While I find the simultaneous landing of the two SpaceX boosters incredibly impressive and a true advance in spaceflight I have to say that the "car stunt" is arguably one of the most irritating waste of resources ever.

Traditionally first flights of rockets were always the occasion to offer a free ride to scientific satellites which would have otherwise not flown, "high risk high reward".

But no, SpaceX sent a silly car of no use except ego.

@cynicalsecurity The car stunt was an irritating distraction.

The irritating waste of resources is SLS: twice the payload for 10 times the price and will probably never fly often enough to become reliable. A hundred thousand dollar car is a completely trivial compared with the billions wasted on that.

@edavies Perhaps the SLS is a waste of resources but NASA’s mandate is clear, Elon’s is not. SpaceX is a private company answering only to its owners and furthering its own agenda. For the time being NASA is still for the benefit of mankind.

@cynicalsecurity NASA's mandate is far from clear. SLS exists largely as a result of corruption in Congress.

@edavies OK, I don't know enough about NASA & USA politics to make an educated remark.

I'll stand by ESA & ESO though.

@cynicalsecurity http://thehill.com/opinion/technology/372994-spacex-could-save-nasa-and-the-future-of-space-exploration

“…but It is time for the nation to decide if we want a space program — or a jobs program.”

“SpaceX offered NASA the opportunity to get a free ride on this first launch. But the space agency viewed commercial development of this rocket as "competition" and refused their offer.”