Why Neil deGrasse Tyson is wrong: Scientist explains why SpaceX’s achievements surpass NASA’s
Daniel Levi
Posted On September 10, 2024
Neil deGrasse Tyson recently sparked a debate with his claim that Elon Musk hasn’t done anything that NASA hasn’t already accomplished. Tyson, an astrophysicist known for making science accessible, seemed to imply that Musk’s achievements with SpaceX were simply retreads of what NASA had already pioneered. But not everyone agrees with that take.
In a video clip posted on X, Dr. Tyson said that Elon Musk’s SpaceX “hasn’t done anything that NASA hasn’t already done” and doubts that “his new ventures have commercial support, [and] commercial value.”
NASA has not done supersonic retropropulsion to land a booster. I remember being in a meeting at NASA where one of the agency’s top experts on supersonic retropropulsion was saying they weren’t sure it could be stable. Now SpaceX does it routinely. So there’s that. https://t.co/wfbJ6gcbYW
— Dr. Phil Metzger (@DrPhiltill) September 10, 2024
However, Dr. Philip Metzger, a planetary physicist who recently retired from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and current Director of the Stephen W. Hawking Center for Microgravity Research & Education at the University of Central Florida, has a different view. Metzger, who helped establish NASA’s Swamp Works—a lab focused on innovative space tech—offered a quick rebuttal, pointing out that Musk’s SpaceX has tackled challenges that NASA itself had left on the drawing board.
His research focuses on advancing our understanding of solar system exploration, including how rocket exhaust interacts with extraterrestrial soils, the mechanics of these soils, creating accurate lunar and Martian soil simulants, and modeling the movement of volatile materials on airless celestial bodies.
NASA Has Not Done Supersonic Retropropulsion to Land a Booster
Take supersonic retropropulsion, for example, this mouthful of a term involves using rocket engines to slow down a vehicle moving at supersonic speeds or speed of sound. It’s a crucial technique for landing on planets like Mars, where the thin atmosphere can’t fully slow down a spacecraft with parachutes alone, but still demands some aerodynamic braking to ensure a safe landing. While NASA explored the concept, there were doubts about whether it could be effective in real-world scenarios. SpaceX, however, has turned it into a routine part of their operations.
In response to Tyson, Dr. Metzger pointed out that NASA has never used supersonic retropropulsion to land a booster, a feat that SpaceX now performs routinely.
“NASA has not done supersonic retropropulsion to land a booster. I remember being in a meeting at NASA where one of the agency’s top experts on supersonic retropropulsion was saying they weren’t sure it could be stable. Now SpaceX does it routinely. So there’s that,” Metzger recalls. Yet, SpaceX has made it look almost routine.
SpaceX developed and successfully employed this technique to bring its Falcon 9 boosters safely back to Earth—something NASA has never done. By routinely landing and reusing rockets, SpaceX slashed the cost of space travel and set new standards for the industry. Musk’s company has transformed what was once considered a long shot into a dependable part of its operations.
So, while NASA remains a cornerstone of space exploration and research, the reality is that SpaceX has been blazing new trails. It’s not about one-upmanship but about innovation and pushing the envelope further than many thought possible. SpaceX has not only followed NASA’s lead but has also stepped into areas NASA hadn’t ventured, proving that there’s still much more to achieve in space exploration.
Tyson’s comment overlooks these advances. SpaceX isn’t just playing catch-up; it’s rethinking how space exploration can be done, tackling challenges NASA considered too risky or complex. In the end, both NASA and SpaceX are driving humanity’s reach into space, but it’s clear that Musk’s vision has added a new chapter to the story—one that NASA hadn’t yet written.
NASA’s Role in Supersonic Retropropulsion
NASA Supersonic Retropropulsion Simulation
While SpaceX is leading the way in this area, that does not mean that NASA hasn’t been involved in supersonic retropropulsion (SRP) research. However, it’s mostly through partnerships and simulations rather than hands-on testing. A major part of their efforts has focused on working with SpaceX, which has been pushing the boundaries of this technology.
- Partnering with SpaceX: NASA teamed up with SpaceX to learn from the company’s attempts to land its Falcon 9 rockets. SpaceX regularly uses supersonic retropropulsion to slow down its boosters during reentry, firing their engines against the force of descent at supersonic speeds. For NASA, this collaboration has provided a real-world data goldmine. Instead of launching its own tests, NASA has been able to analyze the data from these missions to understand how SRP performs in action.
- Mars Mission Prep: NASA has been exploring the idea of using SRP for landing heavier payloads on Mars—think human missions or larger robotic explorers. The atmosphere on Mars is tricky: it’s too thin for parachutes to be fully effective, but thick enough to cause problems for other methods. Supersonic retropropulsion could be the solution, and SpaceX’s work has given NASA new insights into how it might be used.
- Wind Tunnels and Simulations: While SpaceX has done the heavy lifting with actual rockets, NASA has been busy with wind tunnel tests and computer simulations to study how SRP works. They’ve been looking at how the rocket plumes interact with airflow at different speeds, trying to predict and refine how SRP could work for future missions.
So, while NASA hasn’t done full-scale flight tests of SRP on its own, its collaboration with SpaceX and its research efforts are laying the groundwork for future space exploration missions that might rely on this groundbreaking technology.
