There is absolutely nothing new about what Space X is doing.
Everything ever done by NASA was done by private corporations. Everything. An eccentric founder is amusing but that doesn't change anything. He may supply the vision to make the leap to privately funded exploration but I doubt that. If there is profit in the venture and if he does it first good for him, but he will not do exploration. Nasa will do that to the extent that our military allows them.
If Space X launches a Mars mission the goal will be profit, and that's OK, but don't pretend that its something new. Fact is if the US military doesn't give Space X its blessing they will not succeed on Mars. If you doubt this ask someone that works for the RFSA how not having US blessing on Mars has worked out for them. Roscosmos execs will tell you how well that will work out for Musk if he doesn't first agree to terms with the powers that be.
Everything ever done by NASA was done by private corporations. Everything. An eccentric founder is amusing but that doesn't change anything. He may supply the vision to make the leap to privately funded exploration but I doubt that. If there is profit in the venture and if he does it first good for him, but he will not do exploration. Nasa will do that to the extent that our military allows them.
If Space X launches a Mars mission the goal will be profit, and that's OK, but don't pretend that its something new. Fact is if the US military doesn't give Space X its blessing they will not succeed on Mars. If you doubt this ask someone that works for the RFSA how not having US blessing on Mars has worked out for them. Roscosmos execs will tell you how well that will work out for Musk if he doesn't first agree to terms with the powers that be.