Posted on Feb 06, 2009 02:30:46 PM | Steven Gonzalez | 18 Comments
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Last year NASA issued a Request for Information, or RFI, for Commercial Lunar Communications & Navigation. The intent was "to gauge interest and solicit ideas from private companies in providing communications and navigation services that would support the development of exploration, scientific and commercial capabilities on the moon over the next 25 years." It is a potential next phase of the agency's emphasis to encourage commercial space as it is doing with the COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation System) program in the Commercial Crew & Cargo program office.
As I reflected on potentially using a commercial satellite provider to enable the astronauts to "phone home" from the moon, I was curious as to what else has been going on in the world of space commerce. In the process I stumbled across this blog entry by Dr. Peter Diamandis, SUCCESS!!! Using Economic Engines to open the space frontier. In it he reflects on how the public flight of the Rocket Racing League "X-Racer" and the rollout of White Knight 2 were so critical. What caught my attention was his reflection on the X-Racer and how it "is tapping into the multi-billion dollar entertainment marketplace" and it is "a company which is exciting the public about space and driving the development of low-cost and reliable engines." Of course he states his personal reasons for his enthusiasm about the X-Racer but it made me wonder what else could NASA do to encourage, foster, sponsor space commerce. What role should NASA play in enabling space commerce? For me, the benefit for NASA would be greater infrastructure that NASA could leverage as it explores beyond LEO.If you haven't had a chance to place your votes with the recent set of twitter polls focused on NASA's future focus (NASA poll, Outside of NASA poll) I would encourage you to submit your vote. You will find an interesting trend on the external poll. It points to NASA having a greater focus on helping to develop commercial space. The missing data is what should we do to fulfill this focus?
Let me know what you think our role should be as it relates to commercial space and what other efforts could be taken to spur on space commerce?
Sharing the Vision,
Steven Gonzalez, Deputy, Advanced Planning Office
Tags : Commercial Space
18 comments so far ( Post your own )
- 18
On Nov 08, 2009 02:27:25 AM
Tom Postley
wrote:
There's many ways to make money off space besides tourism. Custom research. Custom entertainment. Rented space for research. So many ideas. Tom free hentai
- 17 On Nov 05, 2009 05:39:05 AM Stu "hamster" Robinson wrote:
NASA really need to look at ways of generating some cash, as the cost of space exploration is massive and can't be supported by taxes alone. Space exploration will probably end up being paid for by large corporations looking to take control of new resources out there in the void.
The Hamster- 16 On Oct 26, 2009 12:45:49 AM james lee wrote:
I think nasa should definitely do this. This will be great to see for the future of nasa.
colon cancer- 15 On Oct 05, 2009 09:22:47 AM Nancy wrote:
This is really a very interesting article.I enjoyed reading it.The way the countries are sending satellites in the space in another 10 year the space will become busy
Regards
Nancy Led flashlight
Thermostat- 14 On Sep 28, 2009 03:09:40 PM Gavin Boyd wrote:
I think commersialising space is a great way for Nasa to add to the billions and billions of dollars it needs for space exploration. I watch all the discovery science channels and am amazed at how much we know about space and the universe. I think it was in the programe "Race To Mars" they talked about having hotels on the moon to house the Astraunauts before there journy to Mars. Do you think that could ever be the case and if so do you think it could happen in the next 50 years?
loch lomond hotels- 13 On Sep 26, 2009 09:48:07 AM james wrote:
Isn't it so that the pharmaceutical industry wants to get going in manufacturing drugs in zero-g? Maybe that initiative could provide a 'backbone' for getting commercial space underway in low Earth orbit?
auto insurance quotes- 12 On Sep 11, 2009 04:10:15 AM Ram Gunjal wrote:
I ever wonder about NASA and new projects. I am willing to visit NASA's station. If i get a chance then definitely i will visit.
Regards, Ram Gunjal CEO - Affiliates- 11 On Sep 19, 2009 02:55:21 PM hilman wrote:
making money in space is nice idea :D , i like
regards
hilman pribadi- 10 On Sep 11, 2009 10:47:47 PM Erwan Jr Michael wrote:
Space is already a commercial product. You will agree with me that satellites business was a large entry in this commercial tube.
X racer is the beginning. It is clear that law regulations will be needed to avoid any abuse and to guarantee users, consumers and so on, similar or the same rights they have on earth.- 9 On Sep 07, 2009 09:48:07 AM Pete wrote:
I agree with Jo, it will happen within the next 10 years.
I think Virgin Airlines have a passenger rocket planned for 2012.
Pete Targeted Free Traffic- 8 On Sep 03, 2009 02:16:19 PM Joanne Carr wrote:
Interesting reading. I really feel that commercial space will definitely happen, so many people are interested in it. It's just HOW this will happen that interests me most.
Jo from Manchester Office Space- 7 On Sep 01, 2009 01:11:15 PM Sam wrote:
Think your role should be to help the companies do all they can in exploring space and what's out there... One does have visions of companies claiming naming rights to newly discovered planets, moons, stars, etc, etc... But nevertheless, these are exciting times and I can't help but feel the benefits outweigh the costs with this one as I'm all for discovering new things and increasing our knowledge Steven.
All the very best,
Sam, Make Money Blog- 6 On Aug 19, 2009 07:30:05 AM Joanna wrote:
Good Read. It is going to be interesting to see how the moon makes up part of our travels in the next 20 years.
- 5 On Aug 06, 2009 11:43:03 PM Cathy wrote:
Wow, it's too interesting to know the guys come up with this awesome idea. But I'm wondering what would be the great impact of contribution if the space commerce would come into the reality or just throwing a lot of budget for nothing because of curiosity.
But if the guys could present us the great advantages to the present society, then I could possibly support on this idea.
Cathy from Make Money Online- 4 On May 05, 2009 11:10:09 PM Leon wrote:
Looking at the poll, it looks like most people are interested in establishing a colony on the moon followed by having one on Mars. Assuming that this was possible, I guess I have to ask why?
Personally, I'm much more interested in knowing what's beyond our small solar system. I realize that I won't find the answer in my lifetime, nor will my children or grandchildren in theirs, but the idea of one day knowing if the universe has an end will give more light into the truth about life.
As for commercializing space, I think most people, if given the chance, would love to experience what looking at Earth from the outside would be like. Make that under $10,000 and I'm there! After that, turn it into residual income to advancem space exploration even further.- 3 On Feb 17, 2009 02:21:42 PM Adieska wrote:
This is a nice post. You are make me knew much infromation. Thanks for sharing. Best regard, Indonesian Blogger
- 2 On Feb 09, 2009 09:16:45 AM Michael Mealling wrote:
Steven,
Thanks for linking to the two polls! There was a resulting discussion over here:
http://www.opennasa.com/2009/01/08/future-nasa-projects/
where we discussed the reasons for the two polls and some of the details.
As far as a discussion about how to fulfill that focus, most in the industry think it has to do with being a good commercial customer, infrastructure, and basic space engineering & research.
Being a good commercial customer means doing more things like COTS (COTS-D, please?) and the Commercial Lunar Communications and Navigation RFI. Could we see the science side of NASA get into pure data purchase agreements instead of doing spacecraft design in-house?
For the infrastructure discussion two friends of mine wrote two short whitepapers for the Obama NASA Transition Team that sums up most of it very well:
Proposals for an Integrated US Space Policy
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/13/205852/776
Recommendations for Space Technology Investment
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/14/205851/891/632/682802
A renewed focus on basic space engineering and research means returning to NASA's roots in NACA. Many commercial space companies are depending heavily on NASA and the DoD's existing research into thermal protection systems. Providing the basic materials science, hypersonics research, and cryogenic plumbing/storage research helps the industry by doing those things that no single company has the luxury of being able to afford right now.
Another way to look at fulfilling that focus is by looking at NASA's roll in the following timeline:
http://www.hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/archive/SpecialTopics/toSpaceTimeLine.html
This timeline shows how human activity in space could be dominated by commercial interests by 2015 or so. NASA could help foster that timeline with very little effort. That commercial human activity could help NASA do things it could never afford to do on its own.- 1 On Feb 07, 2009 06:48:12 PM JensKnudsen wrote:
Isn't it so that the pharmaceutical industry wants to get going in manufacturing drugs in zero-g? Maybe that initiative could provide a 'backbone' for getting commercial space underway in low Earth orbit?
- 17 On Nov 05, 2009 05:39:05 AM Stu "hamster" Robinson wrote:
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