Jim Davis: If I was being blackmailed I’d be glad, because it would mean someone might look into the bad things the blackmailer is doing.

Washington has become a truly ugly place, far uglier than it ever was in the past (and it was never pretty). Bad dishonest things now go on there all the time, sometime in the plain light of day, and no one is ever punished for them. I would not be surprised if more of the same occurred here.

This is totally irresponsible, Bob. How would like it if someone speculated that your actions or positions on issues weren’t because of principle, but because you were being blackmailed? You’re diminishing Loverro by implying he can’t be acting according to his own principles or for his own reasons.

Loverro probably abruptly resigned for the same reasons anyone abruptly resigns. A promise was made to him that wasn’t kept or he delivered an ultimatum to no effect. I doubt there is anything sinister going on here.

https://spacenews.com/report-finds-delays-and-cost-overruns-in-sls-mobile-launch-platform-development/

Yes, thats Billion with a B dollars spent for a launch platform which is expected to maybe someday launch up to FOUR launches!

SpaceX’s methodology is not about producing a “solid design” but more about producing effective systems that solve current problems all while embracing change at a pace that keeps their “design” productive, cost-effective and in-demand. Certainly a novel way to approach the problems of space access and which few competing enterprises can emulate. Having a vision on the scale of Mr. Musk’s makes building rockets in tents out in a wasteland perfectly feasible and a joy to see.

How many dirty prototypes can Space X build and fly with that billion dollars?

But I note that EM constantly restates that the development of the manufacturing process is the 1000% harder part. Is he not starting on that until he has a solid design? His comments to date seem to say no – trying do do both. Is that your interpretation too?

Ps. Years ago I got to see the massive AN-225 Mryia transport at an air show. Everyone was amazed including me – then I walked back under the tail and looked up at the sheet metal fairing the hull to the horizontal tail plane. Jesus H. Christ! It was about lawnmower-repair-shop quality, not even as good as Starship SN Zero! I understand the AC was completely rebuilt several years ago, thank God!

I recall seeing pictures of stainless-steel (?) Atlas boosters by the dozen lined up in a General Dynamics factory circa 1960s, and they looked like they were made of polished glass, compared to anything I have seen at Boca Chica. Is SpaceX heading down a blind alley? Yes, I know those boosters were pressurized balloons, but they sure looked flawless.

I am bringing this up because I have heard so much about the advanced friction-stir welding techniques pioneered by the SLS project, which apparently produce superb results, and I wonder if they or a derivative are the answer to SpaceX’s requirements? But can you build an SLS in a field, which Elon seems to think is required to meet the volume and costs he has targeted? Maybe SLS will not end up being a total waste?

Rose: I tried to email you directly today, but the email address you give is not yours, but belongs to someone else who emailed me to say “I often receive emails for an American woman who seems not to know her own email address.”

If you are going to keep commenting, you need to provide your real email address, which is not seen by anyone but me.

So perhaps relevant, but not nearly as suggestive as if it had been announced today.