If our idiot-kings get their way, I highly doubt they will have easy or steady access to people with that level of dedication and competence. Maybe it won't matter to them because it's all about the pomp and circumstance and science as an aesthetic, not a practice.
I think a large part of the grift is talking about going into space and collecting money from credulous idiots (and governments ran by credulous idiots).
If our idiot-kings get their way, I highly doubt they will have easy or steady access to people with that level of dedication and competence. Maybe it won't matter to them because it's all about the pomp and circumstance and science as an aesthetic, not a practice.
If that happens, they will learn the hard way that space is very unforgiving and doesn't care how rich you are.
I think a large part of the grift is talking about going into space and collecting money from credulous idiots (and governments ran by credulous idiots).