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Comment by drmpeg | Hacker News Reader

I was tangentially involved in the Nexo II launch. Alexandru Csete (author of Gqrx) used my GNU Radio DVB-S2 transmitter code to send live HD video from the rocket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwSYv8eVQqQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYF8Am-lt20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqwJu6cSBW4

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Ron, both of you are famous in free software and amateur radio communities due to your work, so thanks again.

I have some doubts though regarding the safety of manned launches here. Seems like a serious issue to me and I hope it's not treated lightly.

>I have some doubts though regarding the safety of manned launches here.

I have some doubts about the safety of climbing mount Everest too. That doesn't mean people shouldn't do it. People like to do risky stuff.

I had doubt on manned amateur launch too, it is quite likely that the safety requirement would not be as strict as NASA due to funding issue.

Nevertheless, space flight requires bravery, some people might be willing to risk their life on the rockets, cant blame them, space is too much to explore.

My impression from afar is that they are far from strapping themselves inside a rocket, no matter what, like that flat earth guy. The manned part seems to be more like an aspirational goal than a fixture that will push all compromise elsewhere.

Surely people used to convey similar objections about sailing uncharted waters. Exploration is by nature a dangerous gig, everyone involved is completely aware of the risks they are taking.

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