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Honda conducts successful launch and landing of experimental reusable rocket

(global.honda)
1355 points LorenDB | 1 comments | 17 Jun 25 15:02 UTC | HN request time: 0.267s | source
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whatever1 ◴[17 Jun 25 16:02 UTC] No.44300677[source]▶
Question why is it so easy today to build reusable rockets? Is it because the onboard cpu speed of the chips can solve more granular control problems with low latency?
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roshdodd ◴[17 Jun 25 16:41 UTC] No.44301068[source]▶
As someone who actively works in the field, it was a culmination of:

- Advances in rocket engine design & tech to enable deep throttling

- Control algorithms for propulsive landing maturing (Google "Lars Blackmore", "GFOLD", "Mars Landing", and work through the references)

- Forward thinking and risk-taking by SpaceX to further develop tech demonstrated by earlier efforts (DC-X, Mars Landing, etc.)

Modern simulation and sensor capabilities helped, but were not the major enabling factors.

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giarc ◴[17 Jun 25 21:34 UTC] No.44304198[source]▶
>Forward thinking and risk-taking by SpaceX to further develop tech demonstrated by earlier efforts (DC-X, Mars Landing, etc.)

Is this basically a technical way of saying "people realized it could be done"? Like the 4 minute mile, once it was done once, many people accomplished the same feat soon after. The realization that it was possible changed people's perception.

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nottorp ◴[18 Jun 25 08:00 UTC] No.44307653[source]▶
Even "Musk realized it could be done". He had a few good ideas. Or pushed for a few good ideas until they were put in practice.

Unfortunately then he stopped taking his dried frog pills and look where he is now...

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voidUpdate ◴[18 Jun 25 08:40 UTC] No.44307912[source]▶
Did Musk realize it could be done, or did he pay some engineers to realise it could be done?
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1. Gareth321 ◴[19 Jun 25 09:40 UTC] No.44316979[source]▶
When companies fail, is it the result of leadership or employees? Companies need great employees and leaders to succeed and without both, they typically fail. Hiring excellent people then motivating them all in the same direction is very difficult. Being such a leader and having access to capital and being willing to risk bankruptcy in very high risk endeavours like this is exceedingly rare.