The Earth is cooling...so....why are we attributing this to global warming and not normal periodic ice melt?

Seriously. This is a hilariously stupid and ignorant statement: "...this certainly raises some questions about the likelihood of successful privatization of the Space industry." These rockets are making it into space, something it took NASA many rockets to do. These just weren't "stage failures" like SpaceX - NASA's failures were CATOs. Rockets just blew up. SpaceX has launched 3 freaking rockets. I'd actually say they are fantastically successful. The engine development is one of the toughest parts of the project, and by all accounts - their Merlin engine system has actually been picture perfect. Try actually reading the NYtimes article this was based on next time: "...Charles Lurio, an independent space consultant, it should not be surprising to lose single-use rocket vehicles in the early stages of development, because their very design does not allow test flights. "It's all or nothing once it leaves the pad," he said. "But I hope SpaceX keeps trying," he said. "They're very competent people."..." People who know absolutely nothing about space program development declaring an entire industry dead after 3 flights = fail.