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Government Programs Vs Privatized Space Programs

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Free markets and government regulated markets each have unique advantages, but for space programs the former is superior. Privately funded space programs are better than government funded space programs. Programs independently funded for the development, exploration, and commercialization of space are more desirable economically, scientifically, and politically. Privatized space programs are faster, because of their freedom and competition. They are typically more innovative, creative, and audacious than government space programs, increasing the rate of discovery. Private space programs have narrower interests than government programs, and focus exclusively on profits. Thus they are less prone to conflicts or malicious intents, and perform …show more content…

Such speed will foster the development of science, the breakthroughs in technology, and the colonisation of other planets, which are all desirable. Competition between private space programs will drive them to succeed faster and more reliably; if they do not succeed they will be crushed in the capitalist market. On the other hand, government programs are protected by their government’s money, so if they fail there is no consequence. There is no incentive for government programs to succeed, whereas success and speed is a life-or-death scenario for private programs. Government funded programs’ speed is also limited by their own freedom. NASA does not have the freedom to do anything against the United States’ government’s interests, as the government would just cut its funding. Private space programs can abstract capital from their own organization, private investors, and other corpor ations, which means they have the freedom to displease different parties. Simply put, private programs are like tripods, and government programs are like pencils; private programs have more bases of support and so have more freedom to move. The expanded freedom allows the programs to experiment more, try out new things and designs, and take risks with their new designs. More experiments lead to more knowledge and more results, which are ultimately the goal. Government programs have limited freedom, which limits experiments and therefore results and knowledge. An example of this is in the extensive deployment of military-purpose satellites; the military and power interests of the government are guiding the space programs’ actions here, thereby diverting resources from scientific and explorative interests. During the space race, it was largely government interests that drove the space programs, which is an example of the capability of the government to influence and control the space programs’ actions, limiting

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