With Amazon founder Jeff Bezos gearing up to become the second billionaire to cross briefly into space in as many weeks, there's been a lot of discussion about the privatization of space travel. Former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, for one, thinks there will be significant benefits.
First, he noted, NASA has long wanted to "turn over" some of its work to private companies "so that it could help our economy." Scientifically speaking, though, he believes the ultimate goal is to increase access to space for people who may not have otherwise considered going beyond Earth to be a possibility. That could lead to innovation and new discoveries, Massimino suggested. "People can envision themselves going or what research they might do or what products they might develop or what they want to accomplish in space," Massimino told ABC News' Martha Raddatz on Sunday's edition of This Week. "Because now it's possible. It's going to let people be creative to come up with things we can't even imagine that can be done in space travel."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The struggles of Aston MartinIn the Spotlight The car manufacturer, famous for its association with the James Bond franchise, is ‘running out of road’
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rightsThe Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Grecotel Luxme Dama Dama: Greek luxury with a breezy beach vibeThe Week Recommends Rhodes is reimagined in this refined and relaxed resort
-
The moon is rustingUnder the radar The Earth is likely to blame
-
Panspermia: the theory that life was sent to Earth by aliensUnder The Radar New findings have resurfaced an old, controversial idea
-
Africa could become the next frontier for space programsThe Explainer China and the US are both working on space applications for Africa
-
SpaceX breaks Starship losing streak in 10th testspeed read The Starship rocket's test flight was largely successful, deploying eight dummy satellites during its hour in space
-
Hurricanes are not exclusive to Earth. They can happen in space.Under the radar These storms may cause navigational problems
-
Rabbits with 'horns' sighted across Coloradospeed read These creatures are infected with the 'mostly harmless' Shope papilloma virus
-
Lithium shows promise in Alzheimer's studySpeed Read Potential new treatments could use small amounts of the common metal
-
Scientists discover cause of massive sea star die-offSpeed Read A bacteria related to cholera has been found responsible for the deaths of more than 5 billion sea stars
