Starship exploded. Again. Like it always explodes. It explodes because it's a dead-end design. SpaceX will never reach the moon. SpaceX will never reach Mars. SpaceX sets the US space program back every day we foolishly decide to rely on it.
Exactly five years ago, NASA selected Starship as the Human Landing System for Artemis, but we are yet to see the glimpse of a flight unit.
For reference, five years after selection by NASA, the first Lunar Module built by Grumman was set on top of its Saturn IB before Apollo 5.
Not a SINGLE SpaceX mission has ever garnered the kind of press & goodwill of Artemis II. And that's for good reason: humanity can never truly rally behind a corporation.
NASA is for the people and by the people. SpaceX is for the shareholders.
So, here's something that needs to happen as soon as the IPO is closed - NASA needs to sue SpaceX for non-delivery on their Artemis III contract.
Why? SpaceX literally has not built a SINGLE vehicle of their lunar lander tech map. Nothing. No HLS, no tanker, no depot variant.
This cannot be allowed to continue - especially since the Artemis V provider, Blue Origin, has already tested out their pathfinder vehicle AND flight tested their Moon rocket New Glenn twice.
The image in this photo will never, ever, become reality.
Either investment in this garbage rocket is a sunk cost fallacy and endless money pit with no payout available at any point in the future.
Fuck Starship, fuck Musk, and let's get going with the serious work that needs to be completed for Artemis III and onwards.
Meanwhile, at SpaceX.
The FOURTH incident on the ground since IFT-11.
This time, one of those totally proven and perfectly engineered Raptor 3 engines.
You know what is Ironic. SpaceX/Musk followers love to bash Boeing. Boeing is a big part of Artemis. SLS was successful 2 out of 2 times. They and many NASA partners made Artemis I a success & are helping to make Artemis II a great success. This is more than Musk has done.