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Space Shuttle To Be Replaced By SpaceX For ISS Resupply

destinyland writes "Next year SpaceX will perform resupply missions for the International Space Station after the Space Shuttle is grounded, as part of a $3.5 billion NASA resupply contract. 'The fledgling space industry is reminiscent of the early days of the personal computer,' notes one technology reporter, 'when a number of established vendors and startups reversed-engineered Microsoft's DOS and manufactured PCs using the Intel 8080 chip set. We're likely to see a similar industry shakeout in the private space vehicle market segment in the coming decades.'"

7 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Alternate History Much? by onkelonkel · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's all true. If Steve Jobs hadn't been off flying his private plane the day IBM came to buy an OS PC's would have all been running MacDOS, and Bill Gates would be selling snow tires to Hutterites in Minot, North Dakota.

    --
    None of them can see the clouds; The polished wings don't care.
  2. Re:If You Can't Lead--Get Out Of the Way by mweather · · Score: 4, Funny

    I explored Paris via Google Maps, but it's just not the same as being there.

  3. Re:If You Can't Lead--Get Out Of the Way by solevita · · Score: 5, Funny

    Problem is that all that stuff in space is much harder to get to than Paris, although probably less hostile to foreigners.

  4. 640 by interactive_civilian · · Score: 5, Funny

    640 tonnes of lift capacity ought to be enough for anyone. ;)

    --
    "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
  5. Re:If You Can't Lead--Get Out Of the Way by Kjella · · Score: 4, Funny

    I explored Paris via Google Maps, but it's just not the same as being there.

    Actually you were checking out Paris on a completely different site, but the same principle applies.

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  6. Re:Reverse Engineered Microsoft DOS??? by Chris+Burke · · Score: 5, Funny

    If this is like the computer revolution of the '80s, I wonder who will be claiming that we need a rocket on every desk...

    A stark contrast to when it was like the computer revolution of the '60s.

    <glayven> I predict that in a hundred years, rockets will be twice as powerful, ten thousand times larger, and so expensive only the five riches CEOs in the West will be able to afford them! <glayven>

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  7. Re:Reverse Engineered Microsoft DOS??? by fractoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    Two guys in a garage could start a small hardware or software company and have a shot of success.

    Yeah, playing with LEO-capable rocket motors in your garage tends to piss of the neighbours, if not the feds. :/

    --
    Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.