I don't entirely disagree, but overall I think multiple independent endeavors may be the most resilient approach.

In other words, collaboration may indeed the fastest path if all goes well, but multiple independent efforts may be safer, with a higher probability of success.

Independent approaches also allow for slightly different techniques and technological approaches to the problem, which may have additional unknown benefits later on.

One does not preclude another. As long as all parties involved share knowledge, they can pursue different paths while at the same time speeding up each others' efforts.

True, that would probably be the ideal scenario - independent yet collaborative.

I was always told only the government can go to space and explore for humanity? You mean a private company is doing it?

he's gotta be trolling. space x is almost 15 years old at this point and has consistently made it into the headlines within the last 10.