A price tag of $400 million seems like a steal - until you consider the operating costs. Maintenance, engineering, fuel, oil, repairs, and personnel to perform and manage these things are necessary, too. And, don’t forget regulatory requirements. A company has to get permission to operate such a platform, and the addition of a rocket provides even more complications. Safety, security for the explody bits, and transportation of hazardous materials are things that also have to be managed.
But, is an operation this big and expensive worth it?
In my opinion, yes. Definitely. Commercial space is the industry that is going to boost our world’s economy.
In the near future, people will be working in space, and not just scientists.
Consider this scenario: People will be managing asteroid mining operations from bases on the moon. Someone has to build those bases first, though. Someone has to ship supplies up to the moon in order to build the bases. Someone has to figure out how to launch cargo inexpensively into space and navigate it to the moon.
Consider this scenario: People will be managing asteroid mining operations from bases on the moon. Someone has to build those bases first, though. Someone has to ship supplies up to the moon in order to build the bases. Someone has to figure out how to launch cargo inexpensively into space and navigate it to the moon.
Stratolaunch could be that platform. With the right owners and investors, this project could be the start of something great.
