General Discussion

PCIntern

(27,468 posts) Sun Jul 11, 2021, 12:50 PM Jul 2021

Yeah...I Dunno....this space stuff... [View all]

I was raised on the network coverage of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo flights, which culminated in the space shuttle launches. The scientific approach, the epic seriousness of the undertaking from a scientific and aerodynamic standpoint, the incredible engineering and physics which entered into the design and execution of these projects was Beyond any person’s ability to comprehend. The network people approached it with gravity, with concern, and with perspective.

This coverage today reminds me of Entertainment Tonight coverage in the 80’s of the premiere of a film. I did not see one technical piece on the “Mothership” (give me an effing break -yeah…it’s JUST LIKE the Mothership in Close Encounters 🙄. ) or the rocket plane itself, the way the major networks used to have the engineers discuss the various attributes of the modules or rockets.

It’s all about self-aggrandizement and being a billionaire. Well. Good for them. This is the New America.

101 replies

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Yeah...I Dunno....this space stuff... [View all] PCIntern Jul 2021 OP

K&R spanone Jul 2021 #1

Perhaps it's about cilla4progress Jul 2021 #2

I get that... PCIntern Jul 2021 #3

Maybe they do have a very genuine interest in space and not a self aggrandizing agenda? Escurumbele Jul 2021 #43

Would Admire Branson More If He Invented Carbon Capture / Sequestration Breakthroughs DanieRains Jul 2021 #61

What was the carbon footprint of such an endeavor? panader0 Jul 2021 #35

😆 underpants Jul 2021 #4

Good one. cilla4progress Jul 2021 #9

this is great! Perfectly framed. msfiddlestix Jul 2021 #11

Perfect! mac2766 Jul 2021 #32

Agree The Blue Flower Jul 2021 #5

Plane takeoffs at the airport are pretty dull too brooklynite Jul 2021 #48

In my book the NASA Space Shuttle launches are still the top Larissa Jul 2021 #81

There were 135 Shuttle launches; how many did you watch? brooklynite Jul 2021 #85

I totally agree with you. It's just not as exciting as watching Neil Armstrong descending the Vinca Jul 2021 #6

Flying to London for a vacation is not as exciting as watching Lindbergh do it. lagomorph777 Jul 2021 #98

All I know is that TFG's gibbering on Faux this morning was all about how he wasn't... Hugin Jul 2021 #7

now that's damn amusing. msfiddlestix Jul 2021 #13

I do agree with the Doc, these achievements are built on the shoulders of giants. Hugin Jul 2021 #21

It amazes me how many here watch fox. Treefrog Jul 2021 #18

I personally don't but the feed is polluted by those who do. Hugin Jul 2021 #20

Send him up next dianaredwing Jul 2021 #57

There may be a Sun landing coming up. Hugin Jul 2021 #71

This 10,000 % msfiddlestix Jul 2021 #8

Let The Poor Burn DanieRains Jul 2021 #62

Shipping them off to Mars will certainly be a workable solution. Crunchy Frog Jul 2021 #93

So, we should do nothing so long as there are poor people? Happy Hoosier Jul 2021 #96

Using a big airplane to haul a smaller airplane up to where it can be released Mr.Bill Jul 2021 #101

Answer: this wasn't a news broadcast... brooklynite Jul 2021 #10

Or the play thing of a rich boy who never grew up. paleotn Jul 2021 #26

Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Rail and Virgin Recordss were also "playthings"? brooklynite Jul 2021 #44

His space plane is a toy. A toy for the rich. paleotn Jul 2021 #82

In 1930, a cross-country airplane ticket cost the equivalent of $4,000 today... brooklynite Jul 2021 #87

Never! Bah! paleotn Jul 2021 #100

Branson was born middle class. His dad was just a barrister. mainer Jul 2021 #49

It's an amusement park ride. Owl Jul 2021 #75

Waste of money LynnTTT Jul 2021 #12

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2021 #56

Absolutely DanieRains Jul 2021 #65

I agree, carnival rides for the wealthy, definitely Not science. MerryBlooms Jul 2021 #89

I am a scientist and ate up the NASA stuff of my youth, the Pluto mission, etc. NewHendoLib Jul 2021 #14

Proof that the rich have to much money. redstatebluegirl Jul 2021 #15

But they are selfless noble people risking their lives to expand our knowledge dalton99a Jul 2021 #16

Sarcasm? rickyhall Jul 2021 #45

I was right with you up until "selfless." Iggo Jul 2021 #76

Same here. I found it stupid. Treefrog Jul 2021 #17

I worked on the Apollo missions DavidDvorkin Jul 2021 #19

Not quite... PCIntern Jul 2021 #22

And the champagne is all Branson cares about.... paleotn Jul 2021 #29

Yep..someone on DU wanted to know how any Space or moon mission helped us Bengus81 Jul 2021 #24

And many other things but you know... PCIntern Jul 2021 #28

NASA did not invent Tang ... velcro, or teflon sarchasm Jul 2021 #46

Nope, just advanced or invented these: EX500rider Jul 2021 #58

Not the same. paleotn Jul 2021 #27

I loved it. And that is what I was thinking of. I am not focusing on the billionaires. tulipsandroses Jul 2021 #33

Yes. DavidDvorkin Jul 2021 #34

Ali Velshi's one of the smartest interviewers on TV. It's all exciting. ancianita Jul 2021 #53

So are we saying that only the government should be involved in space exploration? tulipsandroses Jul 2021 #83

I don't know about "we." I do realize there are innovators in both private and public sectors. ancianita Jul 2021 #86

Absolutely agree. scarletlib Jul 2021 #72

Sow's ear comes to mind. Bramson has turned his addiction to thrills into a silk purse. Watching Raven Jul 2021 #23

Excellently put! PCIntern Jul 2021 #25

Yeah...here's what POS Branson does with some of his cash Bengus81 Jul 2021 #30

I for one wasn't criticizing the politics of the individual PCIntern Jul 2021 #38

THIS! As a science and aviation enthusiast I am finding the billionaire space race boring.... Laffy Kat Jul 2021 #31

The Three Billionaires homegirl Jul 2021 #36

They developed their own rockets, NASA didn't hand them plans. EX500rider Jul 2021 #63

These are largely private investments. Happy Hoosier Jul 2021 #95

I have a totally different perspective. Blue Dawn Jul 2021 #37

Actually, there were women behind the scenes and even a couple astronauts... llmart Jul 2021 #79

I watched it. It was interesting. The commercialization of space was inevitable. Unrealistic to dameatball Jul 2021 #39

Emit More Carbon Space Tourism Great Idea DanieRains Jul 2021 #69

My kids are already grown up thank you. Leave them out of your replies. dameatball Jul 2021 #78

Meanwhile, 10,000 children will starve to death. Daily, too. czarjak Jul 2021 #40

It's a glorified roller coaster ride Warpy Jul 2021 #41

It's like a new toy plaything for the billionaire class. ananda Jul 2021 #42

The hucksterism made the trip boring. Politicub Jul 2021 #47

Those darn billionaire bicycle repairmen from Ohio started all this. rickford66 Jul 2021 #50

THat's what happens when we don't tax the billionaires FoxNewsSucks Jul 2021 #51

Huge avid space fan here Dukkha Jul 2021 #52

+1 moondust Jul 2021 #59

Elysium - You Got The Thread Winner DanieRains Jul 2021 #70

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2021 #73

Mars. Iggo Jul 2021 #77

Repeating the previous success of Shepard's 1961 flight, but with... sanatanadharma Jul 2021 #54

I thought he was british? Mosby Jul 2021 #55

He is. DavidDvorkin Jul 2021 #60

He is British. Justice matters. Jul 2021 #68

They're standing on the shoulders of giants hotdamn00 Jul 2021 #64

This message was self-deleted by its author bringthePaine Jul 2021 #66

or: whopping re-entry fee like the GWB in NYC, maybe a cover & 2 drink minimum?... bringthePaine Jul 2021 #67

"The Beginning of a New Era" - Not... reACTIONary Jul 2021 #74

Yup. Joinfortmill Jul 2021 #80

this shit has always happened in America. WTF??? USALiberal Jul 2021 #84

Could not disagree more. Almost get off my lawn stuff. GulfCoast66 Jul 2021 #88

r&k MerryBlooms Jul 2021 #90

I did not watch nor listen to any of it today altough I had the chance to do so. The pre-coverage riversedge Jul 2021 #91

I don't give a flying fuck about Billionaires in Space. Crunchy Frog Jul 2021 #92

imo it's all about profit. babylonsister Jul 2021 #94

One thing I liked about all the coverage is how small and insignificant the former guy looks. Kota Jul 2021 #97

That is a good point.... PCIntern Jul 2021 #99