They’re off! What many call the Billionaire Boys’ race to space is on. Branson went by plane, Bezos by rocket. Musk will go into orbit in a couple of months.
Let’s face it: Exploration takes money. History is full of stories about entrepreneurs spending their own wealth on expeditions or getting it from investors or from government. And while we think about the spiritual aspects of exploration, like opening new vistas and life-changing experiences, in real terms, the goal is usually commercial. Columbus was looking for a new route to the Indies for trading opportunities. Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis wasn’t a free ride, he needed investors. But these events are all on a continuum. Lindbergh flew by himself; we can now sit in first class and have a flight attendant bring us a cocktail. But flight around the world helps make the word go ‘round.
Columbus and Lindbergh were heroes for a while, but history hasn’t been kind to them. I wonder whether it will be the reverse for our current billionaire explorers - a rehabilitation of their reputations. It may be offensive to many that Jeff Bezos gets to play with space toys while the workers at the company he founded have to think about the bathroom breaks they get during a shift. But he is also a visionary with a genuine concern for the planet, and as we see now, a major philanthropist too.
Let’s face another thing: Many of us just hate people who have more money. Why don’t they pay more taxes? I’m no tax lawyer, but I betcha Bezos’ trip into space is deductible. Schedule C for “capsule,” maybe?
Will the Billionaire Boys’ Race democratize, as they say, space travel for the rest of us? I’m actually glad to see something getting democratized right now.
