Re: Privatizing Space (Sheep Eat Space Too)

From: Immortalist (Reanimater_2000_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 10/05/04 

Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 08:39:58 -0700

"Edgar Svendsen" <solon013@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:8ey8d.5547$gs1.3834@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> "Immortalist" <Reanimater_2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:a8WdnWb_sr3w38HcRVn-jg@comcast.com...
> >
> > "Edgar Svendsen" <solon013@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:FvV6d.8111$Ki1.2465@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> > >
> > > "Immortalist" <Reanimater_2000@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > > news:YPqdnTxBk8QRfMfcRVn-oQ@comcast.com...
> > > > Privatizing Space (Sheep Eat Space Too)
> > > >
> > > > The privatization of space exploration may be closer than we think...
> 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.
> > > >
> > > > 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. 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.
> > > >
> > > > 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, 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.
> > > Others
> > > > may think we are taking a path that will ruin the wonders of space.
> > > >
> > > > But when NASA can creatively partner with you, all of humankind will
> reap
> > > the
> > > > benefits of access to open space.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > Those benefits are quite limited, unfortunately. NASA has tried very
> hard
> > > to find 'killer' applications for the Space Station and so for been
> > > unsuccessful. I spent many years working at JPL and wish the situation
> were
> > > otherwise. Private enterprise is already actively exploiting the only
> good
> > > applications, communication and observation satellites. Astronomers have
> > > much to gain but that's a niche market. Military uses abound but they
> don't
> > > need private enterprise seed money. Joy rides may further the
> development of
> > > cheap vehicles but they will always be a very minor activity in
> themselves.
> > >
> > > What's needed, beyond communication and observation satellites, is a
> product
> > > or service that cannot be done on earth but which those on earth are
> anxious
> > > to buy. Alas, it's not obvious what that is.
> > >
> >
> > I agree but at the same time insist that a space station will finally be
> made.
> > Then it will evolve to a big thing like Babylon five the sci fi show, a
> massive
> > city orbiting Earth. This will be the turning point in our relationship
> with this
> > solar system. Once we get these cities in flight the next thousand years
> will be
> > mainly about turning a tremendous amount of real estate in our solar
> system into
> > a giant Earth with the space between rocks replacing the oceans between
> > continents.
> >
> I give that a resounding maybe! Just because you can reach it doesn't mean
> a place is suitable for habitation, a good example is Greenland. The place
> has to have certain features. It must be capable of supporting its
> inhabitants (the difference between Greenland and Iceland) either by in situ
> resources such as farmland or by resources that are in sufficient demand
> elsewhere that can be exported and traded for necessities. Information is a
> resource, that's why there are people at Antarctica. But there aren't many
> people at Antarctica and I think there never will be, unless resources more
> attractive then research opportunities are found there.
> Similarly, the space station will not expand as you envision unless
> something of value can be exported, information, energy, products of zero-g
> manufacturing processes, etc. So far none of these has proven sufficiently
> valuable to make the station viable for a permanent population. I sincerely
> hope that something IS found, but I don't see it right now.
>
> Note that we have NOT returned to the moon.
>

The Moon and Antarctica await, as do the oceans. In the eyblink of a few
generations one can construe time as long. But an eyblink is tiny.

Once we can, by fission and fusion, create any elements from any abundant
elements and by nanotechnology arange atoms in about any way nature has, then
there will be value anywhere in the solar system where there are atoms.

If we could use just the material on the moon to create a giant mall covering the
entire surface, then it would be profitable.

A giant space station would easily pay for itself almost like a tropical island
tourist industry.

Getting from here to those ends may present some difficulties you are implying
but definately not obstacles.

Space stations will divide as organisms do like a bacterial culture or as
businesses expand by growing dividing and spreading.

Maybe you'll only see the beginning of this in your natural lifetime. But we must
beware of autobiographical bias in technological forcasting for many authors have
portrayed things so that they will see them before they die or else are
skeptical. As time and literature piles up those this method has been shown to be
in error.

> > > Ed
>
>

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