SpaceX Evolution (Chapter 7)
A serialized version of this book for SubStack
CHAPTER 7: SEPARATION OF POWERS
For many good reasons Elon Musk chose the US, and specifically Silicon Valley, for the seat of his early enterprises. This careful situation effectively maximized his freedom to innovate while minimizing resistance from conservative attitudes. Likewise, SpaceX chose to headquarter nearby in Los Angeles, to tap its pool of aerospace talent, then expanded to Cape Canaveral Florida, Boca Chica Texas and Seattle Washington. Tesla too began in Palo Alto California then expanded to Shanghai China, Austin Texas and Berlin Germany – with another plant planned for Monterrey Mexico. No doubt SpaceX will follow in Tesla’s footsteps and go international, placing floating spaceports off the coasts of many major cities, to facilitate their point-to-point passenger service to these prime destinations.
Overall this can be seen as a subtle shift for Musk enterprises, no longer are their fortunes tied to one country, or perceived as an instrument of US hegemony. Through garnering international influence and reduced dependence on one country, Elon is essentially loosening the shackles ready for the next giant leap. He’s made no secret that he intends to settle other worlds, which will require vast resources, more than any single country could possibly offer. Currently SpaceX are only free to employ US citizens or lawful residents, due to US security restrictions for rocketry companies. However, once point-to-point is established it should be possible to employ the best aerospace engineers, technicians and talent wherever they site spaceports, overall a great workaround. Tesla is already doing such on three continents, marshaling the best energy and transport talent under their broad banner. Internationalization should add almost limitless financial resources to the effort, as SpaceX and Tesla steadily expand the market for their innovative and highly sought-after products.
No doubt the final step will be the leap into space operations, at least judging by Starlink. While SpaceX’s mega-constellation offers broadband internet to all nations around the globe, it also heralds a corporate shift into a permanent space presence – and influence. Elon intends to expand such mega-constellations to include the moon and Mars, to support early settlements, effectively spreading SpaceX influence even farther from Earth.
Succinctly: SpaceX intend influence from above.
Space Governance
“Essentially with Starship it is possible to make the economics close for creating a self-sustaining city on Mars – and a base on the moon for those who want to go there.”1 ~ Elon Musk
SpaceX have gone on record suggesting Mars should become a free world and make their own laws, beyond the control of any country. This excerpt from the Governing Law section of their Starlink User’s Contract, provides some good insight into their future plans for Mars: -
“For [Starlink] Services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars via Starship or other colonization spacecraft, the parties recognize Mars as a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities. Accordingly, Disputes will be settled through self-governing principles, established in good faith, at the time of Martian settlement.”2
While extraordinary liberal in ambition, this would seem to curtail any SpaceX role in governing this new world. However, the technology gradient between SpaceX’s capabilities compared to the rest of the launch industry means they will likely supply the only real means to reach Mars – at least economically. Similarly most commerce between Earth and Mars would be virtual, i.e. goods, products and services delivered via the internet, which here again will rely on SpaceX to provide through their interplanetary Starlink network. Hence while SpaceX will have no official say in Mars government, they would wield tremendous influence due to the inseparable transport and communications network they provide to Earth.
SpaceX’s General Council, David Anderman, revealed he's helping draft a constitution for Mars, which puts them in pole position to define the legal system used on this new world.
“I think SpaceX will move to impose our own legal regime. I think it will be interesting to see how it plays out with terrestrial governments exerting control. I do think we are going to have a pretty important role to play in what works and what laws apply.”3 ~ Business Insider
No doubt this constitution would favor SpaceX as they are core to the colony’s day-to-day survival, and essential to their plans to become self-sufficient. For example: this legal system could establish Mars as a regulation-free zone (at least regards Earth regulations), to create the perfect medium for commercial space expansion – with SpaceX best placed as the principle corporate provider.
“There is simply no way that humanity can become a spacefaring civilization without major regulatory reform. The current regulatory system is broken.”4 ~ Elon Musk
Overall this implies SpaceX’s final goal isn’t to provide launch services, it’s to conquer space itself, a future from their perspective where worlds become mere destinations. Of course they have never attempted to hide this ambition, at least going by their full title: “Space Exploration Technologies Corporation.” Assuming they achieve their lofty goal and largely divorce themselves from the rule of planetary powers, what does that leave them holding – apparently quite a lot.
Link to next installment: https://chrisprophet.substack.com/p/spacex-evolution-chapter-8
2 https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/jjc270/found_a_gem_in_the_starlink_tos_the_parties/
3 https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-elon-musk-free-mars-colony-constitution-space-law-legality-2020-10
Elon should just give up the charade and admit that he is an alien king living in exile here on Earth. His plan: To enlighten humanity with the technology and will to go to Mars and retake his throne.