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Frank Sinatra Had the Right Idea
Fly me to the moon,
Let me play among the stars…
–Frank Sinatra, “Fly Me to the Moon”
Richard Branson and Elon Musk are planning to travel into space in the near future under the guise of private adventurism.
Add Naveen Jain to this growing list.
“The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that Moon Express, a firm co-founded by billionaire Naveen Jain, was approved to launch a suitcase-sized rover to the moon. Another company, Celestis, has reserved room for ashes and inert DNA samples.”
–Steven Nelson, U.S. News & World Report
Whether a rover, a commercial flight or the colonization of Mars, private citizens and their successful companies are revealing a paradigm shift that’s developing in extreme exploration.
Add movie director James Cameron to the list for oceanic exploration.
The dynamics of and success through globalization (increased customer base and, therefore, increased wealth potential and influence) is permitting a few of the craziest and most eccentric business leaders and firms to dream with their heads in the stars in a literal sense.
Given that many of the world’s most powerful economies are struggling and overwhelmed with more questions than answers, business leaders and ambitious innovators are taking advantage of their positive business ventures with inspired aspirations. Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic), Elon Musk (SpaceX) and Naveen Jain (Mon Express) are among the extreme explorers in the world today. Utilizing their winsome character, the reputations of the aforementioned dreamers attract followers nearly akin to Apple enthusiasts to the late Steve Jobs. There’s a sense that the world, in terms of space travel, is changing in a profound way and people want to be a part of this excitingly promising future.
The ingenuity, daring mentality and, perhaps most essential, the money is on the side of fun, personable billionaire private citizens.
Space travel in the 20th century was defined by the heroic crew of Apollo 11 (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins) walking on the moon, courtesy of NASA, an integral part of the United States government. “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Space travel in the 21st century will be defined by —
The smart money is with “private citizens.”
Electrically Engineering a T into a 3
(Tesla Model 3)
Tesla Motors is the conservative argument for positively responding to climate change/global warming/global cooling/environmental issues.
Tesla announced Thursday that it has received 325,000 preorders for its recently unveiled Model 3. If it sells every car that’s been reserved, the company says it will earn enough revenue to make this the “biggest one-week launch of any product ever.”
–Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge
One single car using gas or one single power plant is not the problem, but it’s the cumulative effect of millions of drivers or hundreds of power plants that has a meaningful impact on the release of carbon emissions into the air. Therefore, with cars, the goal is to present the marketplace with affordable, high-quality options.
Enter Elon Musk and his burgeoning company, Tesla Motors, that’s appropriately named after famed inventor Nikola Tesla.
This tech-driven company (see what I did there) is clearly being rewarded by anxiously excited followers for its ingenuity, hard-work, determination and recognition of a demand that’s marketed to a large portion of the American people to consider and even reserve for purchase next year.
Innovation is and has always been the right path towards a bright future that empowers the individual and then, as a result, empowers the collective. One electric car will not make a difference, but millions of electric cars on the road will change the carbon emissions equation. The power of individualism, innovation and opportunity must be taught and encouraged to this generation and future generations because of the incentives and the how inventiveness has benefited societies throughout history.
The iPhone was not dreamed up because of a tech regulation. Neither was the transportation revolution known as Henry Ford’s Model T, which was the first affordable automobile designed, built and produced for the American people roughly 100 years ago.
The close rhyming between 3 and T was a nice touch, Mr. Musk.
Conversely, what sense does it make to penalize consumers/the public with environmentally strangling regulations (especially without a Kung Fu grip on Mother Nature) and policies that punish people and companies? Photo-ops at these high-profile gatherings, where the focus is to cast blame and then reward a relatively select few participants with control and influence over the many, doesn’t project a hopeful future, especially when the measures taken amount to a gesture instead of a silver bullet.
Fiscal pain and high-minded barriers will not solve substantial problems. By high-minded, that refers to opponents of industries some deem unacceptable (like coal), but who have no better or ready alternatives for those workers who need to feed and provide for themselves and/or their families. Nobody likes pollution and some regulations are good and necessary, but, like government, figuring out policies to keep the regulatory code as small as possible is best.
There’s a paramount difference between idealism rooted in reality (conservatism) and idealism floating around in fantasy (liberalism).
Regardless of the extent that people across the political spectrum believe in global warming or global cooling (100%, 50%, 25%, 7.4%), the most important issues going forward are agreeing on a common goal and determining the most intelligent and economical approach.
We should strive for a carbon emissions-free future, achieved through empowering the engine of innovation.
In many cases,
- Innovation = Revolutions by and for the people
- Regulation = Power, control and influence over the people by and for a select few
$27,500 for the Tesla Model 3 (with $7,500 tax credit).
This inviting price point will attract car buyers in the 5-Star safety rated, 5-seat sedan in the $25K-$35K market, which will directly challenge car models from household names Toyota and Honda and even Lexus, Mercedes and Audi. If the Model 3 is successful and proves to have a reliable re-charging infrastructure and if (the recommended) nightly charging pattern for the 215-mile battery range like your smartphone results in a future worth the investment, then the conversation to join the names Elon Musk and Henry Ford in the same sentence in history books will begin.
People, once again, have an opportunity to change the world by buying a car.
Tesla Motors is a prime example of dreaming big, showcasing the power of the individual, American ingenuity and supplying a demand that could very well revolutionize cars, the transportation grid and solving a problem with carbon emissions in the environment with a positive, captivating solution that’s generating a magnetic appeal to its products and brand.
The Model 3’s engine may be nearly silent, but it still sounds like a revolution…
America’s Next Top Model?
There’s no Flux Capacitor, but…
Business Insider is reporting that electric car company Tesla, led by innovator Elon Musk, will be making the Model 3 that will be built by year-end 2017 (or possibly the beginning of 2018) and will not exceed the $35,000 mark. Usually tens of thousands of dollars more expensive, this appears to be the hyped-about (and necessary) next step towards an emissions-free car market.
A small step, yes, but it’s a step forward that leaves a smaller footprint burnout.
$35,000 is an expensive price tag, but it’s at least within range and consideration of people who buy luxury SUV’s and luxury sedans and the Toyota Avalon. Business Insider also reported that applicable tax breaks and incentives could spark a price plummet of nearly $10,000.
Ladies and gentlemen, that’s Toyota Camry territory.
The point is that Tesla’s forthcoming innovation towards a more affordable electric car, with their current models receiving sensational reviews, should expand their marketplace and improve their target demographics. People will be able to invest in a car and a renewable future. With the Millennial generation that focuses on (and responds to) business pursuits that simultaneously promote social good, Tesla’s Model 3 could become the next iPhone in the sense that the next versions will be followed by the masses with anticipation and an infectious energy for its new gadgets and groundbreaking features for the road.
Let’s not dive into Musk’s sour feelings of Steve Jobs and Apple right now. The above hypothesis was just a general observation.
The Model 3 will shine its lights on March 31, 2016: Plug it into your calendars.
Zooming Through the Looking Glass
The next several months could redefine the future of transportation in the 21st century.
The startup company Hyperloop Technologies — which takes its name from Elon Musk’s proposed invention but has no direct connection to him — announced today that it will build a test track for the ultra-fast transportation service in North Las Vegas, Nevada…The company plans to test its custom designed electric motor to speeds of up to 540 km/hour (about 335 mph) on a 1 km (about 0.62 miles) long track.
—, “The Hyperloop Will Begin Testing in Nevada in 2016”
Airfares continue to increase and flying attire and attitude have become far too casual, trains have limited rail systems and nobody wants to use (or at least admit) that they’ve traveled on a Greyhound bus. Like energy, alternatives to traveling from Point A to Point B are actively being explored. The Hyperloop is just the latest example that proves innovation is where the brightest future resides.
The consequence of living in a minute-to-minute (even second-to-second) society has undeniably reached the transportation sector. People crave immediacy.
Here is a video illustration of future travel that would break the (speed) limits as we know them today.
Ladies and gentlemen: The Hyperloop.
If the forthcoming tests during the first part of next year are positive for this Jetsons-like method of conveyance, the public’s reaction and inquiry will be aimed directly at Hyperloop’s team at 100 miles per hour.
Well, technically 335 miles per hour.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 