{{
`${userDetail.user.displayName}${userDetail.user.cachedBungieGlobalDisplayNameCode ? `#${standardizeBungieGlobalCode(userDetail.user.cachedBungieGlobalDisplayNameCode)}` : ""}`}}
{{getUserClans()}}
2/10/2018 5:39:14 PM
4
Elon Musk and SpaceX
The reaction of most people when hearing about SpaceX's successful rocket launch is generally positive. After all, it is an impressive feat, and it gives hope of a renewed space program, this time guided and funded by private capital.
For me, though, it also raised some concerns. While I'm all for increased space exploration and development, it concerns me that national governments are taking a backseat in such an important area. At what point are things too important to leave to private, profit-guided institutions?
What balance, if any, do you want to see between private and public institutions as humanity moves forward into space?
-
The government has had many decades to expand space exploration. As usual with government, lack of innovation and bureaucratic largesse slowly strangled the space program. Now private companies have come in with innovative designs and innovative business models that have seen more milestones surpassed in a decade than the last 40 years of NASA. Don't get me wrong, NASA has a lot of amazing accomplishments under its belt and still many more to come, I'm sure. But NASA is not the place that will spur iterative design philosophies that will lead to continuously improving development of platforms. The falcon heavy launch is a game changer for the commercial side of space exploration. The next 20 years are going to be VERY exciting.
