• rtxn@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    21
    ·
    1 year ago

    I still consider Falcon 9 to be a good thing that he made possible by funding its development and manufacturing. It’s given small companies and scientific organizations affordable access to space, and created actual competition in the small satellite launch business. It certainly inspired other companies, like Rocket Lab and Astra, to develop low-cost orbital launch and sounding rockets.

    But then, all of his other anti-society things combined with him having turned into a borderline fascist moron… the scale just doesn’t level out.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      40
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      But that’s the thing and it’s the reason why the praise for him always went way too far- he funded the Falcon 9. He didn’t help design it. He’s an investor, not an inventor. I wish people understood that even if they admired him.

      • echo64@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        24
        ·
        1 year ago

        Clarification, he didn’t fund falcon 9. Other investors funded it. He just takes all the praise.

      • NumbersCanBeFun@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        13
        ·
        1 year ago

        You highlight a very important distinction my friend. Any rich asshole can fund something. It doesn’t make you smart, it just makes you loaded with capital.

      • rtxn@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yes, the wording was very deliberate. Has to be when the subject isn’t entirely good or entirely evil.