A Cold War Comeback Could Turbocharge The California Space Industry
SpaceX
At Zocalo Public Square, Joe Mathews writes:
It is the military-industry complex where the opportunity for a Putin-inspired California comeback is greatest. The aerospace industry made the state a success-and brought millions into the middle class (including my grandmother, a line worker at North American Aviation), produced innovations from propeller-driven airplanes to satellites, and remade the state's culture (historian Peter Westwick has shown how modern surfing owes a debt to aerospace engineers). Today, the industry is smaller but still cutting-edge, producing drones, satellites for commercial purposes, and space start-ups like Elon Musk's SpaceX.
He goes on to compare Putin's provocations to the launch of Sputnik in 1957 - an event that is widely credited with heating up the Cold War and spurring a space race between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. that culminated in an American being the first human to walk on the Moon.
To fund a rapid revival of the space business in California, he goes on to suggest a "Putin Tax" on "hard liquor, cigarettes, oil, and big houses."
This is classic "opportunity in crisis" thinking and, for what it's worth, Mathews is probably right that the aerospace industry in California hasn't been the same since the Cold War ended. Absent major geopolitical changes, it was likely to enjoy gradual, limited growth. But with Putin in charge of what's left of a once daunting U.S. rival, major geopolitical change may be on the horizon.
- Indian markets could recover on Monday but earnings, global cues will decide the rest of the week, say experts
- Top temples to visit in India you must visit atleast once in a lifetime
- Top 10 adventure sports across India: Where to experience them in 2024
- Market recap: Valuation of 6 of top 10 firms declines by Rs 68,417 cr; Airtel biggest laggard
- West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market