RE: SpaceX unveiled its Mars Express Spaceship
They didn't mention it at the conference (that I heard) but Space-X does have a planned revenue stream for this project.
The low-key project they have up their sleeve is the LEO satellite constellation being developed at their engineering branch in Seattle.
Unlike popular media has portrayed, this isn't a "free Nets from the sky straight to your laptop or phone", it's meant to supply smaller ISPs with wholesale bandwidth.
Right now, ISPs like the one I run have to buy 'middle mile' services from long-distance fiber-optic network companies like Level-3 or Telefonica. This is VERY expensive, dedicated-rate bandwidth - guaranteed to run at a set speed 24/7/365.
If Space-X can undercut this market and provide cheaper wholesale bandwidth to ISPs like mine, we ALL win. That's going to support cheaper prices all the way down the line.
Good mention! He seems to keep silent about it, so I don't know how much he focuses on it.
I could also imagine that another company could develop the sattelites and profit from SpaceX's cheap lift technology to get those into orbit.
Definitly great technology. Expecially when you think about that you can expand this network to other planet. And with a million people on Mars you will need a network.