I have to say Musk has brought back the two astronauts where the entire existing global space world failed to do so. Those who criticise Trump for asking Musk to sort out the chaos in administration of Government in the USA should bear this in mind.

I had to laugh when the media did what they can not to mention Musk in any shape or form, he was a media darling and did numerous cameos in TV sitcoms.

I'm not sure if the current US administration is to be believed if it's saying that the administration of government was in chaos, especially as it seems to be causing plenty of chaos of its own, like axeing USAID.

'People will starve' because of US aid cut to Sudan

Without USAID, My Neighbors in Sudan are Starving

US cuts send South Africa's HIV treatment 'off a cliff'

Trump’s gutting of USAID sends chill through Southeast Asia

I find it staggering that many African countries still can't stand on their own 2 feet.

Here are some of the reasons:-

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Africa


Ironically many African countries (like Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe) have vast quantities of precious ores and metals underground.

However they don't have the financial or technical ability to mine them - although richer countries (particularly China) are now commencing partnerships there.

I think Musky is an idiot. The chainsaw thing, the cuts to welfare, the idiot Tesla cars which are horrendously unattractive and dangerous. The inability to be able to convert actions into well tailored media communication. And I still believe he and Trump are destined to clash and then will come the crash and burn. Even without his horrible cars.

Green Man wrote:
I find it staggering that many African countries still can't stand on their own 2 feet.

How much aid do these obscenely wealthy oil rich countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar give to poorer nations in Africa and some which are right on their actual doorstep. How can Saudi be so lavish yet Yemen be so poor on the very same Arabian peninsula, and why is it always the USA and Western Europe that are the ones that have to feel guilty about the rest of the world. Do the oil rich Arabs have the same guilt or overseas aid budgets?

Regards African nations, I do think we in the West can be guilty at times of only looking at them from a stereotypical viewpoint which isn't always accurate. Can Nigeria stand on it's own two feet for example? A very young median age and an exploding vast population, if they can't then they need advice on birth control, not bringing hundreds of millions more into the world that they can't manage who will all want to migrate elsewhere.

I watched the NASA stream of the return to earth last night and found it fascinating to watch without the input of the mainstream media butting in all over the place. They explained things very well too. I even learnt a new word, egress, which simply meant exit, when they spoke of them egressing the dragon capsule. If Elon Musk is such a genius then when will we be returning to earth after such missions in a better way. As I saw the capsule bobbing about on the surface of the sea after it deployed its parachutes I realised that in the year 2025 we are still coming back to earth the same as we were in 1969 from the moon. Space Shuttle aside, that doesn't seem like much progress on re-entry since the 1960s does it.

Rich wrote:
Green Man wrote:
I find it staggering that many African countries still can't stand on their own 2 feet.

How much aid do these obscenely wealthy oil rich countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar give to poorer nations in Africa and some which are right on their actual doorstep. How can Saudi be so lavish yet Yemen be so poor on the very same Arabian peninsula, and why is it always the USA and Western Europe that are the ones that have to feel guilty about the rest of the world. Do the oil rich Arabs have the same guilt or overseas aid budgets?

Regards African nations, I do think we in the West can be guilty at times of only looking at them from a stereotypical viewpoint which isn't always accurate. Can Nigeria stand on it's own two feet for example? A very young median age and an exploding vast population, if they can't then they need advice on birth control, not bringing hundreds of millions more into the world that they can't manage who will all want to migrate elsewhere.

I watched the NASA stream of the return to earth last night and found it fascinating to watch without the input of the mainstream media butting in all over the place. They explained things very well too. I even learnt a new word, egress, which simply meant exit, when they spoke of them egressing the dragon capsule. If Elon Musk is such a genius then when will we be returning to earth after such missions in a better way. As I saw the capsule bobbing about on the surface of the sea after it deployed its parachutes I realised that in the year 2025 we are still coming back to earth the same as we were in 1969 from the moon. Space Shuttle aside, that doesn't seem like much progress on re-entry since the 1960s does it.

Agree with every word Rich. And I cannot be doing with farting about in space and then there aint enough money to feed everyone. Not wanting to sound like Bob Geldof. lol.

It seems that Trump and Musk's claims about the return of the astronauts, e.g. that Biden abandoned them and Trump expedited their return, with Musk sending up a rescue ship, are false. What a surprise.

The Facts Behind the Delayed Return of U.S. Astronauts

...During the Hannity interview, Musk claimed that at Trump’s request “we are accelerating the return of the astronauts, which was postponed, kind of, to a ridiculous degree,” saying that “they were left up there for political reasons, which is not good.”

In response to Musk’s claims, several astronauts took to X to refute the idea that the astronauts were purposefully abandoned. Andreas Mogensen, a former SpaceX astronaut from Denmark, posted: “What a lie. And from someone who complains about lack of honesty from the mainstream media.” In response to Mogensen, Elon replied: “You are fully retarded. SpaceX could have brought them back several months ago. I OFFERED THIS DIRECTLY to the Biden administration and they refused. Return WAS pushed back for political reasons. Idiot.”

Mogensen responded by stating, “Elon, I have long admired you and what you have accomplished, especially at SpaceX and Tesla. You know as well as I do, that Butch and Suni are returning with Crew-9, as has been the plan since last September. Even now, you are not sending up a rescue ship to bring them home. They are returning on the Dragon capsule that has been on ISS since last September.”...