Sean O’Keefe writes “SpaceX’s mission: A new chapter in space exploration — and in humanity’s age-old quest”

Sean O’Keefe, University Professor at the Maxwell School, wrote an op-ed for The Hill entitled “SpaceX’s mission: A new chapter in space exploration — and in humanity’s age-old quest.” As a longtime public administrator, national security expert and aerospace industry executive, Professor O’Keefe is an expert in the history of space exploration. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, a new venture set “to expand public access,” represents a common history of space exploration beginning  “with public objectives as the motivation for ambitious government programs — to provide for the common defense, develop new land, expand communications, electric power or water access,” eventually leading to rapid developments “after the opportunity is opened to commercial enterprises.” Professor O’Keefe states that space exploration is still dangerous, yet “humans take these risks to explore because we’re driven by our curiosity, a sense of opportunity and a desire to expand humanity’s reach.”