Private Moon Bases and NASA’s Future Mission

[Ed Hudgins]

http://www.spacex.com], the cutting-edge space company headed by PayPal co-creator Elon Musk. Musk’s company already has launched three spacecraft that have berthed with the ISS and returned safely to Earth. In the future his rockets and spacecraft could carry humans to ISS, Bigelow’s orbiting private station, and even to the Moon. For his part, Musk says the long-term goal is Mars.

Of course, when NASA contracts for services, the taxpayers still foot the bill, though they pay less than if NASA were performing these operations itself. Still, what Bigelow and other out-of-this-world entrepreneurs want is a private market in space in which they can make profits. As private providers bring down the cost of space activities, private operations should supersede those undertaken by NASA. The Bigelow report reinforces a paradigm shift: space is a place, not a government program. And it is a place like the American West, one where private individuals are the best pioneers.

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Hudgins is director of advocacy and a senior scholar at The Atlas Society.

For further information:

*Aaron Day, “Steve Davis, SpaceX, And The Power Of Human Achievement.” May 16, 2013.

*Edward Hudgins, “SpaceX’s Entrepreneurial Triumph!” May 25, 2012.

*Edward Hudgins, editor, Space: The Free-Market Frontier. Cato Institute, 2002.

[BaalChatzaf]

2020 sounds a bit too soon. In addition startup costs are very high. It will take a consortium of industrial investors to do the deed.

[tmj]

eww 'space is a place not.." love that

[tmj]

Just shines of Laz having blaster and kilt and just doin it

[Ed Hudgins]

Baal - Probably a bit too soon but we'll see. We have an Atlas Society video that should be up any time now in which Will Thomas and I discuss this matter. Keep an eye out for it!

[BaalChatzaf]

Baal - Probably a bit too soon but we'll see. We have an Atlas Society video that should be up any time now in which Will Thomas and I discuss this matter. Keep an eye out for it!

The greatest barrier to effective space exploration is the propulsion systems we currently use. Essentially they are in increment over the Chinese fireworks of the Tang Dynasty. We need propulsion systems that can maintain acceleration over extended time periods. This gives us two things. Higher speeds and acceleration which can simulate gravity. Right now, with burn and coast, passenger must live in a 0 g environment, which even with exercising will cause permanent damage to their skeleton and circulatory system. Long trips also expose the passengers to deadly solar radiation. Right now a 9 month trip to Mars (going) and 9 months coming back is effectively a suicide mission.

We need a technological break through in power and propulsion. Chemical rockets simply won't do the job.

Ba'al Chatzaf