Space.....

Tommy-G · 07-20-2021, 03:55 PM

Do we really need to be sending Billionaires into Space and for what real reason?
I'm no rocket scientist but do we really think there is intelligent life or that we can sustain life on another planet.
To me it seems like one giant waste of money and resources....someone learn me

TiMSport · 07-20-2021, 03:56 PM

It's called vanity and nothing better to do with their money, especially Bezos.

fiveohwblow · 07-20-2021, 04:00 PM

I was under the impression that a certain amount of our innovation has come through space exploration. It wasn’t necessarily about a conquering moment in space, but progress back here through exploration. Billionaires are doing it because they have the means.

Counter question: why not? Is this a moment where you are holding the pageant flowers claiming you want world peace and can spend someone else’s money better?

2000cs · 07-20-2021, 04:03 PM

I’m sure there is a lot more to this than vanity, but not sure exactly what.

Some thoughts:
Promotion (especially for Virgin)
Communications/satellite (Musk and Bezos)
Space Tourism (Virgin but probably doesn’t make economic sense on its own)
Military (when private companies do weird things, I wonder if there is a military contract behind it to help veil the real purpose)

upstatedoc · 07-20-2021, 04:07 PM

How about Bezos donate millions to a manned mission to Mars?

Tommy-G · 07-20-2021, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveohwblow

Counter question: why not? Is this a moment where you are holding the pageant flowers claiming you want world peace and can spend someone else’s money better?

No, I just feel like its a huge waste of resources. Maybe its b/c I dont have money to piss away on nothing. It seems wasteful to spend all that money with no real useful outcome.
Don't get me wrong, I'm just some dumb peon in Florida that no one would listen to anyway but I just don't get it.

Art-appreciates and some people truly LIKE art
Exotic cars-have been appreciating if you get the right ones
Buying properties-can make you tons of money
Things like that I at least understand the goal and possible outcome

fiveohwblow · 07-20-2021, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyG-inFlaNow

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveohwblow

Counter question: why not? Is this a moment where you are holding the pageant flowers claiming you want world peace and can spend someone else's money better?

No, I just feel like its a huge waste of resources. Maybe its b/c I dont have money to piss away on nothing. It seems wasteful to spend all that money with no real useful outcome.
Don't get me wrong, I'm just some dumb peon in Florida that no one would listen to anyway but I just don't get it.

Art-appreciates and some people truly LIKE art
Exotic cars-have been appreciating if you get the right ones
Buying properties-can make you tons of money
Things like that I at least understand the goal and possible outcome

I get that, however, work sucks ass today and I haven't the time at the moment, but, I believe that there is some major medical and tech advancements and benefits from the push to space. Maybe I can look it up later.

nyalpine90 · 07-20-2021, 04:20 PM

seriously, a trip to space can/could be last trip one could make.
many things could go wrong.

DocL · 07-20-2021, 04:36 PM

Who cares what these billionaires do with their money. These guys want to play, but the sandbox is too full here on earth.

E92 M Sport · 07-20-2021, 04:39 PM

Where’s the environmentalists? Why aren’t they screaming about rocket fuel burning, smoke, etc? The purpose I see for this is monetary, people pissing away thousands of dollars to go for a ride. We have gotten some innovations from the space (NASA) program but I don’t think it’s been worth the financial cost or certainly not the human tragedies.

erickonphoenix · 07-20-2021, 04:42 PM

You can argue it may or may not be a waste of money, or whether or not it's even a news worthy event but we have the pursuit of happiness thing and that's what Branson and Besos are doing.

Of course they could also argue there's nothing standing in the way of you making half a billion dollars and spending it better.

sygazelle · 07-20-2021, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyG-inFlaNow

Do we really need to be sending Billionaires into Space and for what real reason?
I'm no rocket scientist but do we really think there is intelligent life or that we can sustain life on another planet.
To me it seems like one giant waste of money and resources....someone learn me

What we need is not important to them. These guys are doing it because they can.

In addition, most certainly they they have plans to monetize their space exploration efforts. They have developed technologies that they will exploit commercially. They will make revenue on future flights of rich people who want to say they went to space. They no doubt have patents for everything they have done.

So far their business sense has worked well for them. I personally would not bet against them now.

Humdizzle · 07-20-2021, 05:08 PM

eventually this will be the way people travel internationally. shoot up into space, and then reentry at your destination. much faster than taking an airplane from say LA to London.

doubt it happens in any of our lifetimes though

IllSic_Design · 07-20-2021, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

Do we really need to be sending Billionaires into Space and for what real reason?
I'm no rocket scientist but do we really think there is intelligent life or that we can sustain life on another planet.
To me it seems like one giant waste of money and resources....someone learn me

It definitely is a waste, but I also don't think anyone should be able to tell anyone what to do with their money so it is what it is. I definitely think they should/could be spending it to better help the world like clean water, schools, etc. in third world countries and even also stuff they could do here. But it's their money so however they choose to spend it is their right.

Patton250 · 07-20-2021, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

Do we really need to be sending Billionaires into Space and for what real reason?
I'm no rocket scientist but do we really think there is intelligent life or that we can sustain life on another planet.
To me it seems like one giant waste of money and resources....someone learn me

Well….. it ain’t your money. So there’s that.

Monster335 · 07-20-2021, 05:31 PM

He might into Space all his life and now he has the money to go to Space. Some people do dream of going to Space. He can easily go on vacation to any spot on Earth why not outside of Earth. Dont worry about the Billionaires. You do you.

unluky · 07-20-2021, 05:38 PM

I like the idea anyway, but I heard Elon put it like this and it was perfect. I am paraphrasing......but "If we do not try and escape this planet and move to other planets - then what is the point? If that is what we are doing, then we are just waiting to die. This planet will not be here forever. Something will wipe out most life again - we know that. So when we just decide to stay on earth - we are just waiting to go extinct." Talking about seeing the long view.........

Besides - it's private funds. Money is all made up anyway, so they can do with it as they wish. I like the way he thinks though.

Tambohamilton · 07-20-2021, 05:45 PM

Creates hundreds (thousands?) of jobs down the supply chain, so it's a nice way for some of their pennies to make it back into circulation. And at least it's a constructive use of their funds rather than just amassing cars or art or real estate etc.

Also the tech will trickle down eventually, as will prices etc, so... it's a start.

infinitekidM2C · 07-20-2021, 05:51 PM

I think it's great. NASA has become stale. Now these billionaires can use some of their vast fortunes to advance our space exploration as a species. It will only help humanity in the longrun so whether they are doing it for fame or glory is not my concern.

infinitekidM2C · 07-20-2021, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unluky

I like the idea anyway, but I heard Elon put it like this and it was perfect. I am paraphrasing......but "If we do not try and escape this planet and move to other planets - then what is the point? If that is what we are doing, then we are just waiting to die. This planet will not be here forever. Something will wipe out most life again - we know that. So when we just decide to stay on earth - we are just waiting to go extinct." Talking about seeing the long view.........

Besides - it's private funds. Money is all made up anyway, so they can do with it as they wish. I like the way he thinks though.

Moving to a new planet...As Neil Degrasse Tyson pointed out; it's a helluva lot easier to terraform the Earth than another planet. So unless we literally bomb it to oblivion we should just remodel this place if the atmosphere or other conditions render it uninhabitable. Now if you're talking billions of years when our Sun turns into a red giant then ok, but that's so far into the future it's not even work thinking about too much.

vreihen16 · 07-20-2021, 05:56 PM

Reminder that BP no longer has a politics section. Let's not go double-or-nothing on the entire OT section.....

UncleWede · 07-20-2021, 06:23 PM

I'll be 55 next month. It was always a DREAM of mine, especially after Kubric made it so eloquently beautiful in 2001. And just MAYBE it will happen in my lifetime

I'm jelly as a fish that Bezos gets to go. I'm guessing, if I win Lotto, I can be something like #2,578 into space as a CIVILIAN with these first couple steps.

And I bet all the billionaires are betting on me making it someday soon, and it becomes a profit on their original investment.

07-20-2021, 03:55 PM	#1
Tommy-G Captain 4605 Rep 694 Posts Drives: 2015 435 Vert Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bradenton FL iTrader: (0)	Space..... Do we really need to be sending Billionaires into Space and for what real reason? I'm no rocket scientist but do we really think there is intelligent life or that we can sustain life on another planet. To me it seems like one giant waste of money and resources....someone learn me
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07-20-2021, 04:00 PM	#3
fiveohwblow Major 3633 Rep 1,397 Posts Drives: F15, E46 & M3, F82 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Desert SW iTrader: (2)	I was under the impression that a certain amount of our innovation has come through space exploration. It wasn’t necessarily about a conquering moment in space, but progress back here through exploration. Billionaires are doing it because they have the means. Counter question: why not? Is this a moment where you are holding the pageant flowers claiming you want world peace and can spend someone else’s money better?
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07-20-2021, 04:03 PM	#4
2000cs Captain 3883 Rep 1,003 Posts Drives: Potato Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	I’m sure there is a lot more to this than vanity, but not sure exactly what. Some thoughts: Promotion (especially for Virgin) Communications/satellite (Musk and Bezos) Space Tourism (Virgin but probably doesn’t make economic sense on its own) Military (when private companies do weird things, I wonder if there is a military contract behind it to help veil the real purpose)
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07-20-2021, 04:07 PM	#5
upstatedoc I'll get back to you 7533 Rep 2,132 Posts Drives: blue streak Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: not downstate iTrader: (2)	How about Bezos donate millions to a manned mission to Mars? __________________ 2018 Stinger GT 2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/ Countermeasure enthusiast.
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07-20-2021, 04:20 PM	#8
nyalpine90 Lieutenant General 7541 Rep 11,925 Posts Drives: MY24 G01 AW Msport Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: L.I. NY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2016 BMW X4 [9.25]	seriously, a trip to space can/could be last trip one could make. many things could go wrong.
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07-20-2021, 03:56 PM	#2
TiMSport Banned 12844 Rep 2,983 Posts Drives: '21 M340i xDrive, '17 Audi S3 Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	It's called vanity and nothing better to do with their money, especially Bezos.
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07-20-2021, 04:36 PM	#9
DocL Captain 2091 Rep 943 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Comp 6spd Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Delray Beach iTrader: (2)	Who cares what these billionaires do with their money. These guys want to play, but the sandbox is too full here on earth. __________________ 2018 F80 M3. YMB/BLK. ZCP. Three Pedals. "Education will never be as expensive as ignorance."
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07-20-2021, 04:39 PM	#10
E92 M Sport Lieutenant 285 Rep 398 Posts Drives: 2016 F82 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Where’s the environmentalists? Why aren’t they screaming about rocket fuel burning, smoke, etc? The purpose I see for this is monetary, people pissing away thousands of dollars to go for a ride. We have gotten some innovations from the space (NASA) program but I don’t think it’s been worth the financial cost or certainly not the human tragedies. __________________ 2016 M4 MW/SS 6mt
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07-20-2021, 04:42 PM	#11
erickonphoenix Captain 2054 Rep 653 Posts Drives: 2014 Gray 328xi Touring Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Houston TX iTrader: (0)	You can argue it may or may not be a waste of money, or whether or not it's even a news worthy event but we have the pursuit of happiness thing and that's what Branson and Besos are doing. Of course they could also argue there's nothing standing in the way of you making half a billion dollars and spending it better. __________________
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07-20-2021, 05:08 PM	#13
Humdizzle Brigadier General 6519 Rep 3,847 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Missouri iTrader: (0)	eventually this will be the way people travel internationally. shoot up into space, and then reentry at your destination. much faster than taking an airplane from say LA to London. doubt it happens in any of our lifetimes though __________________ 2018 Porsche GT3 6MT Previous: Ferrari 458 \| R35 GTR \| F80 M3 \| F87 M2c \| E46 M3 \| E36 M3 \| Scion FRS
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07-20-2021, 05:31 PM	#16
Monster335 Private First Class 234 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 2020 M4 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: U.S.A. iTrader: (0)	He might into Space all his life and now he has the money to go to Space. Some people do dream of going to Space. He can easily go on vacation to any spot on Earth why not outside of Earth. Dont worry about the Billionaires. You do you.
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07-20-2021, 05:38 PM	#17
unluky Major 7675 Rep 1,261 Posts Drives: 04 z4 3.0 Sport & 15 X5 35i XD Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Sedalia, MO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 XDrive 35i [0.50] 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Spo ... [0.00]	I like the idea anyway, but I heard Elon put it like this and it was perfect. I am paraphrasing......but "If we do not try and escape this planet and move to other planets - then what is the point? If that is what we are doing, then we are just waiting to die. This planet will not be here forever. Something will wipe out most life again - we know that. So when we just decide to stay on earth - we are just waiting to go extinct." Talking about seeing the long view......... Besides - it's private funds. Money is all made up anyway, so they can do with it as they wish. I like the way he thinks though. __________________ 2015 X5 XDrive 35i - 2004 Z4 3.0 Sport
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07-20-2021, 05:45 PM	#18
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3161 Rep 4,023 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Creates hundreds (thousands?) of jobs down the supply chain, so it's a nice way for some of their pennies to make it back into circulation. And at least it's a constructive use of their funds rather than just amassing cars or art or real estate etc. Also the tech will trickle down eventually, as will prices etc, so... it's a start.
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07-20-2021, 05:51 PM	#19
infinitekidM2C Major General 4298 Rep 5,737 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2019 M2 COMPETITION [9.75] 2008 135i (my old car) [7.56]	I think it's great. NASA has become stale. Now these billionaires can use some of their vast fortunes to advance our space exploration as a species. It will only help humanity in the longrun so whether they are doing it for fame or glory is not my concern.
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07-20-2021, 05:56 PM	#21
vreihen16 Recovering Perfectionist 20433 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: BMW-less :( Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Orange County, NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Mighty Freight ... [0.00] 2000 Audi TT Quattro [0.00] 1967 Formula Vee [0.00]	Reminder that BP no longer has a politics section. Let's not go double-or-nothing on the entire OT section..... __________________ Currently BMW-less.
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07-20-2021, 06:23 PM	#22
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18404 Rep 9,420 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	I'll be 55 next month. It was always a DREAM of mine, especially after Kubric made it so eloquently beautiful in 2001. And just MAYBE it will happen in my lifetime I'm jelly as a fish that Bezos gets to go. I'm guessing, if I win Lotto, I can be something like #2,578 into space as a CIVILIAN with these first couple steps. And I bet all the billionaires are betting on me making it someday soon, and it becomes a profit on their original investment.
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