Another Private Space Startup

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Another Private Space Startup

Posted by michael on Friday April 25, 2003 @06:27AM from the to-the-moon-alice dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Wired has a story about former PayPal owner Elon Musk who has his own rocket company, SpaceX, trying to lower the cost of getting into space. They just tested the rocket engine, and hope to fly a test by the end of the year. Not bad for less than a year's worth of work so far." We mentioned this guy last year.

12 of 147 comments (clear)

gotta love it... by sundip01 · 2003-04-25 06:29 · Score: 5, Funny

by far, the greatest phenomenon in the world is that of the rich man with too much time on his hands....
Re:Private space? by WTFmonkey · 2003-04-25 06:33 · Score: 3, Funny

Just checked out the website. Tagline:

"Be the first on your block to ride a big shiny dildo to the moon!"
Re:John Carmack by Anonymous Coward · 2003-04-25 06:35 · Score: 3, Funny

NO?

REALLY?

Why havent I read about this on slashdot?

Also, I'm curious if you have any information on this "water is wet" theory I've been hearing about.
Fitting for former PayPal founder by Ooblek · 2003-04-25 06:36 · Score: 3, Funny

Now that he helped make an electronic payment method to help the corrupt hide money and defraud eBay auctioneers, he has invented a punishment method for those caught in the act! Get caught using a hacked PayPal account, get blasted into space!
Or maybe it is to blast the 5 PayPal customer dis-service employees into space....
This guy doesn't look like Emperor Ming by any chance does he?
I've Got a Rocket Company Too by Greyfox · 2003-04-25 06:38 · Score: 4, Funny

We have a pressurized water engine, but we need a lot of volunteers to work the pump. Anyone want to sign on?
Do they still have those little platic water rockets or have they gone the way of the lawn dart?

--
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Exciting, yes, but... by ackthpt · 2003-04-25 06:40 · Score: 5, Funny

How long before the following happen:
There's a big Nike swoosh in the night sky
An errant launch vehicle kills someone (the goverment just gets all somber and hands out taxpayer money, what would a private company do, buy Space Explorer insurance? Bet that's not gonna be cheap...)
Servers are running in space, immune from meddling DMCA-type laws, sending spam, etc. ("In tonight's news, a SpamHaus missile took out RalskySat I, also the RIAA plans to launch a series of jamming satellites as CD prices top $75 each.")
People start spamming me with Timeshares over Florida offers...

--

A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
I Can See It Now... by ackthpt · 2003-04-25 06:48 · Score: 5, Funny

Fitting for former PayPal founder
Piece of Elon Musk's Rocket
Item # 76445898124
Starting Bid: $1,000.00
Current High Bid: $3,487,840.25 CmdrTacoBidsAMillion
Item Description: Actual part of Elon Musk's Rocket which landed in my back yard! RARE! Shipping to include $100 freight. Pay by check or money order, I DO *NOT* ACCEPT PAYPAL!

--

A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Re:Very dangerous by Coz · 2003-04-25 06:51 · Score: 3, Funny

Ignore that troll beneath the gantry... if/when one of these private gigs takes off, he'll be crisped in the backwash....

--
I love vegetarians - some of my favorite foods are vegetarians.
NASA Guidelines by hndrcks · 2003-04-25 06:53 · Score: 4, Funny

Hey, guys - if your rocket starts to malfunction - can you point it at - say - the Moon? We're looking for water.

--
Everyone will start to cheer when you put on your sailin' shoes.
In Future News..... by skreuzer · 2003-04-25 06:57 · Score: 4, Funny

Former PayPal owner Elon Musk is dead
His site won already! by Superfreaker · 2003-04-25 06:59 · Score: 3, Funny

I think his server just went into orbit.
Re:Nerds in space by Cyno · 2003-04-25 07:29 · Score: 4, Funny

That... and whomever develops a working "warp drive" will probably have to be a Star Trek geek...

And get sued by Paramount for violating their trademarks.