Launch Costs

--- In spacesettlers@y..., jdr7181@c... wrote:
> On Thu, 11 Oct 2001 jdr7181@c... wrote:
>
> NSS has identified a series of "Barriers" and "Milestones" for space
> development:
>
> http://209.9.224.230/nss/community/roadmap/Rmappages/BMChart.htm
>
> -- Lack of Affordable Space Transportation is number 4 on the list;
> other items are related to incentives for private development and
> government funding, which are the other side of the money equation.
>
> Arthur Smith (apsmith@a...)

It's actually #3:

1. Lack of government funding mechanism.
2. Lack of incentives for private capital investment.
3. Launch costs.

But I don't think you can conclude (taking their "barriers" at face
value) that the reduction of "launch costs" isn't significant to the
opening of space to commercial efforts. And I seem to get some of
that on this list a lot. The fact that "launch costs aren't the
problem" . . . aren't they, though? I mean, wouldn't cheaper access
increase the "incentives for private capital investment" and reduce
the reliance on "governement funding mechanism"? I don't understand
the contention of many members on this list that launch costs aren't
the problem.

Jack