There are far better programs and initiatives money could be flowing to. Will 'conquering Mars' really be in benefit of Americans (or humanity)?
My opinion really boils down to: Space exploration (at a multi-planet level) is of critical importance, at the right time. Humanity is not at that point and it would be at the expense of many less fortunate.
Somewhat off topic, but what do you reckon happens to earth and its less fortunate inhabitants once millionaires resettle in a brand new rock?
I don't think this is reason enough to halt space programs, but earth becoming dystopian wastelands is a real possibility. I don't think any current-day solutions (global regulations, wealth redistribution, sustainable development, ethical innovation) will solve this problem and hopefully AGI will have overtaken us by then.
Pretty reductionist of what they actually do. It's much more than that. It's one of NASAs biggest contractors and it's been that way for many years, way before Elon had any influence on Trump. The reason why NASA uses SpaceX is because they have useful tech. If people want to single out and cry about SpaceX ide expect that same logic applied to every other r&d contractor, but of course they don't because it's not about space tech spend but another dick-riding episode fixated with proving some sort of cronyism. As if his company is the only one that has been used by NASA or received grants and funding.
Here's a good list of NASA spend:
Quote
Based on recent data and reports, here are some of the largest NASA contractors:
California Institute of Technology (Caltech):
Role: Manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is responsible for many robotic spacecraft missions like Mars Perseverance and Europa Clipper.
Funding: In FY 2022, Caltech received about $2.7 billion, making it NASA's top contractor.
SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.):
Role: Provides space transportation services, including crew and cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS) with the Crew Dragon and Cargo Dragon spacecraft, and is developing the Starship for the Artemis lunar program.
Funding: SpaceX was awarded approximately $2.09 billion in FY 2022, making it the second-largest contractor.
Boeing:
Role: Involved in multiple NASA projects including the Space Launch System (SLS), Starliner spacecraft for the Commercial Crew Program, and various ISS operations.
Funding: Boeing's contract value has varied, but it has historically been one of NASA's top contractors, although it was surpassed by SpaceX in recent years.
Lockheed Martin:
Role: Key contributions include the Orion spacecraft for deep space exploration, and they have a long history with NASA missions like the InSight Mars lander.
Funding: While Lockheed Martin's specific FY 2022 contract value wasn't highlighted, they are consistently among the top contractors.
Northrop Grumman:
Role: Provides spacecraft and satellite development, notably the Cygnus spacecraft for ISS resupply and involvement in the James Webb Space Telescope.
Funding: Like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman is a significant contractor, with involvement in various high-profile NASA projects.
Jacobs Engineering Group:
Role: Supplies engineering, construction, and technical services across NASA's facilities, including significant roles at centers like Kennedy Space Center for the Exploration Ground Systems program.
Recognition: In 2020, Jacobs was named NASA's Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year.
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation):
Role: Offers enterprise IT services, engineering support, and space-related services, including work on NASA's space and near-Earth networks.
ASRC Federal:
Role: Provides IT consulting, engineering solutions, and support for NASA's space and science missions, particularly under contracts like the Omnibus Multidiscipline Engineering Services III.
This post was edited by ofthevoid on Feb 14 2025 01:57pm