NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy likened the iPhone to the space economy and the US moon mission in a recent podcast with the space agency: \u201c…it\u2019s kind of like the iPhone at the start of the iPhone\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Duffy explained that no one could have envisioned years ago how the iPhone, today, would change one’s life. Likewise, no one could have foreseen 20 years ago the US’s upcoming moon mission and what happened in low Earth orbit.<\/p>\n
Also Read<\/strong> | 20-year NASA veteran Indian-American named US space agencys associate administrator<\/a><\/p>\n In the 5 September episode of \u2018Houston We Have a Podcast\u2019, Duffy said: \u201c…15, 20 years ago, no one could have envisioned the kind of economy that you would have in space, with the space economy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of like the iPhone at the start of the iPhone<\/a>, like, no one understood how that was going to change your life, that you would get your directions, and you have social media, and you would bank, and you like- all of this stuff happens on your phone. Like, we didn\u2019t realise what tool this would be,\u201d Duffy said.<\/p>\n Also Read<\/strong> | Apple eyes China launch for Apple Intelligence with iPhone 17 event: Report<\/a><\/p>\n Duffy, who is also the US’s Transportation Secretary<\/a>, said he believes \u201cwhat happened in low Earth orbit, in the space economy, is, I don\u2019t think anyone could have foreseen this 20 years ago\u201d.<\/p>\n Duffy said the same kind of industrial revolution will take place when the US goes to the Moon<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the same way, with what\u2019s going to happen when we go to the Moon, the same kind of revolution of industry is going to take place as well, which is really exciting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Also Read<\/strong> | Who is Amit Kshatriya, appointed to NASA’s top civil service role?<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAnd I want that to be American innovators, American companies, American manufacturers, American scientists. I want it to be led by our team. I don\u2019t want it to be led by another country, in some far-off place, their team,\u201d Duffy said.<\/p>\n WATCH <\/strong>Sean Duffy’s podcast here<\/p>\n US-Russia cooperation in space: \u2018Bright spot\u2019 is\u2026<\/p>\n Duffy also highlighted the rare cooperation between the US and Russia<\/a> in the field of space, while acknowledging the major differences between the two countries over the Ukraine war.<\/p>\n Duffy said, \u201cThe cooperation between the US and Russia is critical as you bring the space station out of orbit.\u201d He said, \u201c…it\u2019s a bright spot, the cooperation that our two great countries have together in space.\u201d<\/p>\n Also Read<\/strong> | Russia’s largest air attack on Ukraine, govt complex hit, 4 dead: What we know<\/a><\/p>\n “And I think we can build on that, and we should build on it,” Duffy said, expressing hope that \u201cagain, we\u2019re going to partner in the de-orbiting of the space station.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s critical, but also sending clear signals and resources that we need an alternative from our private partners,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Notably, NASA is working to enable and seamlessly transition to commercially owned and operated platforms in low Earth orbit as the operational life of the International Space Station (ISS)<\/a> comes to an end in 2030.<\/p>\n \u201c…when the space station comes, it comes down in 2030 we have planned, well, to make sure we have the next iteration up and ready to go,\u201d Duffy said.<\/p>\n $4 billion moon mission not sustainable?<\/p>\n Sean Duffy said in the podcast that if Artemis I, Artemis II, and Artemis III<\/a> are all $4 billion a launch…”At $4 billion a launch, you don\u2019t have a Moon program.”<\/p>\n \u201cIt just, I don\u2019t think that exists. We have to bring the price down. And so I have to think about and work with members of Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n He further asked, \u201cWhat does Artemis IV, V, and VI look like? But to spend that much money in thinking about what we have to do to have a sustained presence, I think, becomes very, very challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n Duffy said, “For the private sector, again, you can, you can have a satellite and get it into space for, you know, a million, a little over a million dollars like that was unheard of 20 years ago. What\u2019s happening to drive the price down of these, of of these vehicles.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what we have to think about, because the $4 billion figure just is too massive to think we can be sustainable at that number,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n