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> SpaceX and other players only care about supporting science to the extent it makes them money. In some ways true, but it's hard for me to accept they're a co
by adt2bt 5y ago
> SpaceX and other players only care about supporting science to the extent it makes them money.
In some ways true, but it's hard for me to accept they're a cold, calculating money-grubber despite the common refrain that corporations only exist to make money. SpaceX will gain an absolute massive amount of public goodwill by bringing humans back to another celestial body after 50+ years. That goodwill pays off over the long term in money terms.
- skissane 5y agoA corporation exists to do whatever its owners wish to do with it. It is only true that "corporations only exist to make money" when that's the sole or primary wish of their owners. Musk owns over 50% of SpaceX equity (and over 70% of voting rights), and it is pretty clear his primary motivation is not simply "make as much money as possible". On the contrary, I think his primary motivation with SpaceX is to try to make the science fiction stories he read as a kid come (partially) true, and to try to leave his mark on human history. Making money is just a means to that end, not the end-in-itself. (The remainder of SpaceX is owned by investment funds, Google, etc, whose motivation is much closer to just "make money".)
- chii 5y ago> That goodwill pays off over the long term in money terms. no it doesn't. Goodwill merely keeps the company in the limelight, and if they sell some goods/services, this goodwill is "free" marketing. Good will doesn't pay debts nor obligations. > it's hard for me to accept they're a cold, calculating money-grubber better accept it, and the sooner, the better!