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Space 2.0: How private spaceflight, NASA resurgence and international partners create a new space age
by Rod Pyle
It has been almost six decades since Yuri Gagarin made his first foray into space. At that time, we landed on the moon, put the engines in motion on Mars and launched sensors at the edge of the solar system. This is nothing compared to the progress of space exploration that we will see materialize in the coming decades.
In Space 2.0space historian Rod Pyle plunges into the incredible opportunities (as well as the challenges) that we will surely face as humanity spreads on new planets. In the excerpt below, Pyle explains how corporations can help speed up settlement efforts after a government has defined the basic infrastructure, and why they would do it in the first place.
The broader goal of human settlements in the solar system depends on the success or failure of the exploratory programs described above. The process of establishing long-term bases can be undertaken by governments working with traditional aerospace entrepreneurs, or by the private sector only, but will likely be achieved by combining the two. National governments will continue to seek space solutions because they believe that this is important in the long term, for a variety of reasons that are both rational and emotional. In the end, companies will embark on such ventures because they know they are potentially profitable. Extremely wealthy individuals can pilot such projects for philanthropic reasons, but no one is rich enough to support an ongoing spatial settlement – not yet. Whatever the sponsors of the project or their motivations, it will take people willing to venture into the unknown to realize their project.
Jim Keravala is CEO of OffWorld, a company developing robots that will extract and process space resources. He has a long history in the space sector. From his point of view, the traditional motivations of individual migration and colonization on Earth – access to opportunities and resources – will not apply to much of the colonization of the moon or of Mars, at least in the beginning. Keravala thinks that everyday life in these places will be very difficult, more like working on an oil rig than the luxurious existence provided by people such as O Neil.
However, for Keravala, the opportunity to improve our situation in space is looming on the horizon. He finds that machinery and some human supervisors have a lot to do for settlements, but that this will eventually lead to the construction of a luxury that can hardly be dreamed of on Earth. "The necessary condition for a better life in the space is to create an oasis … The only reason people will settle in the space, after the trade, is to achieve a better life."
Note that he said "post-trade-driven." This is an important point. Mining, resource extraction and commercial services, such as telecommunications, will drive the first phase of space exploration, and only after this phase has the infrastructure in place place that those who are motivated mainly by the desire for a "better life" will find the last frontier attractive. "Until now, there is no better place to settle than the Earth," noted Keravala. "This is the basic definition of the oasis for the moment. To close the loop, we must take the issue of where to live and create luxury, total creative freedom, abundant cuisine, longevity, unlimited entertainment, exploration capability, and [a good system of] regulation. "
Former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver has plunged a little deeper into human nature. "In the long run, as you develop space activities in the interest of civilization, we must go into space to ensure our survival, in the interest of civilization … Colonization in new territories is what humans have always done and I think that will continue to do so, not only for resources, but for freedom and the human spirit. The will to survive is innate in all that is alive, and in general, they want to go for their own reasons.These processes are not usually dictated by the government. people who leave alone are usually those who stay. "
Jeff Greason has focused on property rights – the "greed" of Garver's position. "If one could acquire the right of ownership over parts of other planetary bodies, one could use the tried and tested methods of colonization efforts passed on Earth." Many projects of this type have been tried in which the Settlers get shares in the colony.The Hudson's Bay Company could invest this investment, then offer people the opportunity to come work there and subsidize them to go there. [those settlers] work for a number of years to cover the cost of transportation and support. "
Former NASA astronaut Franklin Chang-Díaz thinks it's fate, the oldest asset that will lead to colonization: "I believe our destiny is to populate the space." Space is the key to our survival as a species.We must prepare humanity to commit to this path before the growing environmental and social pressures of our own planet end our ability to do so. "
At the end of the day, whatever the reason for looking for a future in space, these reasons must make sense for the most important stakeholders: private enterprise, government and, what is perhaps the most important, you. Public opinion must support all efforts in space regulation. Governments need them to survive and private companies need them to invest. While companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are pushing the boundaries of what can be accomplished, popular support for these companies has increased. The last major survey of public attitudes towards spaceflight was conducted in the United States in 2015 by the Pew Research Center.
He revealed that 58% of Americans felt that it was essential that the country remain a leader in space exploration. About 64% thought space flights were a good investment for the country. Nearly 70% had a favorable opinion of NASA. Another major investigation has not yet been conducted since the launch of the Falcon Heavy, but the media has reported great enthusiasm about this global achievement. Public support seems to be solid and seems to be growing as people see the aspirations of Space 2.0 come to fruition. This, combined with the ever-increasing investments in private investment in space flights, augurs great prospects.
Extract of Space 2.0: How private spaceflight, NASA resurgence and international partners create a new space age by Rod Pyle (BenBella Books, 2019)
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