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PersonNumber503602

(1,134 posts)

74. How do you perfect something if you don't actually attempt to use it?

Sat Nov 1, 2014, 10:50 AM

Nov 2014

How do you know all the 'kinks' are out unless you test it in real world situations? You can run all the simulations and tests you want, but until you're in the real situation and environment, you can't be 100% sure everything will work. Even with all the kinks worked out, things still go wrong. Planes crash. Cars crash. Boats sink. The only way to prevent all accidents is to simply not do anything at all. Is that what you're looking for?

Also, these test pilots did this because they wanted to be pioneers. The work they are doing now will forever be remembered as the first steps into the future of space travel for the masses. Their names may very well end up being remembered like the wright brothers, chuck yeagar, superman, and all the early astronauts. Are you saying that none of those people should have taken the risks they took?

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Virgin Galactic spacecraft crash kills one [View all] Bosonic Oct 2014 OP

I hope the test pilots are okay FLPanhandle Oct 2014 #1

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that jets are used to launch this spacecraft not rockets notadmblnd Oct 2014 #27

The aircraft is carried up to the same altitude that commercial jets fly at by a turbine (jet)... BlueEye Oct 2014 #35

ok, thanks for the correction. notadmblnd Oct 2014 #36

1 dead, 1 injured bananas Oct 2014 #33

There were the SAME flavor of comments Plucketeer Oct 2014 #59

Private sector space flight. Maybe not a good idea??? notrightatall Oct 2014 #2

Agree, but any activity that shows we are not complete moron assholes like teaparty randys1 Oct 2014 #3

NASA rockets & components have always been built by private industry FLPanhandle Oct 2014 #4

But "not for profit" oversight and planning. BIG difference. notrightatall Oct 2014 #5

Shouldn't the private sector do Space as well? Renew Deal Oct 2014 #11

Seems not quite yet. notrightatall Oct 2014 #13

Let's add prisons to that list, as well, notrightatall. Then you'll be right :) PatrickforO Oct 2014 #19

And utilities, especially water dbackjon Oct 2014 #20

No doubt notrightatall Oct 2014 #34

Disagree. FLPanhandle Oct 2014 #31

But they were overseen by NASA engineers and were built to NASA approved specifications George II Oct 2014 #8

Plus NASA had much more money to pretest this stuff Elmer S. E. Dump Oct 2014 #24

Just like Apollo One was. FLPanhandle Oct 2014 #28

You know what Gus Grissom did? Manifestor_of_Light Oct 2014 #43

Agreed. And perhaps if corporate America LibDemAlways Oct 2014 #6

"But they can do it cheaper"!!! notrightatall Oct 2014 #7

My aerospace engineer husband was laid off 5 years LibDemAlways Oct 2014 #32

New college grads daleo Oct 2014 #46

Aerospace is really the last bastion for American LibDemAlways Oct 2014 #48

They crash these things with their own money Renew Deal Oct 2014 #9

But the New Mexico taxpayers pick up the tab for the already built Spaceport Dont call me Shirley Oct 2014 #53

Not ALL NM is paying... Gloria Nov 2014 #78

It is such a damned shame. Dont call me Shirley Nov 2014 #79

Parts of the El Camino Real obliterated because of this thing.... Gloria Nov 2014 #81

I agree about NASA, but, pangaia Oct 2014 #10

so it seems notrightatall Oct 2014 #12

Who do you think builds NASA's hardware? Psephos Oct 2014 #14

No shit...... notrightatall Oct 2014 #15

Do you not think that the companies... philosslayer Oct 2014 #22

It's HOW they make it zipplewrath Oct 2014 #29

Tell it to the hulls of Columbia and Challenger at your local museum. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #65

To be fair, BlueEye Oct 2014 #38

NASA never caused any deaths?? cbdo2007 Oct 2014 #39

NASA killed 17 astronauts. former9thward Oct 2014 #49

Lots and lots of test pilots died ultimately getting us to the moon. Travelman Oct 2014 #51

Private sector is what built NASA.... Historic NY Oct 2014 #54

One accident and you want to cut and run? AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #64

I'm absolutely for funding NASA better Kurska Nov 2014 #69

Roughly 10% of all launches are failures. Xithras Nov 2014 #80

bad week dembotoz Oct 2014 #16

Perhaps, but go back and read what was written.... Historic NY Oct 2014 #56

CHP reporting one dead, one seriously injured. GGJohn Oct 2014 #17

SpaceShipTwo Flight test from 01/10/14 (video) mockmonkey Oct 2014 #18

The idea the private sector can do everything better, faster and cheaper is nothing but a sad PatrickforO Oct 2014 #21

I'm feeling this isn't a great time to bring political ideology into this discussion groundloop Oct 2014 #25

Agreed. We should never, ever become indifferent to these tragedies... Jerry442 Oct 2014 #41

Discussing safety after a disaster makes perfect sense daleo Oct 2014 #47

Exactly! That's the strategy used by the NRA for sure. PatrickforO Oct 2014 #62

The private sector BUILT the fucking space shuttle program, you know. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #68

You have no idea what happened, why, and at the moment, one of the two test pilots is alive. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #66

BBC is reporting one dead and one injured groundloop Oct 2014 #23

Watching the reports. Apparently, engine failure on the test flight. Subsequent explosion in flight. pinto Oct 2014 #26

Please note : My wife's and my thoughts are with the families and the suriving pilot BUT diabeticman Oct 2014 #30

This was a suborbital craft and not part of commercial crew bananas Oct 2014 #42

I wonder how Paris Hilton, Katy Parry & Co. feel now jakeXT Oct 2014 #37

Michael Schumacher shouldn't push his luck Bosonic Oct 2014 #40

It could have ended our Justin Bieber problem LeftInTX Oct 2014 #44

LOL FLPanhandle Oct 2014 #60

If I had the money, I would still go Ex Lurker Oct 2014 #55

I would go as well. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #67

If I had that kind of money I'd put my deposit down in a heartbeat. Codeine Nov 2014 #75

This is sad and not a public vs. private situation. hunter Oct 2014 #45

"a serious anomaly" = back to the drawing board... RIP to the test pilot Baclava Oct 2014 #50

They won't give up as long as flamingdem Oct 2014 #52

Branson is definitely committed to success Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #57

Analysis: David Shukman, BBC science editor - 'Massive Setback' Baclava Oct 2014 #61

Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Galactic, sent out a message on Twitter on Friday Baclava Oct 2014 #58

It's fucked up b/c VG isn't serious about spaceflight. True Blue Door Oct 2014 #63

Joel Glenn Brenner basically summed it up: joshcryer Nov 2014 #70

Indeed, I agree. Open his checkbook wide open. Get serious for a change. True Blue Door Nov 2014 #72

No One Should die so a billionaire can go to space. alarimer Nov 2014 #71

Yes, they were doing what they loved. FLPanhandle Nov 2014 #73

How do you perfect something if you don't actually attempt to use it? PersonNumber503602 Nov 2014 #74

People sell their lives to others all the time customerserviceguy Nov 2014 #77

Hey wait, doesn't private industry ... JEFF9K Nov 2014 #76