Harnessing this energy

--- In ssi_list@... "Chad Lupkes"

> There are probably dozens if not hundreds of entrepreneurs who have
> started or want to start space-based companies. They are all
begging for
> startup capital. Even potential financial organizations and
companies like
> the Colony Fund are begging for startup capital so they can
provide that
> startup capital to those entrepreneurs.

I wish them all luck. Unfortunately I don't see a way from here to
there with intermediate steps. I think it takes a big leap and I
have even more trouble seeing a reason to make the big leap. I
should say I can't convince others that the reason (SPS) makes sense.

> The response from most of the Venture Capital sources is "Give us
profits in
> 5 years or less." Yeah, right! Profits will come from SPS,
Asteroid
> mining, lunar & martian bases, etc. But the timeframe is more like
15-30
> years for the big ones.

The problem is that there are always alternatives demands for that
venture capital.

> So the only way that these potential companies can
> get money is from small investors and people who support them.

Can they do the job on the capital that small investors provide? I
hope so!

And the only
> way that those people will get the word is if a communications
structure is
> established to get that word to them. What I've found is that the
> communications structure already exists, and is not being used
effectively.
> The structure IS the NSS, SSI, SFF, etc.

You just need to spend a lot of time sifting through people until
you find someone with fire in their belly. Finding that one person
is more valuable than coaxing a hundred people to contribute. I hope
that the communications structure works well towards the success we
all desire.

I checked out your site and admire your effort. What we need to do
is find a way, just like the environmentalists did, of touching
people's everyday lives and concerns. We have to make Space as real
as a toxic waste dump, or clubbing a baby seal, and that'll get
people involved even if they don't know the science behind their
reasons. Emotion is often more powerful a motivator than logic.

Hmm, maybe an asteroid that can be confirmed to strike the Earth in
50 years ;-)

TangoMan