SpaceX Evolution (Appendix I: Takeaways & Addenda)
A serialized version of this book for SubStack
Link to First Installment: https://chrisprophet.substack.com/p/spacex-evolution
APPENDIX I: TAKEAWAYS
1. People generally reason by analogy to decide what is possible (i.e. use what has worked in the past), whereas Musk works from first principles, so consistently exceeds expectations.
“Making life multiplanetary is an extremely hard, but not impossible problem.”1 ~ Elon Musk
2. Elon Musk has engineered his companies to have enormous operational efficiencies, which allows them to push technological development at an unprecedented pace.
“Tesla can solve any problem it will ever face. That was my big takeaway. Like no challenge is too big.”2 ~ Farzad Mesbahi, Former Tesla Program Manager
3. If legacy companies could develop comparable technologies to Musk industries (e.g. profitable electric cars or reusable rockets), likely they would have done so already, which suggests they never will...
4. Musk companies have achieved ‘technology-shear,’ i.e. they have moved too far and too fast for any meaningful competition to keep up, which virtually assures broad market dominance.
5. Expect a brutal shakeout of Musk competitors in the next few years due to the effect of disruptive technologies coupled with the economic recession.
6. As Musk companies become increasingly dominant their efficiency will likely improve, until they’ve brought their brand of salvation to everyone, because in the long-run there’s more important things than money.
7. During the sixties space race, NASA drew on many diverse industries to develop new technologies; now it’s SpaceX’s turn, supported by many model-Musk companies.
8. The extremely integrated approach championed by Musk seems our best route to reach Mars – and illustrates why this dream has previously eluded us.
9. In order to make life multiplanetary, Musk had to effectively create a parallel space program, which implies NASA is underperforming – and ripe for reform.
10. The relationship between bureaucratic NASA and mercurial SpaceX could be considered a microcosm of how Earth and X.com will interact in our future.
11. Whether people love or hate him, Elon Musk will essentially become the tech-guy for humanity.
12. If they reach their goal of colonizing Mars, “SpaceX” will likely become a synonym for space exploration – and Elon Musk will go down in history as the greatest engineer of all time.
“Starship is the key to making life multiplanetary & protecting the light of consciousness.”3 ~ Elon Musk
13. Mars won’t be a utopia for billionaires, by necessity it will become a protopia dedicated to continuous improvement through technology.
14. Our economy is limited by the amount of available labor, but Tesla’s Optimus promises to remove this constraint – and the company which produces them will be the first to benefit from this labor revolution.
15. AI is too important to be left to shady actors with dubious motives, hence Elon has adopted AI development to ensure its use is moral – and improve our chance of survival as a species.
16. Elon’s grand project to level-up humanity is compelling, making him a magnet for talent from all around the world.
17. Musk companies are rapidly becoming a ‘tech enclave,’ which possess technologies beyond other companies – even countries.
18. ‘X.com,’ the future holding group for all Musk companies, will likely evolve into a protogovernment as its influence extends to other worlds.
19. The prospect of a new superstate will be polarizing; a cause of trepidation to some – or warmly welcomed by others, who wish for a more liberal and progressive society.
20. Space requires a different solution to governance, which better serves its more exposed citizens. Likely direct democracy will be first among many revelations needed to create a functioning space society.
“My opinions on politics are difficult to describe because the political systems that inspire me most have not yet been implemented.”4 ~ Grimes, Elon Musk’s live-in girlfriend
21. Living on a new world ruled by direct democracy and supported by a powerful techno-humanist corporation could be highly compelling – and put most Earth governments to shame.
22. Representative government is anachronistic because it is fundamentally unsuited to the information age. Expect ever increasing security apparatus to defend the status quo here on Earth.
23. If Earth stumbles for any reason, a strong Mars colony could help pick us up, effectively acting as a safety net for civilization.
24. Musk has grown a cult following, which will likely transform from cult to culture when they settle new worlds.
25. We need to build a new society, politics and technology to complete the next step in human evolution and become a true spacefaring species. Likely this process will be pursued with almost religious zeal from its high temple on Mars.
26. Anyone who believes SpaceX is just another company…
27. Beware the tech savvy 😊
GLOSSARY
CCP – the Commercial Crew Program. A NASA program which used competing venders to quickly develop man-rated spacecraft.
DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid, a double strand gene present in all living cells.
DoD – Department of Defense, the organization responsible for the US military.
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration, the US regulator for non-military air and space operations.
GEO – Geostationary Earth Orbit, a circular orbit at 35,786 km (22,236 miles) in altitude.
IAC – International Astronautical Congress, the International Astronautical Federation’s yearly convention.
ISRU – In Situ Resource Utilization, using the materials available at a specific location.
ISS – International Space Station, the orbital habitat used for international scientific research.
LC39-A – Launch Complex 39-A, a rocket launch area at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
LCROSS – Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, an autonomous spacecraft used to survey for volatile minerals at the lunar south pole.
LEO – Low Earth Orbit, an Earth centered orbit below 2,000 km (1,200 miles) in altitude.
MEO – Medium Earth Orbit, an Earth centered orbit between 2,000-35,786 km (1,243-22,236 miles) in altitude.
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Paradigm – a practical model for how things work.
Protopia – a world where citizens are free to incrementally improve its current state.
RNA – Ribonucleic acid, a single strand gene present in all living cells.
SLC-4 – Space Launch Complex 4, a rocket launch area at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
SLC-40 – Space Launch Complex 40, a rocket launch area at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Superstate – when a number of separate states are organized together into a larger block, for economic, political, defense etc purposes.
Technocracy – a form of government where decision-makers are selected based on their technical expertise in their areas of responsibility. Elon Musk’s grandfather, Joshua Norman Haldeman, was a former director of Technocracy Incorporated, a movement to turn the entire North American continent into a technocracy, which they called the Technate.
TPS – Thermal Protection System, the equipment used to restrict heat flow to vital components.
Utopia – an ideal world which stops developing due to its perfection.
CHRIS PROPHET BIBLIOGRAPHY
Synopsis
SpaceX promise to revolutionize space exploration and provide everyone the means to travel to new worlds. This is their story, all they have accomplished so far as they inexorably open the high frontier. How they survived perilous straights to emerge as the most popular, innovative and influential launch company in the world. SpaceX are destined to colonize Mars and developing the technology to make this possible right now. Their Starship launch system possesses some truly sublime solutions to the challenges of conquering Mars. They are literally moving Heaven and Earth to help us evolve into a space faring civilization.
If you crave space exploration or hunger for the future – the SpaceX story will be your delight. Their courage will inspire you.
Links
This comprehensive guide to SpaceX is currently published by Amazon for Kindle and paperback.
UK Link: SpaceX From The Ground Up (ebook)
USA Link: SpaceX From The Ground Up (ebook)
Paperback Link: SpaceX From The Ground Up (paperback link)
Synopsis
Starpoint Military Academy is shocked by the news our solar system will be visited by the rogue planet Omnis. Three cadets, who barely tolerate one another, are selected for an extraordinary exploratory mission; Xia Green a tech gifted metahuman, Troy Alexander a natural leader from Mars and Corrine Marcus beguiling heir to the vast Ares Corp Empire.
The visiting exoplanet becomes a devil’s playground when they find themselves stranded with dubious allies. Taking destiny in their hands they forge a new path for the Allied Worlds, while combating external and inner terrors. Earth might barely survive the choices they make – but Omnis is a brave new world.
Link
Corrine’s Star is currently published by Anderian Designs Ltd on DriveThruFiction.
https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/224660/Corrines-Star
Synopsis
An inordinate encounter spawns a parlous friendship. Ana Salikova, Israeli Msc student, and 'Gabriel,' a larger than life enigma with alien social skills, are drawn into fathomless intrigue. Primeval forces conspire to erase a quantum leap in human evolution. The environment appears a forlorn hope – unless a back door can be found to a Euphoric Eden. Ineluctable secrets threaten to cleave their mismatched alliance. Beyond expectation they engender a startling strategy for survival – yet nothing escapes their avid eyed demons. If you're seeking innovative entertaining escape, stop when you reach “Euphoria.”
Links
Prophet's third novel: “Euphoria” is currently published by Amazon for Kindle.
USA Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E8K6NG8
UK Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E8K6NG8
1 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1439344277063192581
3 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1267531196751323144
