I've been seeing hate on NASA lately, being bought into by leftists even, and I just want to point out something very important:

Musk has hated NASA for a *long* time. There is a reason it is being attacked, and a reason public opinion is being swayed against NASA: It *keeps SpaceX in line* more than anything else.

NASA is being seen as "competition" to SpaceX, as the obstacle in his way. It has been like this for quite some time, and now, with DOGE and other things, he can do something about it.

I would like to point out a few things:

1. SPACEX IS NOT CHEAPER
They boast they can "do what NASA does for 10% the cost!" Sure, it's easy when you did none of the R&D.
SpaceX saved on:
Landing tech: DC-X project in 1991-1996
Tank structure: Shuttle SLWT tank, 1998-2011
Merlin Engines: direct descendant of the Fastrac Engine, 1997-2001.

Those three things alone saved SpaceX over 90% of the R&D costs. It's easy to "appear" cheap when you're using off the shelf tech someone else (NASA!) developed.

2. NASA IS GREAT FOR THE ECONOMY!
For every $1 spent on NASA, $8 is put into economy. Its stupid to not invest in that kind of ROI! 800%! At times, its ROI Has been 1600%!

Simply put, if you defund NASA, the economy would shrink so much you would actually have to RAISE taxes to make up for the lost revenue, and without its existence we would be 30 years behind in technology and the quality of life for everyone would be much lower. Science and research is GOOD for society, it's the fuel for all progress.

3. WHAT HAS NASA DONE FOR ME?! (Surely you just mean NASA is good for tech & science folk....)

Nope! Good for all!
Ever have an MRI or CAT Scan? They wouldn't exist without the Apollo program! The software that made them possible was originally written to analyze lunar photography.

Low power digital x-Rays was planetary body research.

Heart pumps are modeled after space shuttle turbopumps.

The software that designed your car was originally written to design spacecraft!

Who do you think pioneered all the early research into alternative power like solar panels, hydrogen fuel cells, and durable batteries? NASA!

NASA developed tech and satellites is also what improves agricultural yields while reducing the needs for water, fertilizer, and pesticides.

Do you really think Musk gives two shits? No. He wants the money, he wants to let SpaceX run amok without any oversight for safety, without any "competition".

All fights are important, but do realise that this one is a huge thorn in his side, and one that is keeping a huge problem from ballooning and swallowing us all whole.

Do not be fooled or swayed by lies, of tactics meant to divide, of things being done to make you be angry at NASA. If he can make you hate NASA, he won.

Expect far more space junk to fall, the night sky to be ruined by satellites, and the loss of all things good that proper research and design does for humanity and gives back to the world. Not to mention: enjoy seeing the horrible things he can accomplish fully unchecked.

ETA: Now that you know, call / fax / email your senators and reps, and whatever else too! Boosting gets people thinking, but thinking is not action!

#SpaceX #nasa #space #earth #science #technology

Well, my bosses have decided that even though I can name about five combinations of any two of our retail clients who outspend the entire USGov contract pile, they're going to bend the knee to the EOs and suspend our DEI board.

I need a new job by monday, and at this point I'm willing to wash dishes to do it. But if you know anyone who needs a Principal or Senior SRE, or could use a python dev for some backend-related purpose, I can be found at: mercenary AT arcanalabs DOT ca

https://zinebakery.com/homemade-zines/bakeshop-2-diywebarchiving
by @quinnanya, @Literature_Geek et al.
https://bsky.app/profile/quinnanya.me/post/3lge4ivwvuc2c

See also: https://archivebox.io/
(thanks @jessienab!)
Very easy setup: https://fedihum.org/@lavaeolus/113882223453058587

Especially for any kind of research data:
https://zenodo.org (run by CERN, well-established, you can private uploads)

Your personal #OpSec:
https://kolektiva.social/@hakan_geijer/113874291700366582

Also: https://fedihum.org/@lavaeolus/113874724067200515

Re #proton:
https://fedihum.org/@lavaeolus/113851617265495913

Via @parsonsj:
https://juntosseguros.com/

💜✊

I’m a Ukrainian fact-checker. Meta just handed Russia the keys to your newsfeed.
Meta claims it’s championing free speech. But for Ukrainians, it feels more like a death sentence for the truth. - Olga Yurkova

https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/01/12/im-a-ukrainian-fact-checker-meta-just-handed-russia-the-keys-to-your-newsfeed/?234hiuyb&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3kG06cWYcRuptMKqMbv19YexqwKOWRHcUnyFazoVFkIMk3N1nkDGYMQh8_aem_k0IMtjpjx_cpCAro1UZKUg