the value of private space activity 🚀

my new space philosophy piece

I really enjoyed writing a new space philosophy piece for the American Philosophical Association blog — and it was just published online — so I thought I’d share it with you here.

I begin by discussing human interest in space as perhaps the simplest example of something that unifies the imaginative enthusiasm of humankind, across all of time and place. I then turn to human interest in space progress, as an important modern phenomenon.

Here, I note that while some of the most astonishing recent examples of space progress have involved private companies, public cynicism abounds about the increasing role of the private sector in the space economy.

“The outstanding achievements of private space companies extend beyond rocket development and deployment, however. In the past few years, we’ve seen the first landing on the moon by a private company (Intuitive Machines, followed closely by Firefly Aerospace), the first spacewalk by private astronauts (SpaceX), and the first all-private-astronaut mission to the International Space Station (Axiom Space). Significant progress is expected soon on innovative private-sector projects involving low-Earth orbit satellite constellations, lunar prospecting, and asteroid observation.

Yet, regardless of the recent and likely future achievements of private space companies, public cynicism abounds about their increasing role. This cynicism is particularly driven by concerns about the interests, motivations, and priorities of the wealthy leaders of the most successful of these companies. There’s a popular narrative that these people are untrustworthy, in it for the wrong reasons, and that they should spend their money on alternative projects.”

I address this cynicism head on, and make three simple arguments for the broad value of private space activity.

“First, [I argue] that there are serious risks in space activity being dominated by the state, which are mitigated through increased private-sector involvement. Second, that the criticisms [I’ve outlined] often reflect a misunderstanding about the opportunity cost involved in the super-rich spending their wealth on space progress. And third, that private activity in space not only holds great economic value and potential, but is also enabling new experiential and epistemic opportunities.”

Here’s a link to the full piece, on the Blog of the APA. I hope you enjoy it as much I enjoyed writing it!