According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, most Americans are confident that private space companies will contribute in meaningful ways to the development of safe, dependable spacecraft or will conduct valuable research to enhance our understanding of space.
Conducted to gauge the public’s perception of private space companies, including Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic, the survey focused on companies taking an increasingly prominent role in today’s space exploration programs. In fact, NASA has paid $6.8 billion to private companies for the creation of launch systems that could be getting astronauts into space before the year is over. Private space companies are focusing efforts on Mars and the moon, as well.
Perceptions of Private Space Companies by the Numbers
Here’s what Americans think of these private programs, by the numbers:
- 81% of Americans have confidence that private space companies will profit from these projects.
- 44% of Americans have a great deal of confidence that such companies will profit from these projects.
- 36% of Americans have a fair amount of confidence that these companies will profit from these projects.
- 77% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of confidence that private space companies will create reliable, safe rockets and spacecraft.
- 70% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of confidence that these companies will enhance our knowledge of space.
- 65% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of confidence that such companies will control costs for developing spacecraft and rockets.
Private Space Companies — Public Feedback
The Pew Research Center survey found that people highly tuned in to space news and updates — those who say they have heard “a lot” about NASA in the past year as well as private space companies — are more likely to have confidence in these companies. On the other hand, respondents who reported that they paid less attention to space news were less likely to have confidence in private space programs.
Also, men are more likely than women to express confidence in space companies. For example, about three-quarters of men have at least a fair amount of confidence that private companies will control costs when developing spacecraft, whereas only 56% of women felt that way. And 85% of men expressed at least a fair amount of confidence that private companies would build dependable, safe spacecraft, compared to 69% of women.
Onward and Upward for Private Space Companies
As of now, 65% of Americans say it is important that NASA remains involved in space exploration, while one-third think private companies will be doing enough, without NASA’s involvement.
As private space companies continue to play an increasingly important role in NASA’s projects and developments, the American public will surely be keeping an eye on future initiatives and breakthroughs, as well as any perceived failures.
Image credit: Vadim Sadovski / Shutterstock.com