Where did I say I was pro space colonisation ???
I thinks you are misunderstanding a lot of things I say, I blame My poor English for it.
But exploring is never a waste, and the space industry and exploration is a ridiculously small portion of the economy. Even if it is “a waste” it’s a small one.
A planet is a place, a comet is a place, the Kuiper belt is kind of a place. All those things are object you can study.
It’s speculation, not belief. Kim Stanley Robinson is writing fiction but the question he ask to his reader are real questions.
Musk is making unrealistic promises but agencies like ESA make interesting science, you can’t put all of them in the same bag.
Musk publicity stunt ? > I agree
Space exploration > I don’t think so.
I get your frustration but it’s not that bad, there is no real reason to be angry here.
Fair enough !
Science does not have to answer those questions, but scientists (as well informed individuals) can ask them I think. Ultimately it is a political decision, on a global level.
I wonder if the mannequin incorporates a lightweight and low-power sensor and telemetry package to gauge how long the suit can stand up to full exposure to space. That could send back useful test data for a while yet.
I thought I saw something prior to launch in regards to getting some data back from the suit but alas can’t find now. Perhaps just a fashion show after all.
The government buys launch services from SpaceX, under firm fixed-price contracts. At less than half the price they’d pay from other launch service providers.
That’s not a ‘subsidy.’ That’s payment for services rendered. Far from costing the taxpayers money, they’re saving taxpayers billions.
So, do you have any oil-lobbyist propaganda to share regarding SpaceX, or do we have have to settle for whatever fake-news mud you can sling at Tesla?
I agree with you, but that last graf is unfair. Just as one can be a critic of big pharma without being an anti-vaxxer, one can criticise Tesla’s business practises without being a fossil fuel industry shill.
Actually, they’ve always hated Musk, and yes, definitely do consider him part of the conspiracy. There are vanishingly few people not In On It, but he is specifically a Big Bad. (see Oh No Ross and Carrie Flat Earther series…)
Tesla Roadster Two Thousand Eighteen, Galaxie 5-0-0,
All the way stars’ green, gotta go.
Tesla Roadster Two Thousand Eighteen, top down, chassis low,
Panel dim, light drive, Elon on the dashboard.
T-minus whenever it feels right, Galaxie 5-0-0.
Planets align, a king is born.
I would be surprised if the car and the suit weren’t loaded with equipment, sensors, etc. Not millions of dollars worth of stuff, but probably tens of thousands.
Radiation exposure sensing, at the very least. i.e. geiger counters with some way to either record that data to be retrieved later, or telemetry to beam it somewhere, either the DSN, or just direct to earth at some point.
They have not yet had the chance to test that suit in deep space, and this would be a perfect opportunity.
Yes I’m an Elton John fan, deal with it. 
