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It seems like too big of a leap for a consortium of companies that have yet to field a single manned orbital vehicle to be planning a space station.

technofiend 5y ago
Well, maybe. On the other hand a "moonshot" program is designed to give you a huge goal with a long list of challenges that get there, so this seems like a good way to get a consortium-owned space station done. On the gripping hand the original moonshot had a national context that a corporate space station does not.
nickff 5y ago
The USA committed to landing on the moon without having "field[ed] a single manned orbital vehicle".
- PeterisP 5y ago
  The issue here is that for a commercial venture, cost matters a lot. USA in 1960s did not have an alternative option of using someone else's launch vehicle for a fraction of what it would cost to build one themselves; companies who want to build a commercial space station do have an option to buy launch capacity from SpaceX instead of Boeing/BlueOrigin, which would still be more expensive even if all their plans and promises materialize on the scheduled time.
comeonseriously 5y ago
Ponzi type scheme. They want to use funds from investors for Orbital Reef to fund their existing efforts.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
pjscott 5y ago
Sierra Nevada Corporation and Boeing have been making miscellaneous space systems for decades. Maybe neither SNC nor Blue Origin will be able to deliver on their launch system promises, but it seems plausible that they could make a space station, eventually, with enough money and luck -- and there are other manned launch options.
ASalazarMX 5y ago
Seeing Bezos in it makes me suspect the objective is getting ahead of the competition by skipping the intermediate steps. Maybe they want SpaceX to establish space travel, and use their technology to jump directly for Earth Orbit Domination™ or Space Amazon Headquarters™.
lend000 5y ago
SpaceX has a commanding lead in space transportation, and it's looking increasingly insurmountable as they continue to scale. However, the space industry will produce many opportunities, and plenty of companies, including ones that don't yet exist, will have a chance to carve out large, profitable niches.
- techdragon 5y ago
  This is quite possibly an effort to remain relevant in light of that commanding lead. If the writing is on the wall for their rockets, it makes sense to diversify or wholesale refocus into related industries where their existing heritage/pedigree gives them room to remain profitable.

technofiend 5y ago

Well, maybe. On the other hand a "moonshot" program is designed to give you a huge goal with a long list of challenges that get there, so this seems like a good way to get a consortium-owned space station done. On the gripping hand the original moonshot had a national context that a corporate space station does not.

nickff 5y ago

The USA committed to landing on the moon without having "field[ed] a single manned orbital vehicle".

PeterisP 5y ago
The issue here is that for a commercial venture, cost matters a lot. USA in 1960s did not have an alternative option of using someone else's launch vehicle for a fraction of what it would cost to build one themselves; companies who want to build a commercial space station do have an option to buy launch capacity from SpaceX instead of Boeing/BlueOrigin, which would still be more expensive even if all their plans and promises materialize on the scheduled time.

comeonseriously 5y ago

Ponzi type scheme. They want to use funds from investors for Orbital Reef to fund their existing efforts.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

pjscott 5y ago

Sierra Nevada Corporation and Boeing have been making miscellaneous space systems for decades. Maybe neither SNC nor Blue Origin will be able to deliver on their launch system promises, but it seems plausible that they could make a space station, eventually, with enough money and luck -- and there are other manned launch options.

ASalazarMX 5y ago

Seeing Bezos in it makes me suspect the objective is getting ahead of the competition by skipping the intermediate steps. Maybe they want SpaceX to establish space travel, and use their technology to jump directly for Earth Orbit Domination™ or Space Amazon Headquarters™.

lend000 5y ago

SpaceX has a commanding lead in space transportation, and it's looking increasingly insurmountable as they continue to scale. However, the space industry will produce many opportunities, and plenty of companies, including ones that don't yet exist, will have a chance to carve out large, profitable niches.

techdragon 5y ago
This is quite possibly an effort to remain relevant in light of that commanding lead. If the writing is on the wall for their rockets, it makes sense to diversify or wholesale refocus into related industries where their existing heritage/pedigree gives them room to remain profitable.