Recovery Funds Contribute to Next Generation of Space Vehicles
Artist’s rendition of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s proposed Dream Chaser vehicle approaching the International Space Station
In January 2010 five private companies received a combined total of $50 million in Recovery grants from NASA to complete the initial steps in the design and construction of new space transportation vehicles. These “space taxis,” as NASA calls them, are intended to replace the NASA shuttle fleet when it is retired later this year. Three of the companies completed work on their projects in December, the other two completed work in the first quarter of 2011.
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I still believe that the whole space program should be handed over to private companies without funding them. They will find many different ways to make money and earn their investments back with all kinds of offers, not just space tourism. Private industry is about making money, and the interest to do so in space seems good already. Give it a few years and maybe some bold people to start something and the “money-making-opportunities” will be seen and “exploited” from many many followers.
It seems right now a bit like the iPad story to me, first every company out there says “there wont be a market for that” – and now millions are sold and every company is trying to jump on to that business. Give it some time and remove the hurdles, that should be enough …
The space program should relate into profit. Hand over the reins to those (private corporations) that know how to make the space program a money spinner. (any takers?)