Free Republic

Launch industry revenue was just $2.8 billion worldwide last year according to the Satellite Industry Association. Pathetic. That is just five thousandths of one percent of the global $55-trillion economy. In contrast, we just had a highway bill authorizing federal spending of nearly $50 billion a year on roads for the US alone. Subsidizing space like the highway system would be a good idea (see “Don’t wait for cheap orbital access”, The Space Review, April 25, 2005). But at this point, doubling or tripling launch activity could be achieved by a remarkably small portion of the economy’s income. If space...

There's an old joke about the man who asks his neighbor to turn down the loud, raucous noise emitting from her stereo."What's the matter, are you a music hater?" "No," he replies, "I'm a music lover." I'm reminded of this by the calls of some over the years to end the space-shuttle program, even (perhaps especially) by people who are frustrated by our lack of progress in space. In the wake of the latest tragedy, the calls will undoubtedly grow louder, but in many cases, even if correct, they will be for the wrong reasons, and may not lead to...