The true genius of Steve Jobs:
There are, fundamentally, two subspecies of entrepreneur. One starts from the present, and visualizes the next logical step from where things are now. This type figures out how to make something better, cheaper, or more widely available, and manages to clear the financial, regulatory, and market barriers to getting it into the marketplace. The other visualizes a different world, one in which things are different and better from the way they are now, and then figures out what path of evolution brings us to that world, and, as the last step, what is the least ambitious step possible that will move things toward that goal.
Spaceflight needs a Steve Jobs. It’s not clear yet whether Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos fit the mold. But someone or some group of someones has to create the vision of abundant affordable in-space infrastructure that will finally replace the Apollo model.
[Update a few minutes later]
The man who sold the future.
Don’t you think it’s a bit of a stretch to invoke Jobs when you are ostensibly concerned about affordability? Through the decades, Apple has consistently worked the hype of Jobs’ “reality distortion zone” to charge a premium over other manufacturers’ product.
What matters a premium when people are lining up at the door?
I’m pretty sure that, regardless of the “premium,” items purchased by millions of people are “affordable.”
Since you mentioned in-space infrastructure as opposed to launch services, my thoughts turned to Bigelow. But did you see the following thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26545.msg814467#msg814467
Uh oh. Regardless of the layoffs, that thread is alarming, if true.
Bigelow will be speaking in Las Cruces in a couple weeks. Perhaps we’ll find out.
Funny coincidence: I read that article elsewhere and thought of Jeff Greason. He’s not being as flashy and doesn’t have the resources of Musk or Bezos, but xcor is there quietly preparing all the building blocks for the big advance: low cost reusability. I’m reminded of NeXT.
Maybe Musk will get there first. He’s certainly doing a great job of lowering the cost of disintegrating totem poles but reusability seems a bit of an afterthought.