Success of SpaceX an inspiration for all
- The historic cooperation between Nasa and Elon Musk’s company provides a significant cost reduction that frees the space agency to plan for more ambitious programmes
- It will no doubt inspire other countries to explore space with the aid of private contractors
Nasa astronauts make historic return to Earth on SpaceX’s capsule
This is what the US has been known and admired for: commercial ingenuity, innovation and boundless scientific ambitions. The successful completion of the commercial crew programme will clear the way for the launch of a three-man, one-woman mission this autumn, to the ISS, again. But the moon and Mars beckon.
The historic mission has enabled the United States to send humans to space at a fraction of the cost of previous government systems. Since ending the space shuttle programme, Nasa has had to rely on the Russians to launch into space over the past decade.
Americans love free enterprise and prefer to privatise government functions and public utilities as much as possible. Often, they take it to extremes and even teach or pressure other countries to follow their example, not always leading to good results.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX in talks to raise funds at US$44 billion valuation
Domestically, privatising some parts of the prison and education systems has led to all kinds of problems, especially public funding cuts, decline in quality and often outright abuse and corruption.
Internationally, relying increasingly on private contractors in war zones to perform tasks previously done by soldiers has triggered even major international incidents, such as the controversial killings of civilians involving the now defunct Blackwater private military company in Iraq.
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Astronauts arrive at International Space Station on historic mission using private SpaceX rocket
Somehow though, companies such as SpaceX are finding ways to make space exploration work with private contractors. What’s more, it’s actually cheaper. This will, no doubt, inspire other countries to follow.
At a time of domestic turmoil and international disputes having seen America’s standing in the world plummet, such space missions are what inspire Americans and foreigners alike.
