How the U.S. government came to rely on the tech billionaire—and is now struggling to rein him in.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Von Braun came up with the concept for a reusable rocket in the 50s. Not being able to figure it out was not the issue.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        And a horrible Nazi. Let’s not forget that. The U.S. tried to make everyone forget that.

        But yes, he was a genius.

        • srgtDodo@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          oh I know! It’s just that some humans throughout history had this insane amount of intelligence and creativity and they jumped our level of technology, and our understanding of the universe by decades, or arguably even more! It always blows my mind that there are people like that

    • Comment105@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      You strike me as an academic that struggles to appreciate the value of applied physics and engineering.

        • Comment105@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Because Von Braun’s contribution was small in comparison to what SpaceX R&D contributed.

          But that seems lost on you, it was certainly not obvious to you.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Yes, because Von Braun’s idea wasn’t funded. It would have worked had it been funded. That’s the whole point.

            • Comment105@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              Too bad he didn’t have a rich asshole without a clue about engineering to accidentally stumble upon him and his work then.