5 ms·

It used to be the government. When these individuals no longer want to do it, the government will step in again.

• spikels 7y ago
  You got that backwards. The government didn't step aside because some billionaires wanted to do this important job. Post-Apollo, politically compromised NASA bet everything on dumb systems like the Shuttle and struggled managing its contractors. The result was going to be decades without a manned space flight capability. These super rich individuals are resurrecting our ability to send people into space from the ashes. If they no longer want to do it, it's unlikely NASA will suddenly become competent again.
  • iscrewyou 7y ago
    My assumption is that the US wants innovative space programs. You are right, the government became lackluster. Then the individuals stepped in. Now, you are assuming the government won’t step in even when the individuals no longer want to do it. Either they’ll revamp nasa or start handing out subsidies. Either way it’s the government stepping in. Unless there’s another way that I’m missing?
    • garmaine 7y ago
      Your mistake is in assuming that the government handing out subsidies will result in a manned space program that works. It hasn’t. Go lookup the history of SLS/Orion.
• ekianjo 7y ago
  Have you seen how large the national debt is already?
  • iscrewyou 7y ago
    Have you seen the military spending?
    • ekianjo 7y ago
      Yes but still a drop in the ocean of the total national debt.
      • IfOnlyYouKnew 7y ago
        Defence spending 2018 is $700 billion, which happens to be almost exactly the deficit for that year ($780 billion). Cut defence spending to the level of other western countries (i. e. about half), reverse the tax cuts for corporations and you're back to a balanced budget. The debt of $22 trillion is still there, but inflation and economic growth cut it in half in about a decade in real terms.