A New Generation of Pilgrims

There are many visions for leaving Earth to settle tomorrow’s space; many reasons to uproot from an old life and pursue a new calling. Some see a life of adventure in space, others see financial opportunity. Some seek a lifeboat from a planet in turmoil with rising seas, doubling population, dwindling ability to feed a growing population, geo-political tensions, greater disparity between rich and poor, and the prospect of never-ending pandemic waves ravishing the globe. Others simply seek the prospect of profit and power. Some will look to space through a pragmatic lens. What reward, they may ask themselves, is there to be gained from the risk of embarking on a perilous space venture. These are the hard-core entrepreneurs and industrialists who envision the new frontiers of space as greenfield opportunities. A virgin frontier ripe for new enterprise. There is a myth about entrepreneurs that they are gamblers, risk takers. This is not so. It turns out that successful entrepreneurs are risk averse. They engage in new ventures only after thoughtful research and deliberation. Their desire is to reduce the risk of failure and increase the prospect of success. The successful businessperson sees both the upside strength of the new venture and the downside pitfalls. It is this same deliberative attention to data and detail that will attract savvy business folk to launching space settlement enterprises.