burgerbrain

So basically the Saturn V used LOX/RP-1 in the first stage but LOX/LH2 in the second and third because that was the best configuration, but SpaceX is using LOX/RP-1 in all of them because it's simpler but it gets the job done. (note that SpaceX is apparently considering developing LOX/LH2 upper stage engine for heavier loads: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor_(rocket_stage) )

And indeed, other arms of the space industry need much more funding. They will ultimately do all the common varieties of manned spaceflight better, that is inevitable.

The question is, will problems be solved by reducing NASA's budget? I think that is incredibly fucking unlikely. Instead as far as I am concerned we should be shoveling money at all of them like coal into a locomotive. Don't reduce NASAs budget so you can give more to Boeing and SpaceX.. give more to Boeing and SpaceX in spite of NASA's budget.

One half of a penny of every dollar you pay in (federal) taxes goes to science^. That is appalling. For as shitty and expensive as those shuttles were though, that money got us more return than pretty much the rest of that dollar.

If you look at how we budget for science and think "NASA is getting too much" instead of "Science is not getting enough", then you are missing the bigger picture.

^(ie, NASA. the money spent on the NSF isn't even worth bothering to include...)

I say give them what they say they need, not what internet armchair economists say they need. None of the alternative uses for that money that the US government is finding are as important.

Ah yes... but what did the second stage have?

Not more F-1's, but J-2's, which did not even use the same fuel! Compare this with the route SpaceX is taking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(rocket_engine)#Revision...

(Not to mention they make you look like some sort of ex-marine wilderness survival nut or something)

For starters, shoe laces need to be tied, and they come undone. To use Velcro straps you simply have to press them firmly into place, and they take quite a lot of force to undo improperly.

The fact of the matter is the primary reason most people, by a huge margin, chose laces over Velcro is aesthetics (which Velcro sorely lacks).

As a more accessible example: Why do you think more people wear shoes with shoe laces instead of Velcro straps?

Not true. I watched this clip at work... with my sound off.

Though I of course strongly disagree with your premise anyway, particularly when the governmental agency in question is the DHS.

What is that a threat to do?

How about, "Be careful."?

Also, does anybody know what prevents people from simply taping a knife to the bottom of their foot, under their sock?

This is true of almost every C++ project I've ever worked on. Unfortunately they all used a slightly different minimal set of language features...

Like for instance, C compilers. Cripes that 10k figure is so absurd...