PureGin.org

Spaceship One returned today from a historic trip - the second trip to 100km plus altitude within a week, satisfying the conditions to claim the X prize. In winning the X prize for its developers and backers, it has demonstrated the feasibility of 'Space Tourism'. I love it, but I hate it.

I love it because I grew up in the 'Space Age' - with the romantic idea of "Outer" space as the "Final Frontier". The idea of being able to step onto a "plane" and float off onto an orbiting space hotel, á lá 2001: A Space Odessey, seems ultra cool (though air-travel has proved to be a pretty much dehumanizing experience, and I can't imagine space travel being much better. Watch out for 'Space Rage', everybody!). Perhaps the idea of seeing the planet from space might inspire a whole new generation with a 'one world/small planet' perspective.

I hate the idea because it seems to be the pinnacle of selfishness and waste - like going for a $100,000+ roller-coaster ride while people are begging for crumbs at the gates of the amusement park - dying of starvation, lack of water, and from easily preventable/easily curable diseases. Perhaps this an example of 'amusing ourselves to death' taken to extremes.

Then again, people probably made this point of the first passenger airplanes and air-tourists. And I suppose the development of that technology has improved lives. Or has it? Do we need to travel as much as we do? Do we need to get there the same day? Is it reasonable to ship food half-way around the world? We have a much better knowledge of the world and the universe as a result of this, but we also have bombers, cruise missiles, and those antechambers of Hell, airport waiting lounges.

What to conclude? As usual, every discovery, every technology, has consequences - intended and un-intended; foreseen and unforeseen. I expect that the future won't be any simpler than the past, however much faster we go, or further out from our planet.