MoMUOL (was: For and Against)

>At 05:34 AM 9/12/02 +0000, you wrote:
>
> > Ok. Let me make sure I understand what you're saying. There are
>people with
> > the will, the foresight, and the money to invest in expensive,
>high-risk
> > space ventures, right? But nobody can say for sure that space is
>even
> > profitable because we haven't seen anyone make a profit from space
>yet,
> > right? And until someone makes a strong enough case for space
>development,
> > it won't happen, right?
> >
> > So what is a strong enough case? Demonstrable evidence of
>profitability in
> > space? And who ultimately decides what is and isn't a strong case?
>The
> > financiers or the folks managing their portfolios (or whatever)?
>
>Yes, it is bizarrely circular, and yes those people are out there.
>They share the dream but they can't change the financial decision
>criteria arbitrarily. Now, those who manage their own money are in a
>different class, and I can't really speak for them.
>
>Don't misunderstand me. Having the will, foresight, and means,
>doesn't mean they have the ideas nor the technical knowledge to
>originate the idea. That is left up to the project specialists.
>
>If you want my opinion, and that's all I can give, a strong enough
>case will present itself when the cost of the project will earn a
>return of 200-400% and many risk aversion strategies have been
>implemented, including intellectual capital protection and quite
>possibly trade secret measures as well.
>
>I think that the vehicle for this success will be something like
>pharmaceuticals in zero-g, and only zero-g.

I'm sorry, I can't resist. This sounds exactly like what I want the MUOL to
do. The pharmaceutical companies are an early, primary market for the MUOL.

>Or one that I have some
>personal exposure to, though from over a decade ago, which is a
>crystal growth array which embodies the binary encoding of
>information. Specifically, a crystal is grown in three dimensions,
>wherein every fourth atom is encoded with an extra electron to
>indicate a binary off-on state. This off-on state is read with an
>electron beam in which the energy from the beam excites that fourth
>atom so that additional equipment could read whether there is an off-
>on state. The potential packing of information into this 3-D crystal
>cube is immense, and the cubes can be written anew for every growth
>cycle.

Crystal growth is another area that intrigues me. Early on in my "MUOL
research" I came across information about a certain kind of crystal that
can make motor vehicles run more efficiently, reducing our dependence on
the OPEC nations for oil (presumably, because we would burn less oil in
more efficient vehicles). Does anyone recall the name of this particular
type or crystal (Zeolite)? Or the process I am talking about?

Aerogel was another product I came across in my research I thought might
make a good first space-based product.

> > Define better, though? Quicker return? An almost guaranteed
>return?
> > Investments that don't have the political baggage space industry
>does? What
> > exactly makes those "better investment alternatives" better?
>
>Well, you've hit on many definitions on your own. Simply, it is a
>calculation along a risk-reward spectrum. Can it create a whole new
>industry? Will competition be slow in coming? Is there a sufficient
>market to grow the business into the billions range? Mere millions
>just limits the upside too much. I'd say engineering projects won't
>pass muster. There probably has to be a defensible business model,
>intellectual property protection, experienced management team,
>terrific upside market growth, and always helpful, signed contracts
>for products.

Let me be direct here. I need your help. You are exactly the type of person
I need to help develop the right business plan for the MUOL concept.
Granted, we're a long way from a full "concept" of the MUOL, but clearly
the business plan is what we need and it has to be a good one. It has to
make the right case, as you put it. Was there anything about the MUOL
concept that interested you enough to warrant your involvement? Had to ask,
ya know.

Jack