logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2022
54m 26s

The Future of Private Space Travel

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Past and current philosophers often argue the future of humanity is found not on Earth, but in the stars. In recent decades, private entities have pushed the boundaries of technology, achieving milestones once relegated to the scope of state-level powers. As organizations like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin reach historic breakthroughs, more and more people wonder: Should humanity's exploration of the cosmos be beholden to profit-driven entities? To paraphrase Alfred E. Neuman -- "What, me worry?"

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Exploding Mics: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk, Chapter Two
In mere hours after the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10th, 2025, conspiracy theories metastasized across the internet net. Within 33 hours, authorities claimed they had captured the assassin, and began to map out a timeline of the murder. However, a lot of people we ... Show More
40m 43s
Sep 15
CLASSIC: What the Heck is an NFT?
In tonight's Classic episode: a new player has entered the strange, often confusing world of Bitcoin -- the non-fungible token, or NFT. This digital token, which can be virtually anything, is technically unique. It's a one-of-a-kind thing existing in an entirely intangible state. ... Show More
1h 7m
Sep 14
Strange News: The DHS Traces Your Finances, No Water For You! Plus: You Can See Everything, Drone Shenanigans, and More
Recent revelations confirm that the Department of Homeland Security and other parts of law enforcement are secretly accessing your financial records -- and taking you in, even if you haven't committed a crime. Plus, US courts rule people have no right to clean water. A sinister C ... Show More
59m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2021
From the Vault: Astronomical Suffering and the Terran Diaspora
For many futurists, the long term survival of humanity depends on its ability to become a true interplanetary and even interstellar species. But what is the potential moral cost of such a great technological and cultural leap forward? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, R ... Show More
1h 5m
Mar 2023
Space Policy Edition: The Tricky Ethics of Space Settlement
<p>Humanity is on the cusp of attempting permanent settlement on other worlds. But who gets to go? How will we govern ourselves or enforce laws off Earth? How can you have property rights, labor rights, or even individual rights when the very air you breathe is limited and potent ... Show More
1h 11m
Oct 2019
The Race for Space, and the Invasion of the Electric Scooters
Does Space represent a real economic opportunity or are expensive endeavors like SpaceX a form of billionaire hubris? Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the Race for Space, before debating the viability of the electric scooter market in cities around th ... Show More
33m 33s
Jul 2025
Space: the next investment frontier?
Billionaires, scientists and start-ups are all trying to get in on the action. And it's not all about sending rockets and satellites into space. Space-enabled technologies are informing climate forecasting and disaster planning, as well as playing a role in logistics, defence and ... Show More
17m 29s
Jan 2018
How Do We Rule The Universe?
Governing moon miners, asteroid hunters and space junk sounds pretty tricky, but we better get our act together. This year the majority of space launches included commercial enterprises. Space is no longer just the playground of governments but companies; companies that want to m ... Show More
23m 37s
Dec 2022
Our Strange New Era of Space Travel
Humans last set foot on the Moon 50 years ago. Now we’re going back, but the way we explore space—and our relationship to it—has gone through some big changes. “Space is a vacation now… a status symbol,” Marina Koren explains to Adam Harris. The two staff writers discuss this new ... Show More
24m 5s
May 2024
The case for space
<p>The universe isn’t the only thing expanding. Governments have invested in space technology for decades, and now business is accelerating its growth. On this episode of <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-podcast"><em>The McKinsey Podcast</em></a>, McKi ... Show More
27m 38s
Nov 2010
You're So Vain, Earthlings
<p>How do individuals relate to reality? How has humanity attempted to interpret its position in the universe? From navel-gazing to the geocentric universe and beyond, the search for humanity's place has become a long -- and mind-blowing -- enterprise.</p><p> </p> Learn more abou ... Show More
30m 2s
Sep 2024
The new space race
Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, as well companies like Boeing, believe a future where more satellites are put in orbit, alongside new space stations, as well as plans for bases on the moon, will prove very profitable.But it is not proving easy for Boeing in particular ... Show More
17m 29s