August 4th, not a year since prototyping, Starship completes 150M hop from test stand to hard surface; 6 legs deployed, Raptors, and RCS working great.
Much gnashing of the teeth in China, Russia, and in Alabama, too. "If you gave us $10B annually - and until 2031 - we coulda done that too!" - ULA
Note: The SDHLV, which was initially believed to take perhaps a year back in 1989 using the Shuttle Main Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. SDHLV/Ares/SLS is now in the 30th year+ of development and has not flown so much as a sub orbital test flight. SLS is basically the 1970s era shuttle launch system without the piggyback Shuttle, so development should have been lightening. It's been funded almost every single year since 1988, has cost countless billions, and not one functional prototype. Cancel it and give Elon $1B for a orbital by 2022.
Wouldn't be surprised if all the prototype building and design cost less than just the initial planning of the SLS.
www.youtube.com/embed/TYAi2JJItgY
Much gnashing of the teeth in China, Russia, and in Alabama, too. "If you gave us $10B annually - and until 2031 - we coulda done that too!" - ULA
Note: The SDHLV, which was initially believed to take perhaps a year back in 1989 using the Shuttle Main Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. SDHLV/Ares/SLS is now in the 30th year+ of development and has not flown so much as a sub orbital test flight. SLS is basically the 1970s era shuttle launch system without the piggyback Shuttle, so development should have been lightening. It's been funded almost every single year since 1988, has cost countless billions, and not one functional prototype. Cancel it and give Elon $1B for a orbital by 2022.
Wouldn't be surprised if all the prototype building and design cost less than just the initial planning of the SLS.