Chances are very, very good that this entire endeavor falls through, and quickly. Or maybe it'll be ten years or so, and then they'll run out of money and crash and burn. Theoretically, of course.

Or maybe, just maybe, this is the kind of crazy shit that needs to happen to keep planetary exploration going. Because the federal budget sure isn't gonna cut it.

I'd love to see more private money come on board early, to give the entire project some legitimacy. Otherwise it's gonna be difficult to even get to the reality show stages. That said, if they do get there, it could be a phenomenon like we've never seen.

I can't wait.