Pregenzer 1 Justin Pregenzer Professor Mendel English 102 21/09/2011 Privatization of Space The space race between nations

has long since been over, but a new drive for the heavens has begun with the privatization of space. This time instead of between states, it is between private companies. With the decrease in federal funding for NASA, more emphasis has been put on private industry to pick up where the world renowned agency left off. Unlike with commercial aviation, however, there are far more restrictions put on commercially run space based companies. This is, of course, partially understandable given the very dangerous nature space operations. The primary limitations are in funding and the restrictions are not so much regulations preventing companies from going into space, but a lack of funding for such ventures. An aggressive advertising campaign would be a great start to bring about public awareness, but one of the best ways to start such an enterprise. But for real gain to be made in the space industry, government contracts and grants, at least in the near term, are a much better option. For decades private industry has made attempts at privatizing space exploration and development, but the awareness and general lack of interest of the general public has stunted any possible growth. During those years NASA has seen a general decline in their budget and has slowly started to rely on contract companies to initially maintain space systems already in orbit and later to actually conduct launches for satellite systems. With the recent reduction in funding due to the financial situation of the country, NASA will be relying even more on contract companies to fulfill their mission and achieve the objectives of their various programs. The most intriguing question that arises is if NASA will permit contract companies to launch manned missions into space since the space shuttle program ended recently, and the answer is that they might consider the possibility a replacement vehicle is beyond the reach for the agency. While this sounds like progress toward a private company taking over the role of manned missions for NASA, the reality of the contract world is that no company can work towards a manned mission without a formal contract bidding process, and no bidding can be done without the government initiating one. This places roadblocks in place for companies that are ready, willing, and able to create a new manned space launch vehicle and operate it themselves, to reduce operational costs, and return astronauts to space. Not all companies are waiting for a government contract and are instead looking for investors to reach the heavens. The Open Luna Foundation is one such company that is in search of investors. Their goal isnt just to take people into space; it is to return to the moon in the next five to ten years. This is no easy task, and not due to the engineering of it, but rather the lack of public attention and funding available for such a project. Open Luna could seek government contracts and grants, but those means of funding always have stipulations attached to them and specific details on how that funding is to be

Pregenzer 2 spent. Instead of locking into government contracts Open Luna, along with other small companies, have sought out capital from other sources while still floundering in the marketing and general public awareness areas. What these small companies need more than funding is public interest, with that government officials will be more inclined to make funds available with less strings attached, or even pave the way for them by altering current policies. One idea is to turn NASA into a variation of the FAA where they enforce the federal regulations regarding travel and safety without being responsible for conducting space flight operations themselves. This would be a drastic change from their current mission, but with the continual reduction in their budget it seems like the logical role for them to fulfill. Space travel wouldnt necessarily be abandoned by such an act, rather it would open up the heavens to commercial space companies to fill the gap left behind. With a change in space policy, the government would be able to make less restrictive contracts and grants available as well as promote the idea of space travel among people as opposed to among nation states. This in turn would open the possibility of affordable space tourism and general space travel. With the commercial industry fully functioning in space, more jobs would be available and even a new breed of colonist would eventually be born. Privatizing space has many obstacles as well as creating numerous possibilities available to everyday people, which will make such ventures worthwhile.

Works Cited Open Luna Foundation. OpenLuna Mission. Open Luna, 2007. Web. 19 Sep 2011. Matson, John. Phased Out: Obamas NASA Budget Would Cancel Constellation Moon Program, Privatize Manned Launches. Scientific American. 1 February, 2010. Web. 19 Sep 2011. Dinerman, Taylor. NASA Approves Partial Privatization of the Space Program. Fox News. 11 May, 2009. Web. 27 Sep 2001.