• LWD@lemm.ee
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    3 days ago

    Well, at least it was a private company rocket ship and not my tax dollars… Right?

    • sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      3 days ago

      https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/musk-government-contracts-spacex-tesla-taxes-b2703141.html

      In total, $20.7 billion pleged/paid to SpaceX since 2008, $8.7 billion actually paid as of a few months ago, $3.4 awarded/pledged in just 2024.

      Its funny, I remember being raised conservative and being taught that no one spends money as wisely as someone spending their own money.

      Welp, thats out the fucking window for all subcontractors, as well as… just give poor/homeless/rent overburdened people money, and they’ll help themselves far more efficiently than a giant bureacracy will.

    • hddsx@lemmy.ca
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      3 days ago

      I mean, yes. The advantage of fixed priced contracts over traditional cost plus contracts is that instead of Boeing twiddling their thumbs for three years wasting time trying to figure out why their original design is shit and having the government pay for it, space x is just out a rocket. Government gives 0 shits. I wonder if there penalties built in if it’s behind schedule

      • captainastronaut@seattlelunarsociety.org
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        3 days ago

        With a functioning federal government I would agree with you. But unfortunately they have an open checkbook right now, with no accountability or critical oversight.

        • coleA
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          3 days ago

          I hate to be this guy, but this is just… not true. That’s not how this works at all. How is the government giving SpaceX money outside of a contract? They aren’t.

          Everyone wants to find a reason to hate SpaceX because Musk, but the truth is SpaceX is a well-ran innovative company.

          • LWD@lemm.ee
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            2 days ago

            I hate to be this guy

            Then don’t be. I’m not sure why you feel the need to glaze the world’s richest political agent, unless…

            Are you a SpaceX employee? You’ve said this in the past.

            Most people at SpaceX genuinely love the mission and will work longer hours because it’s almost a passion.

            We’re pretty well-compensated too.

            • coleA
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              2 days ago

              SpaceX ≠ Elon Musk

              • LWD@lemm.ee
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                2 days ago

                “Well-run” implies that of the people running it, i.e. CEO Elon Musk. A quick search on Glassdoor reveals “CEO approval.”

                I don’t expect you to speak negatively about the person who signs your paychecks, especially because he’s so obsessed with censoring social media, but when you praise vague “good leadership” and leave it at that, it does make a rational person skeptical.

                • coleA
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                  2 days ago

                  Please read a bit about Gwynne Shotwell. She’s amazing and runs the company very competently.

                  • LWD@lemm.ee
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                    2 days ago

                    I’m way more interested on your opinions of CEO (and Chair and CTO) Elon Musk, especially because you’d apparently rather talk about anybody but him.

          • LWD@lemm.ee
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            3 days ago

            SpaceX is a well-ran innovative company

            their rocket just blew up