business plans

--- In ssi_list@... "Arthur P. Smith"
> On the subject of space business plans and what is really needed,
> some thoughts and links from Michael Mealling on the following
blog entry:
>
> http://www.rocketforge.org/modules.php?
op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid3&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
>
> On how tourism is a start, but not everything... Could it
> be everybody's really in agreement, and we just have trouble
> communicating it to one another?
>
> Arthur

You may be on to something here.

I feel like I've been writing chapter 3 or 4 to this discussion. He
lays out the basics that should be understood.

see also for other articles.
http://laughingwolf.net/archives/000424.html
http://laughingwolf.net/archives/000425.html

Don't feel badly about the author's characterization of "rocket
scientists" being mission driven. The same thing can be said for
computer scientists, geneticists, molecular biologists, etc.

Get me an MBA who's teamed with the science guy and who can shepard
the direction of the business towards serving the customer rather
than emphasizing the technological neatness and I'll have a more
fruitful discussion/relationship.

I take it for granted that lower launch costs are imperative. Once
that is achieved, some now marginal business opportunities become
viable. These are usually satellite based.

Then what? That's where we've been spinning our wheels these last
few days. This is an important bridge to the next level of
development and the chasm may not be so easily crossed as was
getting to the first level by lowering launch costs.

That next step I've been calling bootstrapping, not profitmaking. Of
course, profit must be part of bootstrapping.

There are very smart people on this list. I want somebody to offer
an idea for a space business that we haven't yet heard of. It's kind
of tiring to listen to the old bugaboos of PGM mining, SPS, HE3,
lunar oxygen, protein crystals, wonder drugs, etc.

Other than SPS delivering clean power to a consumer, the others
really don't touch the consuming pubic. Some are gloried R&D
programs. I'm not a scientist so my imagination is limited by my
ignorance. Any ideas at all? What is that wonder product that MUST
be made in space?

TangoMan