Paris Marx takes a solo episode to discuss the billionaire space race. Specifically, how billionaires are selling grand futures of space travel as a PR scheme to get huge public contracts that will allow them to control the infrastructure of space.

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Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

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Also mentioned in this episode:

Paris wrote about the billionaire space race, and it was translated into German, Italian, and Turkish.
New Mexico’s $220-million Spaceport America that’s used by Virgin Galactic is a joke.
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has been way overhyped.
If we went to Mars, we would get cancer.
Adam Mann had a great essay on how we should think about Mars, and whether it’s “ours.”
Elon Musk says we can be indentured servants on Mars, and people will die.
Paris has written about Jeff Bezos’ space colonies, and compared them to Blade Runner and The Expanse.
Jeff Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO to take on the role of Executive Chairman.
Ursula K. Le Guin argues science fiction isn’t about the future, nor is it predictive.
Amazon’s emissions rose 19% in 2020 and it’s helping Big Oil.
Paris wrote about the real climate future billionaires are creating.

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Demystifying the Billionaire Space Race

Tech Won't Save Us