Cartoon 707: Space Stealth

Americans see great profits in space.  A commercial rush to space will end up much as any other commercialization. There will be little or no effective regulation and environmental catastrophes.

America is unique. The culture is one that subscribes to a “divine right” of capitalism. In other words, business should be free to go and do whatever will generate profits. This religion is not universally shared in the world. It comes most in focus with the American approach placing the desires and rights of business over that of the people and aesthetics. Many cultures place greater value on aesthetics and the welfare of the people.

As American power and influence wanes, I wonder will it be able to pull a slight of hand and facilitate the commercialization of space? It is obvious what is “a foot”. America is going to outsource NASA space operations to private contractors. All the space contractor work is focused on the moon. It is not Mars and other areas of space exploration. The reason is the moon is where the profits are located in the form of resources. I imagine America will try violating international agreements and offer these contractors moon real estate “in lieu of “pay, much like was granted to the railroads a couple of centuries ago.

Some things are sacrosanct.  Space is one of those things.