The commercialization of space is not progressing as promised, with a string of failed lunar landings and test flights. This isn’t just a series of flukes; it points to a deeper structural problem in how we talk about innovation, cost, and success in space.
In the past 50 years, achieving feats like landing humans on the moon was made possible by incredible precision, reliability, and coordination using analog systems and slide rules. Today’s failures are puzzling, especially when companies promise ambitious goals like lunar resorts and interplanetary travel despite struggling to land basic probes or launch successful test flights.
Many private space companies claim to be innovators, but this is often aspiration masquerading as disruption. Companies like iSpace charge less than the true cost of their missions, masking risk with financial optimism. This is not sustainable innovation, but rather a business model that prioritizes hype over results.
To truly advance in space, we need seriousness and accountability, not PR strategy. We must stop celebrating hype and start demanding results. The real innovation needed is not in spacecraft, but in holding companies accountable for their actions.
The legacy of Apollo’s engineers, who spent years solving problems atom by atom, serves as a model for the industry. If new generations of space companies want to lead humanity forward, they must respect this standard and learn from it. By doing so, we can create a sustainable, entrepreneurial space ecosystem that delivers results over promises.
Source: https://spacenews.com/space-is-hard-there-is-no-excuse-for-pretending-its-easy