this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
134 points (100.0% liked)

Astronomy

4716 readers
145 users here now

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
top 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] dukeofdummies@lemmy.world 27 points 1 month ago (3 children)

... I mean that would've been the clearest conflict of interest you could've possibly summoned.

[–] BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca 16 points 1 month ago (2 children)

SpaceX gets most of their money from NASA contracts no?

[–] PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat 15 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I think that is probably the actual reason. Musk probably fired most of NASA, and then realized that the absolute carnage would in this case impact him personally, and it suddenly became an important issue and he needs to have them all rehired so that they can keep paying him his contracts. He still doesn't give a shit about other people's contracts / medications / intelligence operations / statutorily enforced payments / whatever.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago

The problem is that so many other companies also get their money from NASA. Cutting out NASA makes it a clear pipe from gov to spaceX.

Of course, so many other projects NASA is running will also just die, but those don't even help Elon anyway so they're pointless. Or so.

[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Thing is, I don't think NASA and SpaceX compete. NASA is not a for-profit company and was happy to see successful private companies in the sector. They'll happily be a SpaceX client so that they can focus on actual research and do things that are not profitable (yet)

[–] dukeofdummies@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

In practice, you're probably right.

But in terms of "I wanna cut waste, and make the government lean! So I am gonna delete the space part of the government and replace it with my own!"

Just sounds bad, like really bad. Even worse than the armored Teslas. I can't imagine NASA is the top of people's lists of "utter wastes of time" It's not a regulator, it's not in the "known enemies" list unless you're a flat earther. I dunno how you spin it to be palatable.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Really doubt that was it.

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I do my best to block any news regarding the new administration, so this comes at quite a surprise that it was even considered. Always thought NASA was one of the great prides of the country, but it seems like those days are long gone.

Anti Commercial-AI license

[–] ruk_n_rul@monyet.cc 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

NASA peaked during the Apollo project, after which budget plummeted and never reach the 1% mark on the national budget again

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

In the mass firing they lake of the people who maintain nuclear weapons and the people working on bird flu. Once they realized they need those people they started trying to rehire them.

[–] TachyonTele@lemm.ee 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Who was the one person that down voted this, and why?

[–] jatone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] ohYouKnow 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I can’t believe you’ve done this.

[–] jatone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm sorry I had to bring them back down to earth for their own good.

[–] toynbee@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

That's the exact opposite of what NASA wants!

[–] deFrisselle@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Best thing would be to terminate Artemis

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Yeah, shit idea. And exactly why NASA gets shit on for consuming money with less to show for it.

Spend billions on a program set up by one administration, then some tool comes along and wants to cut costs because they want to look effective and cuts NASA’s programs. Program never completes, now it’s just a waste. NASA, being by default a scientific endeavor thar doesn't need to return an profit other than exportation and research data, is an easy target. Billions invested and nothing to show for it. WhY iS NaSA So iNeFfeCtIve!?! Repeat for another program later.