Born in a time of discovery, the skies seemed endless.

A bright future of collaboration and expansion was nearing, with earthly quarrels far overshadowed by the beauty of our blue marble from afar.

Things seemed great, NASA and others pioneered science far beyond what we thought was possible.

But, at some point, it slowed.

Politicians lobbied for budget cuts and restrictions, because they couldn’t possibly understand why we needed to spend so much on, in their eyes, a frivolous pursuit.

We lost our focus on the skies and turned back inwards, focusing on our problems back here, on Earth.

But it wasn’t over, Humans will always want to explore.

It didn’t take long for individuals, not corporations, to give it a try.

So slowly, they worked on their own concepts, from the ground up.

Forming something from nothing, learning and building of the shoulders of the giants before them.

Until today, where we stand in-between two distinct periods in our history.

One of government funding and bureaucratic decision making.

Another, One free of any restrictions, driven by innovation and imagination.

Yet, there’s a looming issue with this new approach.

Its intentions are not the same.

Unlike the age of exploration, with scientific interests to further our knowledge.

The age of commercialization aims to do one thing, make the rich richer, bring money back to those who started it.

Unfathomable wealth already accumulated by a select few, the few who can afford such endeavors.

This will only further that divide.