Jump to content

Photo

No Drones at Thunderhill : (


  • Please log in to reply
24 replies to this topic

#21
Michael Colangelo

Michael Colangelo

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 283 posts
  • Location:Rosamond, CA
  • Region:Southern California
  • Car Year:1997
  • Car Number:23

NASA hasn't made their own engines in a few decades. It's been all contractors for quite some time. Without NASA the private sector wouldn't have been able to capitalize manned space flight.


Actually, I don't believe NASA has ever made its own engines or spacecraft. Even going back to the late 1950s when NACA became NASA, the hardware was almost exclusively designed and produced by contractors such as Douglas, Boeing, Grumman, North American, etc.

#22
Jim Boemler

Jim Boemler

    Veteran Member

  • Moderators
  • 852 posts
  • Location:Mukilteo WA
  • Region:NWR
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:30

True, but Dave's point still stands.  Until recently it was all done with tax money rather than privately funded.  It's doubtful any private entity could have gotten us to the moon.


  • Bench Racer likes this

#23
dstevens

dstevens

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,404 posts
  • Location:Vegas
  • Region:LVR

Actually, I don't believe NASA has ever made its own engines or spacecraft. Even going back to the late 1950s when NACA became NASA, the hardware was almost exclusively designed and produced by contractors such as Douglas, Boeing, Grumman, North American, etc.

In the Apollo program much if not most of the work was done in NASA facilites with contractors doing some design and the all the fabrication and assembly.  The engineering and project management and functional design was all NASA.  With regards to rocketry is was the Germans we got at the end of WWII that were the ones that opened the door to the Saturn rocket.  At the time the private sector couldn't have gotten them but these days with stock options and loads of cash the private sector could easily outbid the government.   ;)   During the shuttle years was when it started to go to subcontractors delivering entire assemblies much like defense contractors (which they were) to right now where it will be fully outsourced including launch control and mission operation.

 

I think it's a good way to do it.  They'll be able to be quicker to develop and deploy and less expensive to operate.  These are the sorts of industries that we can excel at and get some of the high tech manufacturing back in the US.  Right now one of the toughest parts is getting smart kids though in the few years we've been involved in the maker movement there seems to be a revival in science and math. Our granddaughter is in college studying robotics and seeing her peers and some of the high school kids makes me think that all is not lost though when I come home from The Strip on the weekends some times I have my doubts...     :burst:



#24
LarryKing

LarryKing

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,659 posts

 

Right now one of the toughest parts is getting smart kids

They're the ones with student visas.


2017 - SMSE SEDiv ECR Champion
Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#25
Johnny D

Johnny D

    Veteran Member

  • Moderators
  • 6,121 posts
  • Location:Fremont, CA
  • Region:San Francisco
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:88

Back on Topic !!!

 

News flash !!!

 

They have secured :) (I guess with mission control) a date.  Friday Oct 17th, the drones will have free rein over the five miles of Thunderhill. :banana:

 

No need for any special permits or insurance, anyone will be able to fly drones, quad-copters, etc.

 

A note from me... I'd bet if we show them that we know what we're doing and they don't crash into everything, they may let us fly them more often. :prayer:

J~


2011 NASA Western Endurance Racing Championship E3 Champ
We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Novel Approach - When a paragraph simply won't do... Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users