"John Ordover" wrote in message
m...
Even I am more optimistic than that - I think there probably is a way
to exploit space to make a bundle that no one has thought of yet.

And that way will only be found by people looking for and working
on answers, not someone that simply collects negatives.

Assuming they are actually working on it, rather than deluding
themselves with dreams of asteroid mining, joyrides, and other such
dead ends.

Clearly you have not researched these areas. You have a problem with
'Killer App syndrome' in which any revenue stream must stand alone
and support the entire development and exploitation effort. Either of
the items you mentioned will not do the whole job, no one item will.

What is required is to integrate as many revenue streams as possible
into a coherent business plan. Joyrides and asteroid mining do not fit
into the same plan. We once identified 9 possible revenue streams
for one vehicle. Each inadequate alone, sufficient with margin as a group.

Also you do not go from zero to unlimited access in one jump. Any
coherent plan includes as large a number of profitable intermediate
steps as possible. Fortunes and progress are made in the margins.
Identifying these margins is a job in itself for the careful investigator.
Unlimited pessimism or optimism is a hindrance.

These are hard lessons I learned building one company, and the
lessons I am applying to a second. I won't be first or even second,
but I will make money.