They're researching conception and EARLY embryo development in space. There are known issues with human reproduction in space but likely many unknowns as well which this project is trying to investigate. Using human cells is more useful, cheaper and more ethical than sending animals into space to fuck. Yet the internet goblins are already calling it a "very bad idea."

- person who probably didn't think about this topic for more than 15 seconds before commenting

What's the explanation for this? Closer than usual? New phenomenon?

If there really are civilisations that have survived on the billion year time-scales of our universe, the fact that they're not clearly visible everywhere we look is a distinct choice they've made. Space is big but time is much bigger.

Whoops you're right hahaha. Anyway countless spacex insiders will tell you that Musk's genius is in large scale aspects of rocket design and industrial engineering. Iterative design, vertical integration, part deletion and reusability are all concepts he has pushed extremely hard for at spacex, and these have been huge contributors to the company's success. Anti vax bullshit on Twitter doesn't negate that IMO. It might for thd average person or celebrity, but when someone has concrete achievements under their belt they should be judged on that. I don't worship him like you seem to think, I see his flaws and am absolutely relieved there's an adult running the show at spacex, but he is clearly integral to the company's meteoric rise.

Difference between our two comments is no one is doing the latter. He's also not the CEO so something tells me you don't know shit about the situation.

Imagine caring more about the bullshit someone says on twitter than the cutting edge tech their company develops.

The best way to address any of those issues is providing sustainable economic prosperity, and the only way to achieve that is expansion into space.

Building public support is doing something. As is living your normal life with this purpose in mind. Personally, I'm reducing my consumer spending and donating to effective altruist causes, as I believe we need a functional civilisation to pursue goals like this which means addressing threats like climate change and also promoting a compassionate society which values the collective wellbeing. Real expansion into space may not happen for centuries, but the contribution our current society makes to that future, good or bad, will be enormous.

If all they're being used for in 8 years time is crewed missions they might just fly the last 10 missions expendable. IIRC though there are also some Artemis missions booked for Falcon Heavy?

My personal guess is those contracts won't live more than a few years once it becomes clear what a gamechanger Starship is but that's just speculation :P

SpaceX is planning to retire the Falcon rockets once Starship is operational (and the F9/H backlog is exhausted, I guess)

You must not be following SpaceX

I'll rephrase. Cost competitive with our best estimate for a space elevator as we currently conceive it.

Cost-competitive with a space elevator. It'd change everything.