Going Into Space: Buy One – Give One
Journey to the Dream — Part I, Dylan Taylor
“As I wrap up Part 1 of this blog series, I want to announce a set of gifts that I would ask all other commercial astronauts to consider. I call it buy one, give one, a term I first heard coined by my friends Ami Dror and Navyn Salem. It is simple, donate to worthy causes here on Earth the equivalent of the ticket price for the spaceflight. Commercial Astronauts are predicted to spend several hundred million dollars in the next five years. The impact that cohort could have here on Earth if they all supported this initiative could be very substantial.”
Journey to the Dream — Part II, Dylan Taylor
“I strongly believe that our current focus on reaching space doesn’t mitigate our focus on important causes and issues that impact life here on Earth. On the contrary, I believe our collective future in space is fully dependent on us addressing seemingly intractable problems here on Earth. Those problems require perspective and they require resources. Commercial astronauts are predicted to spend several hundred million dollars in the next five years and if they were to all help support an initiative on Earth, their impact could create significant accessible and diversified space exploration opportunities and advancement for humanity here on Earth.”
Journey to the Dream — Part III, Dylan Taylor
“With the simulator (affectionately known as the tortoise) we are able to experience a mission from start to finish, many times over. This has two primary benefits. First, we will know what to expect on launch day, not only in terms of what will happen but the order and timing of each event. And, secondly, we can practice many different scenarios for emergency response and “what-if.” After my first full day of training, I can honestly say I learned more about the New Shepard launch system in one day, then I had gleaned in several years of following the program. That is how good the training and trainers are at Blue Origin.”
I strongly disagree with this on principle. Should visitors to an art gallery be obliged to give the equivalent of an entry ticket, or opera goers the equivalent of a seat? The fact is space tourism benefits everybody just as do cruise ships, airlines and all forms of transport, consumption and trade generally.
Wealth generated in one place spreads globally. It’s the essence of economics.
To look specifically at space tourism. It increases our experience in spaceflight which leads eventually to reduced costs and more, cheaper flights and better launch and satellite technology, which leads to a better world for us all.
By all means solve problems here on earth, but it’s never an either/or choice. We’re better than that. We can walk AND chew gum.
Then you do not have to donate the cost of your next ticket to anywhere, But this guy is – and more – and he is to be commended for doing so.