Private firms see chance to soar in grounded Nasa

The National ^ | 02/06/10 | Andrew Gumbel

[KevinDavis]

LOS ANGELES // For the past half century, ever since the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union hit its Cold War peak, Nasa has been a byword for rockets, launchers and other hi-tech gadgets sending humankind to the Moon and beyond.

That era may now be coming to an end. The US government space agency is about to get out of rocketry altogether – at least according to the latest plans laid out by the Obama administration – and hand off the business of building and launching spaceships entirely to the private sector.

According to the White House’s latest budget proposals – which still require approval by Congress – existing plans to have Nasa build a new rocket and send astronauts back to the Moon by 2020, the so-called Constellation programme, would be scrapped. Since the space shuttle programme is set to end this year, once the last few missions to the International Space Station have been completed, that would mean no more rockets of any kind.

[KevinDavis]

For other space news go to: http://www.spacetoday.net
For a list of Private Space Companies: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_companies

[cripplecreek]

I’m sure the emperor will find a way to kneecap them.

[PIF]

“I’m sure the emperor will find a way to kneecap them.”

They will be nationalized, if they prove more that money losing enterprises.

But with the turn away from a national manned space program, other countries will rapidly suck more young people with stars in their eyes away to countries where there is opportunity (this began 10 years ago). And US private companies will begin to fail for lack of talent.