From Doom to the Moon

[1prophet]

Lunar lander prototype takes to the air
Congratulation's to John and the rest of the team at Armadillo Aerospace for their succesful test, but what bothers me is this:

The contest is part of NASA's Centennial Challenges program, which offers prizes to promote the commercial development of technologies that could come into play in the space agency's effort to return to the moon. The Lunar Lander Challenge represents the richest contest to date.

John Carmack went from the drawing board to working prototype in six months:

"It's been six months from a drawing on a piece of paper to now," he said. "I'm very proud of my team.

What happened to all the technology and knowledge from the Apollo program which is over 30 years old since it looks like we have to reinvent the wheel all over again?


And please, no "we never landed on the moon" conspiracy theories since it was not done once, twice, or even three times but a total of six times, Apollo 11-Apollo 17 minus Apollo 13 which had the accident.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: 1prophet

What happened to all the technology and knowledge from the Apollo program which is over 30 years old since it looks like we have to reinvent the wheel all over again?

The civillian guys have to find a way to do the same thing that Apollo accomplished at an order of magnitude or more less cost. Hence, they pretty much do have to re-invent everything.

It's kind of like if you were able to buy a 5Ghz Core 2 Duo for $200 in a few years and started complaining because the guys at Xtremesys were getting their chips that high since 2006. Of course they had to build a $1000 cooling system to keep it stable and burned out components every few weeks.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Most of the technology is available for reverse-engineering by those who want to pursue it.
The propriatory data and patent technology has been witheld, but is available for use under
government supervised liscensing agreements by those who wish to go that route.

Otherwise, start over - and do your own 50 - 60 years of research, and figure out the manufacturing processes yourself from scratch.

Start with the firecracker in the dog-food can that is placed inside the bigger can that's half full of water - that'll net you the first 35 feet of altitude.
Now proceed with your own capital expenditures.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

^ Knows his shat!

IMHO, the current approach is about "fresh" ideas. Why just go old school, before seeing what the new generations of thinkers, innovators, and entreprenuers can bring to the table? The ability to computer simulate so much now, should accelerate development too.

What happened to all the technology and knowledge from the Apollo program which is over 30 years old since it looks like we have to reinvent the wheel all over again?

I don't see it like that. It isn't "reinventing the wheel", it is "building a better mouse trap".

 

[1prophet]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Most of the technology is available for reverse-engineering by those who want to pursue it.
The propriatory data and patent technology has been witheld, but is available for use under
government supervised liscensing agreements by those who wish to go that route.

Otherwise, start over - and do your own 50 - 60 years of research, and figure out the manufacturing processes yourself from scratch.

Start with the firecracker in the dog-food can that is placed inside the bigger can that's half full of water - that'll net you the first 35 feet of altitude.
Now proceed with your own capital expenditures.

Isn't this being done for the benefit of NASA and America or have we changed, to paraphrase Neil Armstrong "one small step for man one giant leap for mankind" because today it seems like it's every man for himself?

 

[CaptnKirk]

NASA Techlology is an open book.


Lockheed and Boeing Propriatory Technology is available, under license, to those willing to pay to play.


C'Mon down, ya hear?