The problem with privatization of space

 I just watched an NBC Special Report of a space capsule splashing down.

Just like we did in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

You wouldn’t think a simple space flight would be a major news story in 2025,  but here we are,

The reason it’s major news?

Privatization of the space industry.

Two astronauts flew up to the International Space Station 9 months ago in a spacecraft built by Boeing. It was supposed to be a ten day mission, but NASA deemed their vessel unsafe and the could not return in it.

The only way home was via a SpaceX craft.  But their training and equipment were incompatible with SpaceX technology, so they had to train for 9 months at the Space Station before they could return home.

They splashed down a few minutes ago.  Watching the capsule come out of the sky, parachutes open, and land in the water … it felt like a flashback to an earlier time. 

I’ve always been fascinated by space travel.  In 2016 we toured the Kennedy Space Center (I wrote about it here).  It’s a place of optimism and hope for the future.