When deep space exploration ramps up, it’ll be the corporations that name everything, the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks. – Fight Club
From The New York Times comes this story about the marketing of space:
“If we can connect the desire of space with the desire of private companies to have their brand associated with heroes and speed and technology, everybody wins,” [Peter H. Diamandis, the founder of the X Prize Foundation,] said.
I’m not so sure he’s wrong. I think it’s vitally important that we go to the stars, and somebody has got to foot the bill.
On the other hand, I’d sort of hate for our first ambassadors to another planet to be McDonald’s.