Privatize Space Exploration

Ayn Rand Institute ^ | June 25, 2004 | Robert Garmong

[GeronL]

"Thats one giant paragraph for mankind"

One of them joked that they had created a new space agency for the price of a government paper study...lol

[Robert Drobot]

In other words, our national budget - which includes payment on the interest on the national debt - is no longer capable of funding NASA.

Fine. Sell off the technology to wholly owned American business only. America paid for it, America should be compensated for the hardware in place.

[Skwidd]

A gubbamint can't do anything on the cheap.

[RadioAstronomer]

However, SpaceShipOne was built on the foundation of science, engineering, and knowledge provided by NASA and other endeavors. Also SpaceShipOne is not an orbital vehicle. That is far more difficult.

[GeronL]

How much would it cost for the government to build the same thing?

3X 4X 5X as much?

[RadioAstronomer]

Depends on what the mission was. I find it interesting that they have spent close to 20 million dollars already on this craft. One of the major expenses with a NASA program is the testing involved with each component.

[mewzilla]

I don't think it's about affordability. Of course we can afford it. It's about bang for the buck. And I'm all for the discussion.

[GeronL]

plus a 20M dollar paper study

[RadioAstronomer]

Of course we can afford it. It's about bang for the buck

And a continuous changing policy. Sigh! If we had let the X-15 reach its logical conclusion (instead of cancelling it), we would have an operating SSTO IMHO.

[samtheman]

But all this private exploration is hobbled by the crucial absence of a system of property rights in space. Imagine the incentive to a profit-minded business if, for instance, it were granted the right to any stellar body it reached and exploited.

Too late. The UN has already reserved the rest of the universe for socialism... and the US has signed on.

[vanmorrison]

"But all this private exploration is hobbled by the crucial absence of a system of property rights in space. Imagine the incentive to a profit-minded business if, for instance, it were granted the right to any stellar body it reached and exploited."

"Too late. The UN has already reserved the rest of the universe for socialism... and the US has signed on."

Don't be discouraged. The effectiveness of any UN edict is limited by their ability to enforce it. If the Iraqi situation is indicative of such an ability, or lack thereof, then space is wide-open to all.

Besides, I don't think that the US Air Force Space Command will allow any foreign nationals to have access to the Space Base that is planned on the Moon, or Mars, if that ever happens.

[Dimez Apart]

What is reasonable when it comes to government spending? Was it reasonable for the government to pay ALL of those expenses for Lewis and Clark to explore ALL the way to the Pacific? SURELY, IT WAS ALL A SOCIALIST PLOT. (Note the sarcasm) There are two things i believe our Government should THROW our money at; Space Exploration and our Security. If we don't get to the moon and get a strategic toehold before our competitors, our grandchildren will face difficulties we can only imagine. Just like Lewis and Clark's journey was vital to claiming and later controlling the Pacific Northwest, so will NASA's journey to the Moon and beyond be vital to securing Americans future here on earth and beyond. There are many more SPACESHIPones waiting to happen, but their success depends on a playing field where America holds the whistle, not Communist China, or Caste-System India. America's brightest days are ahead.

[Dimez Apart]

That said, streamline it to do that, explore outer space. Not use it as a foreign policy tool or welfare for pocket protectors. Im thinking Rumsfeld for next NASA head....

[Brett66]

When people think of space, they often fixate on NASA. The thing is, NASA is not going to be that relevant to space settlement and commercialization in the long term.
The process of bypassing NASA, and other government programs, for access to space has begun.
It would be nice if NASA could throw some of it's vast money in the direction of private space development, but it's not necessary, we're on the path for orbital tourism within the next 15 years.

[darth]

Colonizing the Moon, asteroids, and Mars is the 21st Century equivalent of the Louisiana Purchase....No, that's not right. The colonization of space dwarfs even the discovery of the New World. The amount of resources and land is enormous. The surface of the Moon is as big as the continent of Africa. Think diamonds, gold, platinum, and Helium 3 (which is worth far more than the other minerals). The nation that leads the land rush to space will dominate Earth just as Spain and the other colonizers did 500 years ago.

[teeman8r]

the land rush to space and its colonization is only as good as the commercial benefits... the payload brought back.

spain found the new world to be very lucrative... there is no evidence that earth can benefit from exploiting the moon...

except for a nice place to visit...


teeman

[GeronL]

I think we can still get an SSTO, it might just have to come from the private sector though.

[Dimez Apart]

Lack of evidence is not evidence of lacking. Lets go poke around before we delare it a pile of fools gold.

[teeman8r]

my point entirely, but is the government the right digging tool or private industry...

i choose industrious enterprizes over the bureuacracy of government

teeman