Private space.

Space-x is a private venture. Mr Musk is pushing the envelope and lighting a fire under the government space program (ULA) to get their act in gear. The government manned space program has atrophied since Apollo and the space shuttle. Too much politics involved in competition for tax dollars to fund it. A privatley funded venture can likely get off the ground much quicker if they don’t have to go to a squabbling Congress for funding. 

And it is a different business model today.  During the space race, the question was “Can we get there?”  Nowadays, for better or worse, it is “What is my ROI?”

Which is why I think there is no Moon Base Alpha today.  What is on the moon that will turn a profit?  Mining?  Is there something in the moon that could justify the cost of extraction?  People talk about going out to the stars from the moon, but is it the most economical way?  Would a dockyard in Earth orbit be cheaper to operate?  I’m not a rocket scientist, so I am not aware of what the advantages of a moon base would be.

For the private sector to truly take over space exploration, the companies must find it profitable.  Nightmares of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation (Alien) and the Tyrrell Corporation (Bladerunner) come to mind, along with their depiction of corporate greed and ruthless exploitation, but privatization is the only viable way to push on and make progress.  See, and this is why you still need government regulations, lest a ”wild, wild west” scenario develop.

Pioneers like Elon Musk have a bit of that early space exploration spirit in them, and although they must have a business plan that will eventually turn a profit, they are the chance takers who dare to go where the rest were unwilling to tread.

I see this as following the usual plan.  First, private individuals (such as the Wright Brothers) prove the concept, make small gains without a lot of money.  Then governments step in and say, "Hey!  We can do something with this for weaponry."  They develop the machine into something reliable and work out the problems.  Then private companies get involved and take the machines into the business sector (airlines).  We're in the beginning of the business sector phase for space at the moment.  We just don't have any mail to deliver to the moon.    Still, opportunities are out there, it just takes entrepreneurs to identify them.

Gary

Some day we may have a space version of the East India Trading Company. If something profitable is out there to be obtained. Then again there is also the possible colonization concept. Pushing out as a next step of exploration and endeavor. That more likely would be a government funded operation due to the scope of a true colonial type enterprise 

I realize Space-X is a private company.  But so were Boeing, North American, Grumman, and General Dynamics.

To me whether a program is a government program or a private one is who pays for it- who supplies the bottom line.  I can't believe Mr. Musk would be sending astronauts to the space station if the government were not paying him.

I think Mr Musk is going two ways. One, he is developing his own systems to compete for governemt contracts for launching. In that sense he is also up against the Russians, since our own current launch ability to send people to the ISS is zero. But he has also been competing for private contracts launches as well.

He has demonstrated that he can launch heavy items beyond earth orbit. And his reusable boosters lower the costs of launching in the long run. I know that I have read that he want to send people to Mars. If congress ever approves that, it will take a long course. Private enterprise can raise the funds and get the R&D done by their various channels outside the constraints of congressional purse strings. Tell me how many rich folks would not want their names in the history books attached to such endeavors. They drove forward while public officials squabbled and sat on their hands.

Mind you, I’m no rabid fan of these big private entities, but at least they are moving forward at a rapid pace. Watching those Space X rockets launch and return to land for re use like something from an old sci fi movie or Asimov novel is a sight to see. Especially so shortly after the early failures during the development of those systems. Space X is driving forward with their development of their manned capsule for use in the near future, as is ULA. But ULA again is dependent on others for its ultimate use. I can easily see Mr Musk saying ”I’m going to Mars on my own” if NASA and Congress take too long to get an actual program going. 

Okay! 

 Let's take a breather here. Remember the Shuttle program? Done so much under the Budget blade that a system for saving crews so they didn't perish like Challenger,and The Apollo disaster was deemed too Expensive ! How much is a human life worth to the Govt. anyway? Sure they knew they could perish.But to do it because of a squabbling Congress over the cost? B.S.!!! Mebbe the private Sector can re-light the fire in the right way. Lets hope .

Tanker - Builder

Okay! 

 Let's take a breather here. Remember the Shuttle program? Done so much under the Budget blade that a system for saving crews so they didn't perish like Challenger,and The Apollo disaster was deemed too Expensive ! How much is a human life worth to the Govt. anyway? Sure they knew they could perish.But to do it because of a squabbling Congress over the cost? B.S.!!! Mebbe the private Sector can re-light the fire in the right way. Lets hope .

 

Well, the SGLI (GI life insurance) was up to a good amount when I retired in 2007... I was worth more to my wife dead than alive at that point...

Here is a link to an interesting article that I read earlier today on this very subject.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/nasa-human-spaceflight-priorities-moon-landing-goal/

stikpusher

Here is a link to an interesting article that I read earlier today on this very subject.

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/nasa-human-spaceflight-priorities-moon-landing-goal/

 

Yeah, it has been years since I have had much respect for NASA.