Boeing and Space X’s epic space race to Mars

Posted on by Simon in Space

The new space race is here. Just as in the 1960’s where Russia and America raced to get a man standing on the Moon Mars is now in the sights of two competing tribes. This time though it’s not countries but companies that are fighting it out.

IMG_20180113_173014.jpg
Boeing’s Space Launch System (SLS)

Boeing has boldly claimed that the mega rocket it’s building for NASA will get a human to Mars before Elon Musk’s Space X can. In a Tweet aimed directly at Elon Musk they threw down the gauntlet, Musk accepted this and now as they say the game is on!

Credit: Will Boeing Beat Space X to Mars?

Boeing has bet that it will get to Mars before Elon Musk’s Space X and it’s not messing about.

“Eventually we’re going to go to Mars, and I firmly believe the first person that sets foot on Mars will get there on a Boeing rocket” – Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg

 

What does Musk have to say about this? Well he’s going that much further. He’s currently developing the re-usable Falcon mega rocket that he want to help him not only get to Mars but build a colony on Mars. The Falcon Heavy is also going to help in this also, the test flight for this to be carried out sometime this month will carry his Tesla roadster into Mars orbit. Further to this the car will be playing David Bowie’s space oddity at full blast as it ascends.

Credit: Falcon Heavy to Launch Tesla Roadster

A lot hinges on this test flight, even Musk has said that the Falcon heavy is very complex and the launch might fail. Elon Musk is not just just creating new rocket technology, he seems to be trail blazing. If the first men to set foot on Mars are from Boeing then while it won’t be his favorite day I suspect his plans won’t change. He will still establish a colony on Mars and as he has stated before he want to die on Mars and start off Martian terraforming.

Whatever happens, this race will be exciting and the great thing about this is there’s no cold war threat in this race, no countries it’s the race between the US government’s space agency and the private enterprise. Personally I’m routing for Musk.

Simon 🙂

 

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Published by Simon

My name is Simon I'm an engineer, creator, free thinker and occasionally writer. For far too long I had ideas and nowhere to put them for the world to see, that's why Planet Simon was created. I'm an experimenter, explorer and fascinated by the world around me and the people in it. My exploration goes further than the known universe and expands out to universe's I've created in my mind and put onto the creative canvas. I'm not the person I used to be and over time I have evolved and the blog is evolving with me. Whatever this blog is in the future it's a place where all are welcome and ideas can roam free to find their magical place in the universe. I'm an experimenter, explorer and fascinated by the world around me and the people in it. My exploration goes further than the known universe and expands out to universe's I've created in my mind and put onto the creative canvas.

32 thoughts on “Boeing and Space X’s epic space race to Mars”

  2. I have recently began reading up on Mr. Musk and his companies and I think he has the motivation needed to accomplish his goals. He is a very interesting man and in a race between SpaceX and Boeing, I am definitely rooting for Musk to come out on top.
    With that said, however, I have noticed that a lot of people have been saying that he could help solve the problems we have with the money he has rather than creating a way for us to run away from it. My thoughts on that is that we are too far gone for redemption. People are saying that investing in charities and such would be a better course of action, but what would be the point if our planet dies within the next 1000 years? I think Musk is making the right choice in trying to colonise Mars because Earth will die one day, but that does not mean that mankind must as well.
    Nevertheless, a great read and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi, thanks for the great comment. I see where you’re going but the financial argument is more complex.

      The US government had made $11 from every$1 it’s put into NASA. Grimm that point of view it makes more sense to spend it and increase wealth so there’s more money to put into good causes. We won’t solve the world’s problems directly but going to Mars, it’s a dead world. But we also won’t solve them by doing nothing.

      The reality is that the world could solve it’s own problems if it wanted to. But it doesn’t. Wether we go to Mars or not is irrelevant.

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      Reply
  4. Pingback: Manic Monday Number 3! | Planet Simon

      1. it would certainly go a long way to helping … but with corruption rife in most countries there would have to be constructive community programs established so they maintain the momentum

        Liked by 1 person

      2. This is the thing I struggle with, with the best will in the world I feel we would achieve far more if people could stop being corrupt and fighting each other than anything else. But I have no idea really… I’m just guessing but it seems to make sense to me. ☺️

        Liked by 1 person

      3. but look even this trip to Mars is a huge competition .. imagine the funds saved if both teams cooperated? Moving elsewhere wont resolve any of our ongoing issues, it’s just relocating the same ones 😦

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I agree with all this, but as Elon Musk is doing this out of his own pocket is kind of hard to make him do anything another way.
        You’re right anywhere we go will take our problems with us.
        But there are two other things to remember, firstly if we want to keep going the way we are we need resources from somewhere else as earth is running out. I know we need to stop but let’s be honest, we won’t.

        Also the US has made $11 for every $1 it’s spent on NASA. If that’s true then keeps going then by making money, potentially there’s more money to spend on planet earth problems.

        I don’t disagree with you at all… It’s just complex ☺️

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I’m always keen to listen to other opinions. They have made $11 for every $1 spent becasue there is so much innovation going on that spills over from being used in the space program to being used in commercial use. This turns into profit for companies and tax for the government.
        One simple example is the electric drill – wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for NASA asking Black and Decker to develop it. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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