Comments on: ESA maps out first launch schedule for new rockets https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/esa-maps-out-first-launch-schedule-for-new-rockets/ Fri, 30 Oct 2020 01:34:22 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Ian C. https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/esa-maps-out-first-launch-schedule-for-new-rockets/#comment-1092321 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 01:34:22 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=70397#comment-1092321 Considering the sorry history of Ariane 6, which is mostly political begging and blackmailing, they should scrap it and do the reusable thing. Though, after I’ve seen what they do in that regard (repeating stuff SpaceX abandoned early, but the bureaucrats like it because someone [i.e. SpaceX] already did something similar in the past so “it’s safe”), I fear they still don’t get it right. It’s not about bold technical decisions or focusing on the market, it’s about pleasing politicians and bureaucrats who decide over their budget.

Couple years ago (2018?) I read what Ariane interns wrote about their time there. They called SpaceX’s launch vehicles unimpressive, old tech cardboard garbage cheaply glued together to capture the market, while Ariane was gold-plated, first-class engineering development where low prices never were the focus but innovation and perfection. I understand that this is the story they told (tell?) themselves to feel good about their work, but still…

There are a couple of private launch startups in the EU. And while they began ambitious, most eventually jumped under ESA’s wings — with all the timid and costly technical decisions and slow development it brings with it. SpaceX is smart to keep government money and interference out of Starship’s development.

John Gall (Systemantics author) described that mindset nicely: “The army is now fully prepared to fight the previous war.”

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