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Ask YC: Do you plan on becoming a space tourist if you make it big?

11 points by amichail ↗ HN
To me, this would be the greatest reward of having lots of money.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QPbdfUpGjyI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WBo8t0B5NhM

27 comments

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kyro
Your idea of the greatest reward is much different from mine.

I'd probably head a couple humanitarian aid projects and fund several medical research projects, depending on how 'big' I made it.

Space would be awesome, but I think there are more rewarding things you can do with that much money.

ArcticCelt
Actually in my wildest dream I would become a corporate player in space tourism. And even if we don't seams to agree on that subject, I tend to think that it would do much more in the long run for humanity.
donw
You know, I'd do the same thing. If I made it big, I'd support research into improving crop production and providing medicine to those who need it[1]. I'd also get certified as an RN or LNP, and then spend my time as a doctor traveling in third-world countries. It would be a great adventure, and I'd get to help other people out. Win-win.

That said, I'd save a couple of bucks and pay a visit to the Moon as well. :)

[1] The needy deserve humane treatment; our level of technology could easily provide food, shelter, and medical care to every person on the globe. That said, giving money to people who have demonstrated no ability to earn it on their own is pure folly...

Prrometheus
> I'd also get certified as an RN or LNP, and then spend my time as a doctor traveling in third-world countries. It would be a great adventure, and I'd get to help other people out. Win-win.

You would be helping them out one at a time, on a planet filled with 6 billion people. One-at-a-time charity work is something I never had the stomach for. I'm a smart guy, I ought to be able to do better.

donw
Read the sentence before the one you quoted. :) I mean, if I've got to work, what better way than to get my own hands dirty, so to speak?
Prrometheus
>Space would be awesome, but I think there are more rewarding things you can do with that much money.

Space is the ultimate humanitarian project. We live in a world where dozens of men have the power to destroy society as we know it with a single command. In addition, I think the greenies are full of hogwash but they seem to be upset about the potential of this whole Global Warming thing. If we do manage to screw up this planet, we will be much happier if we have another.

So, supporting space technology is better than contributing to charity, if you have a long enough view.

FleursDuMal
This has been my secret motivation for the last few years.
redline6561
No, I plan on becoming Dash Rendar. I'm not coming back.
dkokelley
Absolutely I would. I would have my own station built that I could travel to when I'm feeling like a vacation. It would have a rotating deck to simulate gravity, and I could stay there in case of anything serious happening on earth.

I would also like a ship that could take me to the moon and other places as well. That way I could go on "road trips" when I'm on vacation in my orbiting space hotel.

The criticism of space travel is that there are other things that you could spend your money on, or other problems that need to be corrected here on earth, before moving on. This classifies the act of space travel as recreational, which I think is untrue. Think about the explorers thousands of years ago. Sure, there were other things the government and other wealthy people could have spent their money on - decent roads or aqueducts/sewage systems are good examples. But so much came out of their exploration and expansion, and I think that space exploration by our wealthy individuals will produce solutions that can be applied on earth as well as in space. Wasn't Velcro supposed to come out of the race to the moon?

ardit33
you better make 10-15 billions, and fast, as the dollar is dropping. I suggest you to scale your ambitions to more realistic goals.
dkokelley
I suggest you to scale your ambitions to more realistic goals.

Even if I don't get there, I'll be closer than if I set lower standards to begin with.

Besides, the question was "...if you make it big." so I see no harm in letting my brain run wild with what could be possible. It's actually a great motivator for me.

cellis
Maybe, but only after I have traveled to every country on earth.
Readmore
Space Tourism would definitely be on my 'bucket list'.
SwellJoe
Only when there is somewhere to actually go. I hate flying, and I can only imagine that flying to space would be even less comfortable. Once I've done what I want to do on earth, I'd love to head for the stars with no plans for return...but just going into space and coming right back down sounds like a horrible way to spend a weekend.
rms
I'll wait for affordable orbital travel; I'd prefer not to settle for Spaceship2.
dkokelley
Really? Even if you had billions of dollars, you wouldn't spend a few hundred thousand to take a trip on Spaceship2?
rms
If I had billions of dollars, I'd rather pay millions for orbital travel.

But yeah, Spaceship2 would be cool. I guess I would also do that, no reason not to start spending my theoretical billions now. ;)

jward
To be perfectly honest... this is one of the two selfish reasons I want money. To touch the sky is even a goal that seems reasonable in this day and age and I know that if I work hard I will see it happen.
Raphael
Uh...the ship left last week. Where were you, man? We'll call you when we get to Alpha Centauri in 2 million years.
wanorris
Yes, if in the future it were possible to take your family with you. What better way could there be to teach your kids to dream big than to show them first hand what the Earth looks like from outer space?
rob
Once a million people go to and from space without disintegrating or blowing up on takeoff or landing, I will most likely try it out.
jdavid
Heck yeah. I want to be a space dweller. I would love to go on a mission to mars. Especially if we can get some sort of real time communications thing going on.
TrevorJ
I hold out the hope that someday, you wont have to make it big to get into space.