An Evolving Strategy For SpaceX?
Elon Musk’s surprising secret weapon: Trump?, CNN
“In recent weeks, the Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX CEO has been named to Trump’s team of business advisers and visited Trump Tower twice. The first time he was part of a big meeting with tech CEOs; the second came earlier this month for a private meeting with Trump’s top aides. The blossoming relationship between Musk and Trump’s camp has caught the attention of Tesla investors. “Elon Musk has an important line of communication to Donald Trump through his role as a strategic advisor to the President-elect,” Adam Jonas, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, wrote in an investor note Thursday. “We believe this level of coordination with the new administration could actually evolve into greater strategic value than with the prior administration,” Jonas added. While the investor note was specifically about Tesla, it could also apply to SpaceX, which has lucrative government contracts for space shipments.”
I would not be surprised if Musk appeals to Trump as a capitalist. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the SLS/Orion/Commercial Crew arena.
==== Musk on LV Costs:
“The Atlas V – one of the most successful rockets of United Launch Alliance – has 3 different engines. To produce these engines, they need 3 different lines, multiplying cost by 3”
ITS: “a fully reuseable LV, refilling propellants in orbit, ISRU”
==== Energy
“Carbon fuel is running out, not if, but when”
“There is a hidden subsidy in all carbon producing activity. If you have $10 in economic benefit and $4 harm to society that’s not taxed, you have a net profit of $10, with a result of 35 gigatons of carbon per year into the atmosphere.”
“This results in $5.3T/yr subsidy for fossil fuels. We need to have a carbon tax that is neither a left or right issue, phased in over say 5 yrs, because the rules today say “create carbon”. Incentivise and it will happen”.
BP Says World has 53 years of Oil Left– OPEC 71.9%
http://jalopnik.com/bp-says…
https://rctom.hbs.org/submi…
https://youtu.be/xKCuDxpccY…
Yes that would be most interesting, if not favorable.
Yet, as far as we know, the first meeting might have been Trump asking “Why don’t you just buy your engines from Russia like Lockheed and Orbital?”.
The second meeting could have been where Musk explained the disadvantageous ISP of rocket engines powered by coal.
We continue to hope for the best.
“Trump reportedly interested in a Mars mission”
“Trump reportedly talked about Mars exploration and public-private partnerships with Elon Musk during a meeting”
http://spacenews.com/trump-…
Vlad…I like the new look. I’m guessing that Trump and Musk are on the same page.
Both Trump and Musk have forged highly successful business empires, clearly they have much common ground even if their views on many things differ widely, Musk understands that for the next (very crucial for Musk) 4 years at least he need to form a good working relationship with Donald Trump if he is to achieve his rather loft goals, Trump on the other hand must realize that Musk is exactly the sort of business visionary who could clearly be a valuable asset, not only do his companies represent exactly the sort of “proudly made in America” attitude that Trump has made his mantra, but also by supporting companies like Tesla, Solar City etc. who are working on “green technologies” he can perhaps soften some of the criticism for his anti environmental stance without being seen as going back on his tough pre-election talk.
Trump’s hats at the inauguration were made in china.. he has never actually practiced what he preaches.
I Don’t think he’s the first president in history who does’t exactly practice what he preaches. Still doesn’t effect the fact Elon Musk is a good fit for what he does preach.
I agree. His business is primarily entertainment, in particular the marketing of his name. He has never been involved in manufacturing or other high wage industries.Hotel traditionally hire illegal immigrants for low-wage jobs.
This was dealt with early during the election.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour…
So the ones you are referencing are also likely unapproved knockoffs, a major problem actually with all types of goods not just hats.
http://www.seattletimes.com…
Hopefully this is one of the issues President Trump will push with on China. Requiring documentation and extensive inspections would probably be more effective than a tariff. Japan has used that tactic against American products for decades greatly increasing their costs when imported.
I guess this is where whatever Musk’s idea of the Gigafactory currently is expands in scope again and a number of them will sprout up across the Midwest.