Saving earth - by using Space
In my previous 2 posts, I discussed both the current problem with the launch market, and the emerging groups/companies involved in solving those problems. If you haven't read those posts, feel free to read them
here and
here. If you have no intention of reading them, then don't respond. This is an involved issue, and you must have the entire picture to see that it is worth pursuing.
Secondly, for those interested, news from the new boys - SpaceX's Falcon 1 has been scheduled for a Feb 8 launch. The component that actually caused the problem was identified, in fact, a while ago. The tank damage is what is partially holding them up. In addition, there is some good news with their Falcon 9 rocket - the Falcon 1 has helped in reducing cost and delays in the Falcon 9 series. As such, they anticipate a first stage firing later this year, and first launch next year. Also, Will Whitehorn of Virgin Galactic expects that by the fifth year of operation the "flights will be going for $50,000. By the 10th year ... around $25,000." Virgin Galactic expects about 104 flights during the first year of operation, which corresponds to about 520 passengers. Of course, it's easy to say, harder to do I admit. Still, it offers some interesting possiblities.
Third, I decided to break up the benefits, into a series of sections, because it was easier and made more sense that way.
Finally, Adam Smith isn't going to die, even when we go into space. Colonizing
Space is an ambitious endeavor, with many complexities and difficulties. To succeed at it we will need to involve all aspects of our society. And to believe that we will soon eliminate capitalism is to suffer from the same idiotic, short-term myopic vision that we accuse conservatives and republicans like Grover Norquest, who once said that he wanted to "make government so small it could be drowned in the toilet". The Soviet Union showed what happens when you have no private capital, equity, and industry. At the same time, Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, as well Enron shows what happens when you have unrestrained capital. We ignore these historical issues at our peril.
At this point, I want to turn over my blog to another article Why Implementing the Space Option is necessary for society.
The point here is that quite often, it is argued we need to implement sustainable growth. The fundamental problem of sustainable growth is that it ultimately requires a level of a planned economy that cannot work. Planned economies, sustainable growth, communism, all suffer from being a zero sum game. You only have a fixed amount of resources, and thus you must ration those resources. The most you can hope for is redistribution, not of wealth, but of poverty. Understand, I am not arguing that we shouldn't change some major bad habits - I am all for greater recycling programs, and for industry to be friendlier to earth. I am terrified by what global warming is doing to the earth. But the point is, we needn't limit our growth - and when I say limit our growth, I am not just talking about population - economic growth, investment growth, scientific growth, engineering growth, education growth, cultural growth, and class expansion growth. The clearest example of this could be seen (or rather heard) yesterday, on NPR. It turns out that there was a report in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that posed the question - are we running out of metals? It turns out, that yes, to a degree we are. I suggest you listen to the story here.
The point is, space development long term can provide real answers to problems that are Global in nature. Of course, selling long-term solutions is never easy, especially when you have to worry about where your next paycheck is coming from, or whether you'll have health insurance, or your kids will have decent schools. But then, no one said space couldn't help the economy right now.
Next Up - The Space Economy, Space Colonization, and Globalization