Commercial Space Flight: No Longer Science Fiction

[I'm Murrin]

SpaceX's capsule Dragon is currently in the process of docking with the International Space Station.

Welcome to the new era of space flight.

[aliantha]

Next stop, Hyperion...

I thought it was pretty cool that they brought James Doohan's ashes with them (for a price, but still).

[High Lord Tolkien]

[sgt.null]

meh.

Obama gutting Nasa was not a good thing. our government giving up space will turn around and bite us in the ass.

[Avatar]

I dunno...maybe opening it up to private enterprise is the way to go? I think of Heinlein's The Man Who Sold The Moon...

--A

[sgt.null]

avatar - Nasa was necessary, as our govt needs to be on the forefront of space. military and commercial.

of course streamlining was needed, as in all forms of govt.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Pushing money into the space race during the 50s and 60s, primarily for scientific research and as a lofty goal to attain even though we all know that the military applications were considered (even if they weren't implemented), coupled with the economic boom that was happening at the time, helped totally alter this nation from rural/agricultural to urban/technological.

Perform an Internet search for technologies that were an offshoot of NASA research at some point. The list is probably longer than even I think it is and incorporates things that we not only take for granted but that you are using right now, even as you read this.

[sgt.null]

of course like all of our current govt, nasa got bloated. we need an accountant to run the country.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I don't mind cutting money from other programs and giving it to NASA; in fact, that could even save money. Trim 10% from budgets totalling $100 billion then give half of that to NASA--you cut $50 billion out of the budget (admittedly that isn't a lot but every little bit adds up) overall and NASA gets new funding.

[Avatar]

avatar - Nasa was necessary, as our govt needs to be on the forefront of space. military and commercial.

Of course...gods forbid that the US isn't in the forefront.

Not saying NASA wasn't important. Far from it. Saying that privatising space may have faster results.

--A

[sgt.null]

avatar - Nasa was necessary, as our govt needs to be on the forefront of space. military and commercial.

Of course...gods forbid that the US isn't in the forefront.

Not saying NASA wasn't important. Far from it. Saying that privatising space may have faster results.

--A

yes, i'd rather the soviets or the iranians have space supremacy.

[aliantha]

avatar - Nasa was necessary, as our govt needs to be on the forefront of space. military and commercial.

Of course...gods forbid that the US isn't in the forefront.

Not saying NASA wasn't important. Far from it. Saying that privatising space may have faster results.

--A

yes, i'd rather the soviets or the iranians have space supremacy.

Psst, Sarge, we ain't go no Soviets no more.

Not sure who I'd prefer, if the choice were between Russia, China, and corporations.

[Avatar]

yes, i'd rather the soviets or the iranians have space supremacy.

I'm sure they would too.

--A

[sgt.null]

ali - whatever it is those damned commies call themselves.

av - i do wish our president thought Nasa shoule be more than a muslim outreach program.

[peter]

Would not something as important as 'space research' bennefit from a truly international approach in terms of finance and intelectual contribution. Does it have to be 'military' and isolationist. God, have we not got beyond this nonsense yet!

[[Syl]]

As far as privatizing space goes, it will have advantages and disadvantages. The best parallel I can think of (which does not mean it's a good one ) is the internet. When it was run by the Government, it was stable, orderly, and efficient. Now it's chaotic, often inane, full of porn, and useful beyond imagination.

Basically, I'm saying that in the future, over half of space will be used for porn.

[peter]

The 'privitisation' of space will bring many problems of it's own eg in what manner will it be policed. Will terrestrial international laws pertain in the manner in which the big corporations involved interact with each other or will it be a free for all, a new 'wild west' frontier where anything goes. But that said - unless true international co-operation in the manner of say that seen at CERN is embraced it would seem that private equity will be the only way to move forward. The profits of say succesful mining ventures and the like are likely to be so large that it is almost inconcievable that buisiness could not get it's act together to .....er..... act together ( ) even if nation states can't.

[sgt.null]

Basically, I'm saying that in the future, over half of space will be used for porn.

when does this happen? hope it's before i'm to old...