Privatizing Space Exploration: The Next Frontier?
The privatization of space exploration may be closer than we think,
according to NASA administrator Dan Goldin, His comments came at the eighth
annual conference of the Space Frontier Foundation, an organization devoted
to opening up space to free enterprise. Foundation members include top
aerospace industries. Topics at the conference included space tourism,
commercial space piloting, and space property rights.
According to Goldin, NASA wants private industry to take over activities
in the Earth's orbit, such as the International Space Station. The
organization hopes that will free NASA to pursue deep space exploration
(which private enterprise could also do better, but that's another story…).
Goldin said free enterprise is essential if space exploration is to become
a daily reality. "The way we'll get there is with a revolution both in
[our] technology and business approach," he said. "We can't afford to do
solar system exploration until we turn these earth orbit activities over to
a cutting edge private sector.
"A partnership between NASA and the Space Frontier Foundation -- which
consists mostly of aerospace companies -- will be the only way to make the
new millennium the space millennium," Goldin said.
"Beyond the next 5-10 years [when the International Space Station is
completed], our hope is to turn the keys of the station over to an
entrepreneur in the private sector who sees an opportunity.
"If this happens, we [NASA] will become one of the many tenants and users
of the station. The entrepreneur can make money and we wave goodbye to low
Earth orbit on our way to explore the far frontier.
"Some may say that commercializing portions of NASA's functions are
heresy," Goldin concluded. "Others may think we are taking a path that will
ruin the wonders of space.
"But I believe that when NASA can creatively partner with you, all of
humankind will reap the benefits of access to open space."
(Source: Wired News: "Privatize NASA Now")
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