Back in the early 1920s, when aviation was new and exciting, my grandfather in Tampa paid a barnstorming biplane jockey a few dollars for a ride…

The Titanic submersible tragedy didn’t occur in space, but the parallels are unavoidable. Sending expeditions to remote and hazardous places is intrinsically dangerous, but the price is worth it if it adds to the sum of human knowledge–and if the explorers are well aware of the risks. But to sponsor expeditions to lethal environments for purely commercial purposes is an outrage. The boundaries are fuzzy, true; does an offshore fishing charter count the same as a paddle up the Amazon, or a climb up Everest? How about white-water rafting? Almost any trip outdoors is potentially dangerous. Still, some adventures, such as this one, certainly qualify as a step too far. It may be worthwhile to develop new technology, or to add to scientific knowledge. But to sell tickets like a carnival sideshow?

There are already several schemes to use outer space as a tourist destination, the concept is the same. I’ll concede that drawing the line as to whether the risk/benefit is worth it or not can be debated, but surely, this case is extreme. And then comes the expense of mounting a rescue effort.

I have no knowledge whatsoever of the safety equipment and procedures incorporated into this craft and its operation, and I have no opinions as to what appropriate regulation and oversight might be. But that’s not the point. The trip itself is dangerous, and there is no payoff except profit for the operator. That is unacceptable. Heads need to roll about this case.

I’ve heard on the news that there were objections to independent safety oversight rules and inspections for this vehicle. The excuse was the usual entrepreneurial double-talk: it would discourage innovation and creativity. I wonder how much this tragedy, and the inevitable backlash, will contribute to “discouraging innovation and creativity”. And how much will this tragedy contribute to future submersible operators, even those with more legitimate and worthy missions, being unable to secure support for their expeditions.

Grandfather survived his first airplane ride all right. But he never, ever flew again.