[arthropodSeven]

it's hard to make the claim that the private development of space doesn't inspire people in the same way as the old national projects did. my heart swells watching a livestream of a satellite being delivered into orbit. but "memelord space magnate delivers global internet access" doesn't give the endeavor the gravity it deserves.

space is the last realm of mystery. to me, a glance toward the sky and the stars has always been the fastest way to feel the presence of God. it won't lose that for me, even if the daytime sky fills up with blinkenlights. but it might not provide that for anyone else, anymore, if it stays—forgive me—on this trajectory.

> The planets are all long gone. The inkblot finally closes overhead and the last star winks out. The gibbous Moon remains shining balefully down on the world for a tense and hopeful minute, but then, in an eyeblink, is swallowed up by one final event horizon, and spirited away.

> Left in utter darkness, the former astronomer tries and fails to deal rationally with his loss, and his isolation from the human race who, as the voice rightly tried to tell him, has really lost nothing.

https://qntm.org/astronomer