Barriers to free enterprise in the high frontier

Ryan's Response:

> Getting launch costs down is something that might best be done by
government
> who would also develop infrastructure. These would be done by
private
> contracters under government money but the government would be
keeping a close
> eye on them to prevent them taking the money for themselves.

In the case of NASA, I have little faith in their ability to get the
job done. I don't have the answers either. But considering that
they wasted 5 years of research and billions of dollars to develop
the X-33 RLV, only to scratch the whole show, doesn't exactly inspire
confidence. Clearly, the government will probably lead the way
because they have the resources to throw at the problem, but they
certainly aren't the most efficient or effective. That could lead to
serious problems when you consider the time frame. For example,
there's no way significantly lower launch costs AND having some
infrastructure in LEO will be achieved before, say, 10 years (and
that's generous). 10 (more?) years of inefficiency and
ineffectiveness could result in scratching the whole thing.

> Once
> asteriod mining is proven then private enterprise will be doing it
without
> government funding. The materials from the first rock mined could
also be used
> to build a prototype SPS to prove that it is economical and pave
the way for
> further SPS development.
>
> I wouldn't expect private enterprise to be able to do much until
launch costs
> come down and there is some basic infrastructure (doesn't have to
be much) in
> space that can be used.

I don't disagree, but relying on the "government" to do it just
scares the hell out of me.

Jack