Originally Posted by
Homestar
My question was more around why the tech hasn't been advanced more by now since it's been nearly 30 years since the first successful vertical rocket landings.
Because of various forms of atrophy, Gav. Certain administrations didn't like the bills and saw no advantage, no cachet. Others got involved in wars, right or wrong, that soaked up trillions, then another that echoed the 'don't like the bills' theme. One recent one has been all for it, and loved that private enterprise was prepared to have a go, with help from NASA. That administration removed enormous amounts of red tape so that Space-X, along with the non bureaucrat side of NASA, could get back on with doing what NASA used to be for. Musk couldn't do it without them. Not even Apple could do it without them.
Watch this space. There is now a new administration, and I'll bet there will be issues again, new red tape.. But now Musk has enough clout to take this tech to Russia, or France. He won't go to China, but maybe even his native South Africa. Heck, SA is almost geographically ideal. Not saying he will, but he's already shown that he'll go where he is welcome, by shifting Tesla from California to Texas.
JayTee
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