[katsumoto]

I didn't read the conversation fully after watching the blue origin take off and landing video. So, I may be wrong. This engagement and course of action beyond looks as if we are heading towards the world that are set in "Elysium (2013)" Matt Damon Hollywood movie.

Cynicism apart, You need to travel around 25K MPH (11.2kmph) to go outer space to avoid Earth's Escape Velocity. Here in this video, I am seeing around 1300 MPH, So, This looks to be more of promotion than anything else... There are lot more billionaires around the globe and definitely a lot will bite this bullet.

But, but, but The landing looked fantastic, I have not seen anything like that earlier. (Caveat: I am not following astro travels for a while now. Last one I closely watched was Rosatta landing) By any chance I would like to go over the specs of landing-pad and relevant changes that were done for the landing to work so that they can re-use the rockets and other techs.

[RedTerrano]

Found this nice video, where the "Everday Astronaut" explains the history, technology and differences between Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin.
As an added bonus, it also touches on the question which seems to pique the opinions of lot of forum members : "Did they really go to space"

Watch and learn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxAkK8oCewM

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by aargee

These are part of the steps for mankind to become type 1/2/3 civilization (while we haven't even become type 1 civilization) & during that process towards type 1, we might run out of Earth. That's where Mars colonization project is on the pipeline

How so? Branson's and Bezo's craft are sub orbital vehicles. They can't leave orbit. 100 km up is just popcorn, tourist stuff. "Gee, I too went up to space!".

I am not sure how these two gents are going to help space exploration and colonization of other planets with their pop guns. They are simply trying to monetize space in my opinion. I hope some of their innovations have some real appications in Space exploration in the future.

What exactly are they innovating? Reusable rockets? Musk has already done that. Now his space efforts are the real thing. His craft are capable of reaching Mars or other planets.

[ShivrajG]

News man to Bezos: Why do you want to go to inner/outer or any other space?
Bezos: Because I CAN ..

He earned it and he has all the right to spend it as he sees fit. He wants to jump into a capsule and revolve around Planet earth he can.

We might feel that it is a bit extravagant and unnecessary but then did you see pictures from Gupta Ji's daughters (Just example of a common middle class business man) wedding ?

Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and others self made billionaires have had their share of struggles and they came out billionaires, they have the right to enjoy.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by Gansan

How so?

Sir, please review the basic links I've provided to get the big picture to understand why these are stepping stone. Like someone said, if we start stereotyping billionaires to yesteryears of baby boomer generation based on Friedman's capitalistic ideologies, then, we can attribute all Covid vaccines to all sorts of conspiracy theories!!

Asteroid Mining is another upcoming field as well, not necessarily to mine nuclear fuels, but fresh water is also possible.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by aargee

Asteroid Mining is another upcoming field as well, not necessarily to mine nuclear fuels, but fresh water is also possible.

I agree. But for that inter planetary space faring vessels are required, and I see only Elon Musk developing them in the private sector. Musk is thinking big. Branson and Bezos also must think big, but I see them planning to just tap space tourism.

I have no issues with them spending money on it either. They are actually investing in a venture, not spending. If we apply the socialistic yardstick, even NASA and ISRO expenses on space can be questioned, saying why not spend the money on the poor instead. As an old proverb goes, there is no bathing in the sea if you wait for the waves to stop.

The only difference being, since they are private employers, their labour and other ethical practices will come under the lens naturally, under the circumstances.

[Sebring]

Why can't the planet raise $1 Trillion to fix earth's problems! Clean water, clean air and reforestation are the 'need of the hour'. Mankind will reach another planet and spoil it too

Originally Posted by aargee

Hello Sir - In reality, Branson Thaatha, Jeff mama & Annan Elon are actually tending to the problems on planet Earth - Population!!

[aargee]

Originally Posted by Gansan

I agree...under the circumstances.

Ok

Originally Posted by Sebring

Why can't the planet raise $1 Trillion to fix earth's problems! Clean water, clean air and reforestation are the 'need of the hour'. Mankind will reach another planet and spoil it too

Good idea, please start the initiative, most of us from T-BHP will support you as well

[SKC-auto]

According to astroPhysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson

Using a globe to show what he meant, deGrasse Tyson explained that the International Space Station and a spacecraft orbit would be 1 cm away from Earth while the moon would be as far away as 10 metres. As per this scale, Richard Branson went up till around 2 mm from the surface.

DeGrasse further went on to say, “It's okay if you want to call it 'space', because average humans haven't gotten there before and it's a first for you. That's why it takes eight minutes to get into orbit and three days to reach the moon. That is actually space travel. So I don't see it as 'oh, let's go into space'. No. What you are going to have is a nice view of the Earth.”

We should be more worried about hundreds of billions the military hardware complex is taking every year than asking billionaires to donate and stop their space ambitions.

[Sebring]

This is a very cliched reply (And most expected). The point is for the Billionaires to do this. I'm the common man and busy supporting a family

Originally Posted by aargee

Ok, Good idea, please start the initiative, most of us from T-BHP will support you as well

[aargee]

Originally Posted by Sebring

This is a very cliched reply (And most expected). The point is for the Billionaires to do this. I'm the common man and busy supporting a family

Boss, it has been consistently been proven through the history that, it's the mind that drives everything, not the money; remember, grass is always green on the other side & what drives you is not what drives me or someone else.

We can have millions of imagination with someone else's 1 million (or even Rs 10000), but we think 1 million times when we have the real Rs 1000 to spend!!

Even the billionaires we refer in this thread (barring Kissinger, Rothchild, Rockefeller & Soros) were self made & were once a common man like you & I; something that drove them to be for what they're being discussed in here today, which is not driving...me for sure. Like you, my priority is family as well.

For sure we all play the games with the money we have that's all; they've got billions to play with planet & we've got lesser to play only with our family & someone in this forum has a little more to play between countries or even continents.

I hope you got the point

[srini1785]

At the cost of getting a red card i would like to make an off topic observation :

The shapes of the space ships domes and profiles obviously resemble their creators. Especially Jeff's.

Jeff :


Jeff's Ship


Richard :


Richard's Ship

[Sebring]

Boss, the mind has already driven this initiative. Man has outreached space and onto the moon, decades back. Space tourism is the objective here (Not for the common man, of course), and Branson has sold this idea to New Mexico as well and they have partly financed this. Hope you got my point as well

Originally Posted by aargee

Boss, it has been consistently been proven through the history that, it's the mind that drives everything, not the money; Even the billionaires we refer in this thread (barring Kissinger, Rothchild, Rockefeller & Soros) were self made & were once a common man like you & I;

[Samurai]

At least Jeff Bezos did one good thing... he sent Captain Kirk to space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSNXBvpLb9o

Reaction of Capt.Kirk at age 90 is so moving, compared to the meaningless noises from the others. I still can't believe he is that old, few months older than my late father and managed to take a space flight riding a rocket. And he walked out without any help.

PS: It was painful to watch Bezos ignore him in middle of the sentence to destroy some Champagne. That kind of spoiled the solemn moment.