News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on SpaceX successfully launches two humans into orbit. Parent comment

Re:SpaceX successfully launches two humans into orbit by kortilla on Saturday May 30, 2020 @06:13PM (#23365253)
Not quite, it’s “If you build it, they might come.” You only need to look to the history of railroad in the US to see how infrastructure frequently didn’t pay off.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX successfully launches two humans into orbit by TeMPOraL on Saturday May 30, 2020 @06:15PM (#23365270)
Didn't railroads essentially opened up most of the North American continent?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX successfully launches two humans into orbit by kortilla on Saturday May 30, 2020 @07:28PM (#23365766)
Yep, but railroads were extremely overbuilt and huge swaths of companies went bankrupt. My point is that despite eventual usage, infrastructure is fraught with wiped out companies.

Look at the Alaskan Railroad for a more recent example.

Look to airships for an example of things that just completely fell out of use or trackless trains.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX successfully launches two humans into orbit by jotm on Sunday May 31, 2020 @03:31PM (#23371981)
Good example, strategically invaluable, but worthless for many of the people actually building them.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX successfully launches two humans into orbit by z3phyr on Sunday May 31, 2020 @12:06AM (#23367103)
Railroads did pay off in most of the old world
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:SpaceX successfully launches two humans into orbit by kortilla on Sunday May 31, 2020 @02:55PM (#23371701)
Not for the initial investors/companies. That industry is fraught with booms and busts.
[ Parent | on HN ]