Lots of space travel about to happen
Jul. 28th, 2004 02:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
plutherusSeveral different companies are all competing for the X-Prize.
Of course, at this point it doesn't matter who actually wins. Or even if anybody actually wins. While I'm sure any of the groups would welcome the $10 million prize money, they have all spent more to get to where they are. Winning the X-prize will also attract a lot of publicity, and a lot of investors, and let he company continue. But in this race, coming in second is almost good enough.
Within a couple of years, there will be half a dozen companies offering regular trips into space. This will lead, inevitably, to cheaper and more common space tourism, orbiting hotels, and vacations on the moon. Even if the majority of the public doesn't think it's worth going to space anymore, there'll be enough people willing to buy a ticket to make it worthwhile for private enterprise to make sure they can.
This is what I really love about capitalism.
And, once profit is scented, more companies will form. The space elevator will be able to convince the richest investors that it's economically feasable to build the thing.
I'm getting my little spot of Martian retirement home all planned out now :)
Of course, at this point it doesn't matter who actually wins. Or even if anybody actually wins. While I'm sure any of the groups would welcome the $10 million prize money, they have all spent more to get to where they are. Winning the X-prize will also attract a lot of publicity, and a lot of investors, and let he company continue. But in this race, coming in second is almost good enough.
Within a couple of years, there will be half a dozen companies offering regular trips into space. This will lead, inevitably, to cheaper and more common space tourism, orbiting hotels, and vacations on the moon. Even if the majority of the public doesn't think it's worth going to space anymore, there'll be enough people willing to buy a ticket to make it worthwhile for private enterprise to make sure they can.
This is what I really love about capitalism.
And, once profit is scented, more companies will form. The space elevator will be able to convince the richest investors that it's economically feasable to build the thing.
I'm getting my little spot of Martian retirement home all planned out now :)
