Space Exploration
The future of humanity is in space. Our unrestrained curiosity about the universe and the origins of life here on planet Earth. The answers are out there amongst the last frontier of exploration. First we will establish a presence in orbit, and from there we will launch missions of exploration into the solar system. Eventually will establish colonies and humanity will slowly expand beyond the confines of our home world.
The first half decade of our space age was achieved by the money and resource the governments of the worlds largest nations. The next fifty years of aerospace development will be funded primary by the private sector. Companies that recognize the economic potential that awaits those first few daring entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks. We have seen that projects undertaken by the private sector are better managed than those of government. Because of their focus on the bottom line, private enterprise can better allocate resources and manage costs. It is this type of management principle combined with profit motivation, and the ability to raise and allocate large amounts of capital that will see corporations in space.
We need to first establish for ourselves a permanent presence in orbit. A base from which we can conduct research and development activities that are only possible in a micro gravity environment. A base to launch and receive spacecraft. A privately owned and operated space station.
The economic possibilities are tremendous for the operator who can provide micro-gravity real estate. Pharmaceutical companies will pay handsomely for the ability to conduct research in an environment where protein molecules can be manipulated in ways researchers can only simulate on a computer Earth side. Materials companies will want to develop new crystalline compounds that can only be grown in micro-gravity.
Space tourism has long been a dream of hospitality entrepreneurs who see the potential opportunities to compete for the chance to offer the ultimate recreational activity--space travel. The first commercial space station should be able to offer space tourists the opportunity to spend the relatively low price of one to two million dollars for a packaged holiday in space including the necessary astronaught training, round-trip transportation to orbit and three days, two nights aboard the orbital hotel. Perhaps even a promotional event offering international recognition to the first members of the newly created one-hundred-miles-high club.
Plans now exist for the first privately funded space station. Bigelow's BA and their inflatable space station modules looks to be the first ...
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