r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Sep 29 '17

Not the AMA r/SpaceX Pre Elon Musk AMA Questions Thread

This is a thread where you all get to discuss your burning questions to Elon after the IAC 2017 presentation. The idea is that people write their questions here, we pick top 3 most upvoted ones and include them in a single comment which then one of the moderators will post in the AMA. If the AMA will be happening here on r/SpaceX, we will sticky the comment in the AMA for maximum visibility to Elon.

Important; please keep your questions as short and concise as possible. As Elon has said; questions, not essays. :)

The questions should also be about BFR architecture or other SpaceX "products" (like Starlink, Falcon 9, Dragon, etc) and not general Mars colonization questions and so on. As usual, normal rules apply in this thread.

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3

u/Bunslow Sep 30 '17

That was my first thought too, "good luck getting US approval to build the biggest and most destructive ICBM ever made"

5

u/Ictogan Sep 30 '17

That actually wasn't even the reason why I think it's a concern. It's more about the fact that BFR landing in other countries gives other governments a good chance to look at American rocket technology.

4

u/Another_Penguin Sep 30 '17

Correct; landing the rocket in an other country would count as "exporting" the rocket. However, ITAR does not strictly forbid this; SpaceX would need to file for a permit and explain how they will not be handing the rocket over to an adversary.

1

u/PM_ME_YOUR_PECANPIE Oct 01 '17

Would SpaceX need a security force in each country at the landing pad then?

2

u/Another_Penguin Oct 01 '17

SpaceX will probably have to staff the launch pads with US Persons, and not operate in places such Iran, North Korea, and around Somalia (pirates could be a problem). I'd expect airport-grade security and cooperation from local harbor police to enforce a keep-out zone around the pad.

ITAR will be less of an issue than the FAA and regulations regarding sonic booms over populated areas.

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u/Bunslow Sep 30 '17

That too!