Robber Barons in Space

Jack,

There was substantial effort in the 1980s to
explore commercializing microgravity research. This
is well documented in an excellent book by Joan Lisa
Bromberg called "NASA and the Space Industry". I
recommend this book to anyone looking at plans to
develop in space.

Unfortunately I don't have the book in front of me
as its in my library at home but in essence the
government pushed to privatize micrograv research and
a company was formed to do this. Just as they were
getting underway the challeneger accident occured and
the carpet was pulled out under the company and they
were dissolved. I believe the name of the project was
the Industrial Space Facility and it was a project
backed heavily by McDonnell-Douglas with research
partners with 3m. Astronautix has put together a good
synapses of this debacle at:
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/indility.htm.

Currently to my knowledge, there has been only one
semi-successful microgravity commercial product. That
was Japanese Hemoglobin replacements. There was also
some talk a year or so back on a pure optical fiber
cable called Zblan and on an extremely lightweight but
strong structural aerogel. As for medicines, the only
advantages microgravity has identified use for is in
protein formation and crystal growth. Neither of
these have yet to pan out though.

As for my 2c on the MULE, I have to agree with
Tango in that we are just not ready for private
industry in this sector. All the funding is
government based and no private companies are willing
to take this risk right now and back a private
initiative. Regardless of the merits of the
engineering details, the demand is not there.
Investment money will not come without a clear demand.
Until then its a nice solution just looking for the
right problem to come around.

Ryan Z