Outpost:
The Real space race has begun. Private companies that build rockets, and space dwellings, and navigational systems, and moon rovers, and robotics..... are cropping up all over the world. The leader in this innovation is SpaceX, who will soon have the ability to crew and maintain a fleet of several hundred Starships orbiting the earth and the Moon. And unlike any previous space vehicles before the Starship, they will be able to re-fuel in space, giving Starships the incredible ability to navigate their orbit: around the earth, around the Moon, and onto Mars, and onto other planets....
Starships will be able to deliver large payloads into space, upto 10 times larger and heavier than existing technologies. And, because of the incredible booster rocket recovery technologies in use at SpaceX, a Starship launch will only cost about $4 million per launch, with the ability to launch several Starships per week.
Moon Dwellling: Photo courtesy of NASA.
Copyright 2023
Does that sound expensive? Consider that to launch a Space Shuttle into orbit, the cost was around $450 million per launch, with only 1 launch per year, and only able to deliver 1/10th the payload of a Starship!
And, do you think that we'll be sending a small capsule with a couple of Astronauts to Mars someday? Think again! The NASA/SpaceX plan is to send up to 100 Starships at one time, loaded with dwellings, fuel, food, water, and anything else humans will need to land and ultimately colonize a new planet..... And with two launches per week, this preparation can happen faster than ever before imagined!
Yes, the space race has begun.....
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Well, unlike Elon Musk and his incredible vision of the future, I am a simpleton. My world consists of a daydream, a guitar, and a cup of coffee. My song "Lunar Winter" made reference to an Outpost on the far side of the Moon, which boasts a spectacular view of the heavens every minute of every day!
So, I think it's time to head back to the Outpost!
With a nice fire glowing in the fireplace on a crystal clear night, and the brilliance of the heavens filling up my picture window, it's time for a chilled glass of bourbon and some smooth guitar.
Hey!! Why don't you come along......