Ron responded:

> Be of good cheer! The private sector use of space is growing,
albeit
> perhaps not as fast as we space enthusiasts would like. Every
year or
> two a new launcher rolls out --- recent examples are Ariane V,
Japan's
> H-2, India's GSLV. The next few years will bring Delta IV, Altas
V, and
> who knows, maybe Kistler. These new launches are primarily
directed at
> serving the commercial launch market for satellites.
>
> I seem to recall that for several years now commercial launches
have
> outnumbered government ones at the Cape. A slow revolution is
> happening. The market is moving --- just not as fast as we would
like.

With time and patience the market issue may indeed mature (simple
supply and demand, right?). However, launching more and more
satellites doesn't produce the result I am looking for. How do you
think the increased demand for launching satellites to orbit will
translate into a true space-faring nation?

> supply and demand, right?). However, launching more and more
> satellites doesn't produce the result I am looking for. How do you
> think the increased demand for launching satellites to orbit will
> translate into a true space-faring nation?
>

I agree.

As satellite volume increase it might allow for more
creative approaches which will help, e.g,. orbital antenna farms.

But above all we need completely new markets.

Right now, tourism and energy look like the best candidates.

Unfortunately, our govenrments in the USA and ESA coutnries are doing next to nothing to explore these markets. They are actually
trying to crush the space tourism market because it
challenges the hallowed government monopoly on manned
spaceflight (gasp).

One of the best ways to open the high frontier would be to hand over ISS to private industry and let them use it for space tourism.

Right now ISS is purely a government status symbol,
and is actually working to prevent the high frontier
from happening. It is worse than useless.

As for the energy market: it is too long term for private companies, and our present government in the
USA is made of of oil executives who want to preserve the status quo.

We are grounded until we can solve one or both of those two governmental obstacles.

Cheers,

Charles F. Radley

This developing market for launch services will translate into lower launch costs. Indeed, it already has to some extent.

Ron

jdr7181@...
10/12/01 07:37 PM

Ron responded:

> Be of good cheer! The private sector use of space is growing,
albeit
> perhaps not as fast as we space enthusiasts would like. Every
year or
> two a new launcher rolls out --- recent examples are Ariane V,
Japan's
> H-2, India's GSLV. The next few years will bring Delta IV, Altas
V, and
> who knows, maybe Kistler. These new launches are primarily
directed at
> serving the commercial launch market for satellites.
>
> I seem to recall that for several years now commercial launches
have
> outnumbered government ones at the Cape. A slow revolution is
> happening. The market is moving --- just not as fast as we would
like.

With time and patience the market issue may indeed mature (simple
supply and demand, right?). However, launching more and more
satellites doesn't produce the result I am looking for. How do you
think the increased demand for launching satellites to orbit will
translate into a true space-faring nation?