[Commentary] Service to Boston

We have entered the age of private space travel, with successful flights by Blue Origins, Virgin Galactic, and now SpaceX. While Blue Origins seems to be interested in NASA contracts, Virgin Galactic's plans seem to be primarily based around space tourism. Essentially, take people up into space for a few minutes. There's already a lot of preorders for a ticket.

I'm writing this story, and this post, as I'm travelling on a train. It's certainly not the quickest way to get places. That would probably wind up being supersonic travel, which would dramatically reduce travel between cities around the world.

There's certainly a number of costs, both financial and environmental, but once we're at the point of it being possible, it will make spaceflight much cheaper and more meaningful for the middle class. I'm sure it'll be prohibitively expensive for most people, but if it saves a CEO time so they don't need a redeye, it'll be profitable.

Supersonic flight may be coming from rockets, or just faster planes. The FAA is reviewing their policies around supersonic planes. If planes like the Concord return, it'll make international travel much easier. I can't help but think that'll be a good thing.