With Space X promising “Something Big” in their announcement this morning I can’t help but imagine something like the this painting by Chesley Bonestall.

There are years of pent up frustration with the near complete abandonment of the greatest undertaking that is possible for humanity… and this is challenging me to dream big again.

Elon really should be careful about this sort of hyperbole. I am pretty sure that it is about the Falcon Heavy, which is a great step forward in launch capability, and I don’t want people to be disappointed by its unveiling… but what it got me thinking about was private space stations launching next year.

To be clear, my best guess is an announcement about the Falcon Heavy itself… but what I am dreaming about is a collaboration between Space X and Bigelow Aerospace.

Bigelow Aerospace has been constructing a manufacturing plant that is to take them into full production of their Sundancer space habitat… Space X is about to unveil the Falcon Heavy which will have the capability to launch a Sundancer into orbit.

While still not cheap, a $95 million launch of a $100 million (just my ballpark guess of the cost) Sundancer will give you your own space station. Seriously, his time next year, literally thousands of individuals and tens of thousands of companies could write a check to get their own space station.

Either way, the announcement is about to take place so we’ll know momentarily.

We are certainly living in amazing times.

Be Sociable, Share!

•