Breaking eggs to make an omelet...

 

"Until that happens, when something new and amazing comes along, we are stuck with the severe limitations of chemical rockets. And with chemical rockets, even Mars is a long, long journey away."  

Meanwhile, as the world spins out of control with wars, dysfunctional politics, and growing mayhem, there still is a space race which continues to march forward. When the ultra heavy SpaceX rocket (Starship) blew up shortly after launch on April 20th of this year, the naysayers came out in mass. "Elon is doing too much, too soon. He has way too much on his plate, and is pushing way too hard!" What did Elon think of what happened when his expensive Starship blew up a bit over minute after launch? He shrugged his shoulders, and thought it was just an average Thursday. Why would he think that? Because Elon knows you need to break a few eggs to make an omelet.

Jeff Bezos is also paying attention to what is going on with SpaceX. Why? He is still in the game. And so is NASA. In fact, NASA is not only a competitor of SpaceX, they are also a customer. So, what is in the offing for Blue Origin? Have not heard much from them as of late. As usual, Elon sucks all the oxygen out of the space race air. 

Get used to hearing the name New Glenn. That is the name of Blue Origin's answer to Starship. Both are "super heavy lifters", and are being made for life traveling to the Moon and beyond. Bezos also has some new rockets being developed for his Blue Ring project. Rockets which can deliver small satellites into low Earth orbit at a very reasonable cost. And I think Jeff might have learned a lesson. Make rockets which do not look like a giant sex object. Just saying... 

Despite Vladimir Putin threatening to blow everyone up on almost a daily basis, and China threatening war in the Pacific over Taiwan, good things are happening here on planet Earth. Even NASA is making progress, albeit at NASA's usual snail's pace. Work in progressing on the development on the Gateway Lunar Space Station, which will be an important link on NASA's Artemis Program. That will happen, just not as fast as Bezos and Musk operate. Why not? If NASA breaks a few eggs to make an omelet, the taxpayers will be crying bloody murder. For private launches such as SpaceX and Blue Origin to break a few eggs? Not so much.

Least but not forgotten, are other countries who will make big space progress this decade. China, Japan, India, Euro Zone, and maybe even the United Arab Emirates' will be joining the fray. As I have said in previous articles, space is about to get very crowded. But there is a big prize waiting for the country who has the right recipe. A new and improved propulsion system. That is the Golden Fleece, the Big Ticket for whomever can come up with something, anything, which can get mankind to travel at a fraction of light speed.

Until that happens, when something new and amazing comes along, we are stuck with the severe limitations of chemical rockets. And with chemical rockets, even Mars is a long, long journey away.