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This is what "trickle down" technology looks like. We are watching space flight move a rung down the economic ladder. Nation states -> wealthy bigco -> billio

This is what "trickle down" technology looks like. We are watching space flight move a rung down the economic ladder. Nation states -> wealthy bigco -> billionare's pet project -> ????? -> normal people (some steps omitted for brevity)

CryptoPunk 5y ago
Not sure if you're being facetious. If so, I'll point out that it didn't take long to get from the Wright Brothers to regular civilian jet passenger flights, and it won't take long to get from Musk and Bezos to regular civilian space flights. The wealthy early adopters provide the capital to refine and scale up the industry to make it practical and affordable for less wealthy late adopters.
pdelgallego 5y ago
Nation states -> wealthy bigco -> billionare's pet project -> hobbyist (e.g. Copenhagen Suborbitals) -> normal people.
- chasd00 5y ago
  when Copenhagen Suborbitals does this i'll cheer (and theiy're getting close). Bezos and his resources should be able to do better.
- Chris2048 5y ago
  Nation state R&D -> billionare's pet-project PoC -> wealthy bigco Commercialisation effort -> Commercial service (for wealthy/business) -> Commercial service (for normal public) -> hobbyists & higher education
afavour 5y ago
But what’s the actual purpose? Space tourism I get. But beyond that I’m struggling to see the uses of normal people having access to space travel. By comparison people having access to air travel has clear benefits.
- rhdunn 5y ago
  Our planet will only last so long until the Sun becomes a Red Giant. At that point we will need to venture to at least the outer planets, if not beyond the solar system if we want to continue as a species. Even in smaller time frames, I read somewhere that one of Bezos' plans is to move manufacturing into space. And if/when we do get colonies on other planets and moons, some people would want to live there.
  - afavour 5y ago
    > Our planet will only last so long until the Sun becomes a Red Giant. In, what, five billion years? I’m not sure we need Bezos to be focusing all his money on that timeframe.
    - bamboozled 5y ago
      We have no time to waste on climate change and corona virus.
- Paradigma11 5y ago
  Engineering and industry. Even small companies will be able to do innovation using microgravity, no gravity. I am also sure that you could do cool sports events on the moon or a big space station.

CryptoPunk 5y ago

Not sure if you're being facetious. If so, I'll point out that it didn't take long to get from the Wright Brothers to regular civilian jet passenger flights, and it won't take long to get from Musk and Bezos to regular civilian space flights. The wealthy early adopters provide the capital to refine and scale up the industry to make it practical and affordable for less wealthy late adopters.

pdelgallego 5y ago

Nation states -> wealthy bigco -> billionare's pet project -> hobbyist (e.g. Copenhagen Suborbitals) -> normal people.

chasd00 5y ago
when Copenhagen Suborbitals does this i'll cheer (and theiy're getting close). Bezos and his resources should be able to do better.
Chris2048 5y ago
Nation state R&D -> billionare's pet-project PoC -> wealthy bigco Commercialisation effort -> Commercial service (for wealthy/business) -> Commercial service (for normal public) -> hobbyists & higher education

afavour 5y ago

But what’s the actual purpose? Space tourism I get. But beyond that I’m struggling to see the uses of normal people having access to space travel. By comparison people having access to air travel has clear benefits.

rhdunn 5y ago
Our planet will only last so long until the Sun becomes a Red Giant. At that point we will need to venture to at least the outer planets, if not beyond the solar system if we want to continue as a species. Even in smaller time frames, I read somewhere that one of Bezos' plans is to move manufacturing into space. And if/when we do get colonies on other planets and moons, some people would want to live there.
- afavour 5y ago
  > Our planet will only last so long until the Sun becomes a Red Giant. In, what, five billion years? I’m not sure we need Bezos to be focusing all his money on that timeframe.
  - bamboozled 5y ago
    We have no time to waste on climate change and corona virus.
Paradigma11 5y ago
Engineering and industry. Even small companies will be able to do innovation using microgravity, no gravity. I am also sure that you could do cool sports events on the moon or a big space station.