Those that tend to be "ahead of the curve" prefer to use the term "Gender" upon the applications for that very reason. But, it does tend to take the fun out of it. :)
“It would be good to start with a voluntary instrument defining good behavior, with transparency and confidence building measures: all those things that lead to a common understanding.” - Carine Claeys, the EU special envoy for space in the European External Action Service. Very sensible and quite possibly the only way forward. It's like teaching someone to identify counterfeit currency, best approach is to teach them what constitutes genuine currency and not trying to teach them all the examples of counterfeit only. They, the treaty formulators, had better get a move along because if/when Starship/Super Heavy becomes fully operational, anywhere near as planned, (commercial) space activities are quite likely going to shift into Spaceball's "ludicrous speed". :)
The problem with keeping the ISS in space, Tom, is that it has the potential of becoming the Arecibo of LEO. Due to the harsh space environment, it will eventually totally structurally disintegrate. It would be best, at some stage before that happens, to return it to Earth in pieces, using Starship (or it's equivalent), and reassemble within a protective building. Expensive, but, IMO, well worth it. Stay safe, Paul.
Agreed, Richard. Stay safe, Paul.
Richard, when you prove to be as wrong about Starship as Gary was about Falcon 9 booster re-use, you will, once again, have to take on a new name and a new pet hate about NewSpace. I guess a fire-eater has to eat fire, where ever they can invent it. Stay safe, Paul.
The economic benefits of re-usability is being demonstrated by SpaceX for all to see, but, when it comes to Arianespace, ULA, Roscosmos and the like, it seems, at least at this stage anyway, the old saying is proving to be quite true, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink".
I guess, Vlad, (once again) it all boils down to the perception of having to be gentle with the hand that feeds you. If everything keeps going the way it has been going, then the hands of NASA, Boeing, etc., will soon become irrelevancies. Stay safe, Paul.
I must object to part of your objection E.P.. :) NASA has not "given" money to SpaceX, they have paid for services to be rendered, and SpaceX is rendering those services. With regard to Jeff Foust and other writers, it is difficult, IMO, to remain giving the impression of being impartial to the accomplishments and aspirations of SpaceX, because they are doing so well and are constantly steering through unchartered waters. In trying to appear impartial, given their ongoing accomplishments, is is becoming easier and easier to appear shillish. Stay safe, Paul.
"... it may take more time, and more money, than originally envisioned", well who would have thunked? :)
“were designed in such a way that it was hard, even with regular maintenance such as painting, to keep moisture and other things from seeping in.” - so it was designed to eventually fail and possibly kill people. Unbelievable and in-excusable, IMO.
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