‘Space billionaires mainly take a piss’ | The matter

In that regard, most commenters agree with astronomer Vincent Icke, who described the race to space as “outrageous behavior.” That is not to say that Icke only has friends among the commenters, because his contribution to the discussion is called ‘sour’ by commenters. So be it discusses the content: “Vincent calls himself a professor. Then he should know that we’re making progress, thanks to these “showy” people. The rest comes from the flamboyant taxpayer who gives Vincent a job so he can watch the stars.”

Also In is only moderately enthusiastic about Icke: “This man kicks against wealth in his contribution. He is a scientist. It would have been better for him to come up with facts, for example to what extent space travel would actually be harmful to the environment. It is remarkable that as a scientist he does not do that. Honestly it can’t be much as the stay is only fifteen minutes.”

Well, those environmental effects of a parabolic flight to an altitude of eighty to one hundred kilometres, what do we think of that? John01 prefers to leave that to climate advocate Frans Timmermans: “Perhaps Timmermans can book a flight and take a look at what the earth looks like in total in order to carry out his climate plans? You cannot implement the plans only for Europe, but you have to do it worldwide. The money spent on this nonsense is better used to solve the famine. These nonsensical journeys are only for a few dozen billionaires. But the world misery; millions are the victims of this, caused by the elite and the rich.”

Amazon boss and space entrepreneur Jeff Bezos is a hypocrite, thinks Charquin: “How do they go into space? Hopefully they don’t use fossil fuels. And that Amazon bastard is buying up our windmills to offset the emissions! As far as I’m concerned: if you have that much money to spare, do good things with it. It is no longer of this time to throw your money and show off like that. Go save Africa. Build schools, hospitals, train and pay people on the spot. Then I respect! Now only disgust.”

ah, says Teenentander: “It wouldn’t be a bad idea if a few billion people went on a space trip. Then we get a little space here again.”

“In large parts of the world, wealth growth cannot compete with reproductive behavior and population explosions, but that can’t be a reason to stop our progress!?”

Awkut Hépap mainly sees financial opportunities: “Why only be jealous of bigots? One has to levy 200 percent tax on such a space trip and spend that money on climate plans. The wealth elite don’t bat an eyelid when they have to pay $750,000 instead of $250,000 for such a flight.” Daanjaspers also thinks that the wealth of the top rich could be better used: “Worry that we can’t ensure that too many people on this planet can’t get the most basic yet, but spend thousands of billions to explore other planets and the like! ”

And yet, the problems on Earth should not be a reason not to look further, argues Reconquest10001 in a lengthy contribution: “In large parts of the world, wealth growth cannot compete with reproductive behavior and population explosions, but that cannot be a reason to halt our progress!? In fact, all the more reason to look for other planets. Many new technologies, medical feats and innovations have their origins in space travel and have taken an indispensable place in our society without us even thinking about it. Today we find it very normal that our car tells us which route to take, that we can see every organ in our body in great detail on a scan or that we use a Tefalpan. Just for fun, look up what we owe to space travel and you’ll be amazed. It is arguably the most important form of progress we have and if commercial space travel can lend a hand in this, I can only encourage it.”

Ton The Hague sees that too, but does not believe in the role of commerce: „Space travel in itself is good, many (medical) experiments that turn out well, but I am strongly against commercial flights. That makes no sense and makes absolutely no contribution to science.”

And that, says Keeshond, is therefore of all times: “Ah, we have already polluted the earth and now space has to accept it. Nothing new under the sun.”

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