Great article. Even if the U.S. government does not feel the need to step up it's funding of space exploration, the private sector and other countries will, as you have stated. The importance of moving beyond the bounds of this planet is not a matter of if, but when. Keep it up. Enjoying following your articles.
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Good article and timely as well!
Stephen Hawking said this just a week ago
"Humanity will have to head for the stars in the next 200 to 500 years if it is to survive, Professor Stephen Hawking has said.
The top physicist repeated his warning that the human race is doomed unless it can find a new home beyond the Earth."
His full comments can be found here https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/06/21/stephen-hawking-calls-for-a-return-to-the-moon-as-earths-clock-runs-out/
and in many other news outlets. He feels we can reach Mars within 15 years and has mentioned before that we should return to the moon and set up workbases and colonies there as soon as possible.
Having watched governments look backwards instead of forwards for many years, I suspect we will have to rely on private enterprise to drive this exploration and eventual exodus.
Absolutely true. Innovation in the 20th century was a combination of the private sector and government bodies working in tandem. We got so much done. But as history has shown, if progress is not meeting expectations by government bodies the private sector will do that work for it. May take longer but our exploration outside of our planet is just the beginning of wonders out species will have the privilege of enjoying. Once we cross that threshold, looking back on a time without space travel will be like looking back on eras where ocean sailing to the Western hemisphere had not begun, or in more recent time imagining our lives without being connected together via the internet :)
I was wondering about this. What is the incentive for the private sector to fund space exploration? I can see building things to rent or sell to governments, but how does a company like Space X make profit? Just curious.
Good question. Space X makes money in two ways primarily.
(1) They launch multimillion dollar satellites into space for commercial clients and for government agencies
(2) They provide restocking of the ISS with their own shuttles, now that NASA no longer does that themselves
Regarding why space? The analogy to me is similar to when Europe decided to start sailing the oceans. Beyond just wonder, they did it for riches, new resources, new places to colonize and prosper. Eventually the western world became a safe haven for those who needed an asylum from political and religious persecution, and those who simply needed a fresh start.
The private sector can benefit by being the first to set up transportation methods, stations, communication satellites, and other ways to have access to the outer reaches of our planet. From there, entrepreneurs and government agencies will be compelled to explore what opportunities it has to offer.
Everything from mining, energy collection, waste disposal, research, and the like are fair game. And if you're the only guy to provide such access to outer space, there is a lot of $$$ in it for you.