[PIF]

“The problem with privatizing space is return on investment. There are some places where space is a money-maker; but most stuff — especially manned — has no apparent short-term profit.”

And no long term profit either. Private companies will self-limit to LEO tourism and satellite launches. Ventures beyond LEO will be done by other governments - at whose mercy those much ballyhood US private companies will be.

Eventually, because of failing educational standards in the US and because of economies of scale generated by those other countries endeavors, the few US private companies will gradually fail.

[Prospero]

An examination of the regulatory atmosphere, ITAR and the supervision by the FAA - in the context of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 - shows some high hurdles. All issues talked about at great length in the "space community" but unaddressed by this atypical announcement from the Obama Regime.

Somewhere in that mess, however, may be some clue why this administration has gone against its own stubborn belief system to appear to embrace privatized space.

I wish I could believe them, but why should I believe anything they have to say? The key, perhaps, is the difference between commercial and private space development.