Monday, January 03, 2005
To Infinity and Beyond!
Lately I have been posting a lot about space flight and I thought it would be good to summarize my general thoughts on the subject. I believe that space exploration has long term benefits for the human race and is strategically important to the defense of America. I now see two distinct and separate movements:
1. privately funded, commercial oriented space technology
2. government funded, strategic space technology.
Both of these will be instrumental to the long term health and success of America’s space aspirations.
An example of a private funded space program is the recent success of SpaceShipOne. This craft took two suborbital space flights within a two week period to win the $10M X Prize. You can read this press release for more information. Most amazing about this achievement was that it only cost $25M, which is peanuts compared to what NASA would have spent. Secondly, the team came up with creative and technologically brilliant way to send the equivalent of three people into suborbital space flight and bring the pilot back safely. Thirdly, their success and the success of others will make the reality of affordable, commercial space flight possible. It will be these groups that will continue to drive technological advances for the future. By the way, you can click here to recreate SpaceShipOne's winning X Prize mission.
I also recognize that America’s government funded space program is necessary. It will be this program that will maintain the heavy lift capabilities necessary for future moon and even Mars landings. Also, in these modern times we need to have a dominating presence and access to the space above the earth. For example, as of today only Russia can get people into the International Space station- America can not. If this trend were to continue (although that is not likely, the Space Shuttle will be launching in May or June of this year) it would mean the long term vulnerability of American interests around the world.
NASA has a giant leap ahead of America’s privately funded space programs, however I expect that to change in the next 20 years or so. Eventually, as commercial success continues, private funded space flight will be America’s primary access to space. These groups will drive technology and innovation while maintaining a cost effective, profit driven program. New space innovation will then be used by NASA for more national, strategic purposes.
I would sure be interested to know anyone else’s thoughts on this subject. Do you agree with my analysis? Leave me a comment one way or the other!
1. privately funded, commercial oriented space technology
2. government funded, strategic space technology.
Both of these will be instrumental to the long term health and success of America’s space aspirations.
An example of a private funded space program is the recent success of SpaceShipOne. This craft took two suborbital space flights within a two week period to win the $10M X Prize. You can read this press release for more information. Most amazing about this achievement was that it only cost $25M, which is peanuts compared to what NASA would have spent. Secondly, the team came up with creative and technologically brilliant way to send the equivalent of three people into suborbital space flight and bring the pilot back safely. Thirdly, their success and the success of others will make the reality of affordable, commercial space flight possible. It will be these groups that will continue to drive technological advances for the future. By the way, you can click here to recreate SpaceShipOne's winning X Prize mission.
I also recognize that America’s government funded space program is necessary. It will be this program that will maintain the heavy lift capabilities necessary for future moon and even Mars landings. Also, in these modern times we need to have a dominating presence and access to the space above the earth. For example, as of today only Russia can get people into the International Space station- America can not. If this trend were to continue (although that is not likely, the Space Shuttle will be launching in May or June of this year) it would mean the long term vulnerability of American interests around the world.
NASA has a giant leap ahead of America’s privately funded space programs, however I expect that to change in the next 20 years or so. Eventually, as commercial success continues, private funded space flight will be America’s primary access to space. These groups will drive technology and innovation while maintaining a cost effective, profit driven program. New space innovation will then be used by NASA for more national, strategic purposes.
I would sure be interested to know anyone else’s thoughts on this subject. Do you agree with my analysis? Leave me a comment one way or the other!
