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Now that SpaceX has ushered in the era of privatized space travel. Where do we go from here? Yesterday, Dragon, SpaceX’s Appolo-like space capsule successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean just off Baja California. The flight was monitored by NASA, SpaceX and every other organization that could possibly monitor a spacecraft landing on the Earth. SpaceX is a private company doing contract work for the government – but it certainly doesn’t have to. In 1492, Queen Isabella I of Castileand King Ferdinand II of Aragon decided to fund Christopher Columbus’ expedition in the hope of bypassing Portugal’s monopoly on west African routes to “the Indies” by travelling west across the Atlantic. America may have been discovered by a government contractor, but it didn’t take long for private investors and private companies to become the dominant players. What will happen in space? Go re-watch the opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, change the logos to ones you recognize and you’ll have a good idea.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.