How Far Will Mass Space Craft Production Take Us?

Commentary: 
In the recent past, private companies reaching Space before government programs were crazy talk to industry professionals. Today, private enterprise makes great leaps for both government and private programs.

Dr. Doug Plata, President and Founder of the Space Development Network, reasons that the mass production of SpaceX’s Starship craft engineers around many project problems. Issues such as budget and rebuilding craft post damages are resolved with a massive volume of craft to test with. 

Plata spoke with the DareGreatly show in December. He and show host and Liftport Group founder Michael Laine discussed recent trends of mass commercial space exploration craft production.

“The progress that SpaceX has made has gotten rid of that giggle factor,” said Plata. 
Plata reasons that SpaceX closes gaps in the time factor it will take to reach the high-level anticipated projects. Plata and Laine discussed some of the extreme feats of Space exploration in the books.

Musk has publicly stated that his program plans to have humans on Mars by 2031.

While there have been many delays to such ambitious feats in past Space exploration eras, Plata reasons that Space X’s mass production venture narrows down production hiccups. 

“By that time, that is what, 9 years from now? They will have thousands of Raptor 2 engines that have been produced. They will be well on their way…,” said Plata, referring to Space X. 

How Far Will Mass Commercial Craft Production Take Us?
Musk’s Mars project is one of the daring feats of Space exploration, but it isn’t the only one. NASA’s exploration of Jovian moons, in the region near Jupiter, seeks to explore Jupiter’s interior with a target date of 2031. 

Dr. Plata's logic, that Space X's mass production of space craft closes contingencies for Mars reach, poses a follow-up question. By the time that NASA is ready to branch out to the Jovian system, what role will commercial development play? Will SpaceX's mass star fleet manufactured for Mars reach, take on a new role at that time? Can mass production, by its sheer volume, put Jovian closer than we yet imagine? 

As commercial ventures collapse the contingency gaps, new possibilities open up. The concept of humans on Mars as a near-future venture is no longer crazy talk. 

Photo Credit: Jupiter Family, Wikimedia Foundation Commons 
Feature text by Rachel Brooks, Next Dawn newsletter 

Hey, there! We love to hear your thoughts. Do you think our speculation is close to the mark? Will commercial Space craft production lines make Mars and Jovian more reachable, or are there big set backs to note? 
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In the comments below, tell us what you think. 

See the recap of the Dare Greatly show, featuring Dr. Plata