You got to love larger than life characters, and Elon Musk definitely fits in the "Larger than life" category.
Elon's company, SpaceX states this in their about page at http://www.spacex.com/about:
"SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets."
SpaceX isn't just boasting. There have been news headlines such as:
July 14, 2014Many More can be found at http://www.spacex.com/news.
Falcon 9 Launches ORBCOMM OG2 Satellites to Orbit
Today, SpaceX executed a successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket. This is the tenth consecutive successful launch of the Falcon 9.
July 11, 2014
Air Force Certifies Falcon 9 Flights
The Air Force has certified SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch system as having conducted three successful flights, a prerequisite for companies seeking to win business from the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program.
May 18, 2014
CRS-3 Mission Overview
On April 18, 2014, Falcon 9 and Dragon began the CRS-3 resupply mission to the International Space Station. This mission marked Dragon’s fourth visit to the space station and third official cargo resupply mission for NASA.
All this activity, and the new news that SpaceX has been cleared to create their own space port in Texas prompted The Register to write an article aptly named "Mwa-ha-ha-ha! Eccentric billionaire Musk gets his PRIVATE SPACEPORT".
Here's the enlightening article thanks to Richard Chirgwin writer for The Register.
Here's the enlightening article thanks to Richard Chirgwin writer for The Register.
"Elon Musk has taken another step in his transformation into James Bond supervillain, with the FAA granting SpaceX approval to start building its own spaceport in Texas.
The FAA has issued a “Record of Decision” (PDF here) stating its support for the issuing of licenses to SpaceX.
The facility, to be built near Brownsville, Texas, will mean that SpaceX will one day be able to conduct launches without relying on Cape Canaveral in Florida.
As the Orlando Business Journal notes, while some SpaceX launches will remain at Cape Canaveral even after the new spaceport is built, the move will slow down “the Space Coast's transition to be the hub for all commercial space activity”.
The news comes as SpaceX celebrates a nearly-successful launch: a Falcon 9 rocket delivered Orbcomm six satellites to orbit, but the company was unable to recover the booster as it had intended.
Musk maintained a metaphorical wry grin at the failure, Tweeting:
The launch had been delayed by two months. The Orbcomm satellites will be part of an eventual 17-bird constellation." -The Register
Thanks again goes to The Register and her staff for being informative and simultaneously entertaining.
Within a year we will have seen Pluto close up. Now I am wondering if in ten years I will be able to book a vacation to Mars on hotwire or expedia.
That might all be wishful thinking, but if Elon gets his way, it will happen.
-Denny
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