Larry: I always appreciate hearing from you. Thanks for your astute analysis. You raise several excellent points regarding the evolution of flight. One big problem I have with the private sector is lack of transparency. For example, there was radio silence on social media while Inspiration4 was actually in orbit, despite the big build up preceding it.

The public was not informed about toilet breakdown issues during the flight or whether any of the passengers got sick — from transitioning to microgravity or otherwise.

These commercial space flight companies only reveal information that portrays them in the best light, while minimizing or dismissing anything negative—despite potential safety issues which civilians need to know. There’s no FOIA process like with the feds and little to no congressional oversight. Moreover, news media is too preoccupied with who’s winning the new space race (horse race) —not to mention reporters drooling like lapdogs over the Elon Musks of the world and never asking any tough questions.