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It’s not the new paradigm which requires higher volumes and lower margins, it’s SpaceX’s business model which requires it (or, I suppose, expects it) It is pos

by rtpg 5y ago

It’s not the new paradigm which requires higher volumes and lower margins, it’s SpaceX’s business model which requires it (or, I suppose, expects it) It is possible that there is a cap in how much stuff people want to put into space. (EDIT: I do think it’s possible for SpaceX to exist as an entity that is simply smaller and not wasting its time trying to make its CEO Baron Harkonnen , but hey corporate ownership law amirite?)

consumer451 5y ago
> It’s not the new paradigm which requires higher volumes and lower margins, it’s SpaceX’s business model which requires it (or, I suppose, expects it) I used the wrong word there. I was thinking more in terms of: SpaceX enables higher volumes, etc.. I know it's not a perfect analogy but cheap and predictable global shipping enabled business models which were not possible before. Maybe cheap and predictable access to space will do the same.
trevyn 5y ago
>It is possible that there is a cap in how much stuff people want to put into space. I’m still trying to figure out if Earth is the slave planet or Mars is the slave planet, and how that’s gonna play out. Either way, lots of stuff to move.
- consumer451 5y ago
  > Either way, lots of stuff to move. Have you heard about SpinLaunch? SpinLaunch really came out of left field for me as a serious contender. Really curious how they plan to re-balance a multi-ton spinning mass when half the mass gets ejected at 10,000 RPM. That sounds nuts but the scale test went OK, so I guess they have a handle on that? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpinLaunch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpinLaunch
AlanSE 5y ago
Am I alone in thinking that the Earth is finite and humanity has already outgrown it? We need to start making use of resources in space, because if we don't the ecological consequences are dire. Space doesn't have a biosphere. We need to take all the terrible things we're doing to this biosphere and move them out. There is no other long term solution. The needs of humanity will only continue to grow, even if our population levels off. I very much get the picture that New Space has an if-you-build-it-they-will-come approach which is soon facing a reckoning. It is very important that the whole of society pivots their thinking to the only thing that will give Earth a long-term future.

by rtpg 5y ago

consumer451 5y ago

> It’s not the new paradigm which requires higher volumes and lower margins, it’s SpaceX’s business model which requires it (or, I suppose, expects it) I used the wrong word there. I was thinking more in terms of: SpaceX enables higher volumes, etc.. I know it's not a perfect analogy but cheap and predictable global shipping enabled business models which were not possible before. Maybe cheap and predictable access to space will do the same.

trevyn 5y ago

>It is possible that there is a cap in how much stuff people want to put into space. I’m still trying to figure out if Earth is the slave planet or Mars is the slave planet, and how that’s gonna play out. Either way, lots of stuff to move.

consumer451 5y ago
> Either way, lots of stuff to move. Have you heard about SpinLaunch? SpinLaunch really came out of left field for me as a serious contender. Really curious how they plan to re-balance a multi-ton spinning mass when half the mass gets ejected at 10,000 RPM. That sounds nuts but the scale test went OK, so I guess they have a handle on that? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpinLaunch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpinLaunch

AlanSE 5y ago

Am I alone in thinking that the Earth is finite and humanity has already outgrown it? We need to start making use of resources in space, because if we don't the ecological consequences are dire. Space doesn't have a biosphere. We need to take all the terrible things we're doing to this biosphere and move them out. There is no other long term solution. The needs of humanity will only continue to grow, even if our population levels off. I very much get the picture that New Space has an if-you-build-it-they-will-come approach which is soon facing a reckoning. It is very important that the whole of society pivots their thinking to the only thing that will give Earth a long-term future.