I often ask myself what it was like when the first computers were
created. Better yet, what about the first
personal computer? Did the early PC
owners realize they were carrying a machine into their house that would someday
evolve into a common, everyday necessity?
Today I find myself asking those same questions, but this time I might
be the one seeing history unfold. This
weekend Optical Sciences Corporation became the second private company to send
a rocket into space. Obviously I didn't
take the rocket into my home, but could I be in the same boat as the first
users of the computer? Is the news from
this weekend just the first step in a booming space travel market? I fairly doubt we will ever have personal
space crafts; heck, we probably won’t even have public space craft in the near
future. Space travel has evolved much
slower than the personal computer has. We
landed on the moon 44 years ago; the Altair didn't even exist at the time. Yet, if this weekend’s proceedings have the same
effect on the space market that the Altair did on the computer market, I might
be able to live on the moon when I retire.
Article inspiring this post: New commercial supply ship reaches space station
Article inspiring this post: New commercial supply ship reaches space station
Although fun to imagine, it agree with the doubt you expressed, that "we will [never] have personal space crafts." Call me a pessimist, but I don't every see the benefits of space travel ever outweighing its risk and cost.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me wonder what the end game of these private companies is. They are looking to make a profit, so are they only going to work for government grants and such, or are they looking to take this into the private sector and open up to the public. Interesting things to consider.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a question of motives. We send out space probes because we are still exploring, and until we find something profitable out there there's no reason to risk it. Much like Columbus finding the New World, it was only invaded after it was found to be profitable or somewhere to escape to at the very least.
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