[nbgoodall]

"The individuals unleashed on the Kwajalein Atoll are not rocket scientists — they lack the expertise, qualifications, and methodology required for real rocketry. At best, they’ve compiled a list of components that _might_ liftoff, but rocketry is a rigorous process requiring analysis, time, and, crucially, actual rocket scientists."

[hagbard_c]

Anyone who has dabbled in KSP [1] knows that all it takes for lift-off is sufficient engine power and fuel storage plus enough struts to keep it all together until reaching orbit. If at first you don't succeed, add more engines and struts. If you don't succeed at all at least you'll have a spectacular explosion.

[1] https://www.kerbalspaceprogram.com/

[dkenyser]

While clever, this is just flat out not true. Many (if not all) of the early SpaceX employees did indeed have backgrounds in aerospace and mechanical engineering.

[nbgoodall]

You're quite right, I stand corrected; I thought it was only Mueller with direct experience :)