Jeff Bezos in space

[jayem]

He and 3 passengers reached an altitude of 66 miles. The Blue Origin vehicle launched from TX and landed upright.

The crew capsule sped to a peak altitude of 66 miles at three times the speed of sound before parting with the booster. The passengers experienced a brief feeling of weightlessness and could see the curvature of Earth on the brim of its atmosphere.

I guess there are no flat earthers in that crew.

Blue Origin successfully sends Jeff Bezos and three others to space and back

 

[Hammster]

I wonder how that affected his carbon footprint.

 

[wing2000]

I'm not sure what value these efforts (Bezos and Branson) have for society at large. Billionaires experiencing space for a few minutes?

 

[jayem]

This could be a killer marketing promotion. Sign up for Amazon Prime, and you get a trip into space.

 

[wing2000]

.....so even if the price drops to say 25,000, what is the return on investment for the society at large?

Although Blue Origin has yet to announce a price point for its flights, Virgin Galactic has advertised seats at $250,000 each, and the company, which says at least 600 tickets have already been reserved, is expected to raise the price.

“We’ve done a number of studies that are finding that there is a meaningful level of demand, by which I mean at least hundreds of people a year at the price point around $250,000,” says Christensen, whose research looks at the future market for suborbital flights. In fact, there is “potential for much more than that, to go into thousands of people a year, if the price drops significantly.”

Jeff Bezos reaches space—a small step toward big spaceflight dreams

 

[durangodawood]

I wonder how that affected his carbon footprint.

Probably pretty badly.

One guy going to space? Not so big deal. But "space tourism" as an industry? Sounds recklessly irresponsible.

 

[Jake Arsenal]

I'm not sure what value these efforts (Bezos and Branson) have for society at large. Billionaires experiencing space for a few minutes?

The purpose is to display the "value" of their wealth.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

I'm not sure what value these efforts (Bezos and Branson) have for society at large. Billionaires experiencing space for a few minutes?

To their credit (sort of I guess?) this isn't like they took a safe, routine transport option to a common vacation destination. They put their lives at a much greater risk than necessary for PR. That's dedication to an idea at least. Don't let your disdain for them as rich people undermine the significance and risk of what they did. I would not personally risk my life on what is pretty much still in an experimental stage with these companies (Blue Origin and Virgin, SpaceX not so much) and my net worth is in the negative, lol.

 

[Phred]

Wait until the first ship plummets into the ground... it will remind all those people with that kind of money to burn that they aren't immortal.

 

[pescador]

I'm not sure what value these efforts (Bezos and Branson) have for society at large. Billionaires experiencing space for a few minutes?

So Columbus (or Eriksen) didn't benefit society at large (if you're European, not Native American)?

 

[pescador]

Wait until the first ship plummets into the ground... it will remind all those people with that kind of money to burn that they aren't immortal.

Too cynical IMHO!

 

[wing2000]

So Columbus (or Eriksen) didn't benefit society at large (if you're European, not Native American)?

...um, well maybe if Bezos explored some unknown area of our galaxy....as it is, he went to 351,000 feet for 4 minutes and drifted back down to earth.

 

[pescador]

...um, well maybe if Bezos explored some unknown area of our galaxy....as it is, he went to 351,000 feet for 4 minutes and drifted back down to earth.

That's one small step for man but a giant leap for mankind. (Neil Armstrong)

 

[timothyu]

I'm not sure what value these efforts (Bezos and Branson) have for society at large. Billionaires experiencing space for a few minutes?

It literally puts them above everyone else who may have doubted their egos.

 

[wing2000]

To their credit (sort of I guess?) this isn't like they took a safe, routine transport option to a common vacation destination. They put their lives at a much greater risk than necessary for PR. That's dedication to an idea at least. Don't let your disdain for them as rich people undermine the significance and risk of what they did. I would not personally risk my life on what is pretty much still in an experimental stage with these companies (Blue Origin and Virgin, SpaceX not so much) and my net worth is in the negative, lol.

That's their choice obviously. Bezo's has certainly revolutionized e-commerce, logistics etc (though some may not view that postively).

However, I don't see the value for this exercise.

 

[timothyu]

...um, well maybe if Bezos explored some unknown area of our galaxy....as it is, he went to 351,000 feet for 4 minutes and drifted back down to earth.

Waiting for the Bezos rocket toy to hit the market

 

[timothyu]

So Columbus (or Eriksen) didn't benefit society at large (if you're European, not Native American)?

Society spreads just as it did with the original migrants who later called themselves native to the Americas.

 

[timothyu]

However, I don't see the value for this exercise.

Ego... or perhaps setting the example for his monitored workers who don't move fast enough and get fired by app.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Meh.

Go to the moon. Then I’ll be impressed.

 

[cow451]

It literally puts them above everyone else who may have doubted their egos.

Unlike EX President Trump, it shows something that a real billionaire can do. These space endeavors are creating technologies via the private sector. What's the problem?

If ego was enough, EX President Trump would've already colonized Pluto.