Leave Outer Space to the Millionaires

tcd004 writes "Martin Rees, Britain's Astronomer Royal has an interesting article in Foreign Policy arguing that the future of manned space travel should be left to wealthy adventurers. He points to the fact that modern state-funded space disasters become national traumas, and argues that that gung-ho millionaires are more free to take risks because they 'don't represent a nation; [they] represent humanity.'"

Comments

Boy bands in space.

[joeware]

I agree. Let's send all the boy bands into space.

Re:Boy bands in space.

[Usquebaugh]

But who would cut the grass?

Anyone Else All For This?

[Eberlin]

Anyone else all for sending all these rich people into space (preferrably never to return)?

Wait, let's make them pay for R&D on something to shoot them with when they're up there before we launch any of 'em.

Virgin Space!

[CausticWindow]

I vote for Richard Branson to be the first to cross the solar system in a nuclear powered balloon.

I agree completely

[L. VeGas]

As long as I am the one who gets to pick which millionaires are shot into space.

You know what will happen, don't you?

[L. VeGas]

When they come back to earth, they will be forced to wear iron collars and chains because they keep saying, "Damn, dirty apes!"

Re:Space should be left to corperations

[GoofyBoy]

The point of the article is that the "overinflated male ego which still needs to prove that he is still sexy to any 20 year old girl" will push us to Mars and back with still enough energy to develop a working Dysan Sphere.

Re:Space should be left to corperations

[RatBastard]

Never underestimate the power of a good-looking 20-year old girl.

Re:Really?

[Carnivorous Carrot]

> Millionaires represent humanity?

As opposed to what socialist nonsense?

Homer Simpson, "averagenaut"?

(Oh, and thanks for the setup. I'd have posted your comment anon just so I could post this reply. But I knew someone would come thru!)

Yep

[Thuktun]

Millionaires represent humanity?

To the extent that the world revolves around them...

Re:Wow

[moitz]

ten bucks says someone builds a golf course on the lunar surface

This hole is a par 5, 19km. The green is at 18.5km, and up 17 meters.

-moitz-

Just pray...

[Kjella]

...that they don't run into ET out there. Could you imagine the first impression they get if they meet a bunch of boy bands? Excuse me, I'll just go dig a bomb shelter now...

Kjella

Breaking the Light Barrier

[cruachan]

Moreover, communication with spacecraft will substantially improve. It took traditional explorers months to get messages home. For Capt. Robert Falcon Scott and other polar pioneers, messages home were not even an option. By contrast, the time needed for the first visitors to Mars (probably 30 years from now) to relay their thoughts and impressions will be measured in mere minutes.

Well, at least 20 minutes from Mars orbit. That is unless wealth also buys you exemption from the laws of physics

Re:Privatize space.

[Will_Malverson]

Rather than all of us benfitting from space research I predict that any and all discoveries will be kept to the wealthy playboys themselves leaving the rest of us out in the cold.

Steve: "Hey Bob, what was the salt content of the water that you found buried a few feet below the Martian surface?"

Bob: "Let me see your 1040... You only made $143,000 last year. I'm not telling you anything."

Re:Uh-huh.

[istartedi]

What about their maids and butlers?

Now... where to get zero-G cooking and cleaning experience?

Re:Space should be left to corperations

[ddimas]

It's been quantized. 1 millihelen (remember Helen of Troy?)is the amount of beauty needed to launch a single ship.