like to hear it. Otherwise, it just seems like you're making wild speculations.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)If everything is on the level, it just needed a level answer. No need to go on the defensive.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)I asked a fair question too, what brought your question on? Instead of some news story or anecdote about Space X, I got a paranoid sounding suspicions that "sumptin's up with those corp-o-rate space men and the evil gubermint!"
Reminds me of the Dead Milkmen song, "Stuart":
"I first became aware of this, about 10 years ago, the summer my oldest boy
Bill Jr. died. You know that carnival that comes to town every year?
Well this year it came with a ride called the Mixer. The man said "Keep
your head and arms inside the mixer at all times." But Bill Jr., he was a
daredevil, just like his old man. He was leaning out saying, "Hey
everybody! Look at me, look at me!" POW! He was decapitated. They found
his head over by the snowcone concession. A few days after that, I open
up the mail and there's a pamphlet in there, from Pueblo, Colorado. And
it's addressed to Bill Jr. And it's entitled, "Do you know what the
queers are doing to our soil?"
Now Stuart, if you look at the soil around any large U.S. city with a big
underground homosexual population - Des Moines, Iowa, perfect example.
Look at the soil around Des Moines, Stuart. You can't build on it, you
can't grow anything in it. The government says it's due to poor farming.
But I know what's really going on, Stuart. I know it's the queers.
They're in it with the aliens. They're building landing strips for gay
Martians. I swear to God."
EOTE
(13,409 posts)(7:00 on Fox)
Short answer, maybe. Long answer, definitely.
I don't really have any issue with what you posted, I'm just genuinely curious as to what brought it on and whether you have any information which suggests Space-X isn't regulated as everything else pertaining to flight is.
Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)Space X is not something I have been following, and frankly, I haven't seen much written about the program in the local paper. That says a lot because I'm a bit of a news junkie. If it has a high profile, generally I'll see something on the subject.
What I do have is a horrendous experience with public-private partnerships. So the question seemed to be a fair ask.
I would think that those people who are in the know would appreciate the opportunity to share their knowledge, instead of getting on the defensive.
X_Digger
(18,585 posts)I can get on a privately owned aircraft without TSA knowing shit about me.
Johonny
(20,851 posts)and thus will be required to meet all the rules of those agencies as well as FAA regulations unless they are allowed to get a waiver. Why do you think SpaceX is magically different than ULA or Orbital that are private companies that launch things into space. I grant you there has been a worry the US would roll back space regulations in the name of getting cheaper (it has done so before) but that would be a universal program problem not just a SpaceX loophole.
I hope that answers you question.
Baitball Blogger
(46,735 posts)Thank you Johonny.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,370 posts)Or that if there isn't serious regulation or oversight is 1960's thinking
If you think for one second that the likes of the Space-X's of the world are at all cavalier in their approach with regard to safety and thoroughness, you're mistaken
What possible benefit could come to a company involved in heavy lift operations to orbit that cut corners or was not utterly circumspect in their endeavors?
I find it completely encouraging that these sorts of firms exist.
I also find it DIScouraging that NASA has had no immediate follow up to the shuttle program.
Demand the cut in taxpayer supplied pay to the top 20 CEO's of the largest military contractors and double NASA's budget!
Fuck that. Cut the F-35 program off and quintuple the damned thing.