Former NASA astronaut: Private space travel clears way for 'things we can't even imagine'
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.
-
Grok in the crosshairs as EU launches deepfake porn probeIN THE SPOTLIGHT The European Union has officially begun investigating Elon Musk’s proprietary AI, as regulators zero in on Grok’s porn problem and its impact continent-wide
-
‘But being a “hot” country does not make you a good country’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Why have homicide rates reportedly plummeted in the last year?Today’s Big Question There could be more to the story than politics
-
Moon dust has earthly elements thanks to a magnetic bridgeUnder the radar The substances could help supply a lunar base
-
How Mars influences Earth’s climateThe explainer A pull in the right direction
-
The ‘eclipse of the century’ is coming in 2027Under the radar It will last for over 6 minutes
-
NASA discovered ‘resilient’ microbes in its cleanroomsUnder the radar The bacteria could contaminate space
-
Artemis II: back to the MoonThe Explainer Four astronauts will soon be blasting off into deep space – the first to do so in half a century
-
The mysterious origin of a lemon-shaped exoplanetUnder the radar It may be made from a former star
-
The 5 biggest astronomy stories of 2025In the spotlight From moons, to comets, to pop stars in orbit
-
Blue Origin launches Mars probes in NASA debutSpeed Read The New Glenn rocket is carrying small twin spacecraft toward Mars as part of NASA’s Escapade mission
