NASA To Propose Commercial Space Initiative

MarkWhittington writes "The Wall Street Journal is reporting that starting with the FY2011 budget request for NASA, the Obama administration intends to propose a new program to encourage the development of a commercial space flight industry. 'The controversial proposal, expected to be included in the Obama administration's next budget, would open a new chapter in the US space program. The goal is to set up a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar initiative allowing private firms, including some start-ups, to compete to build and operate spacecraft capable of ferrying US astronauts into orbit—and eventually deeper into the solar system. Congress is likely to challenge the concept's safety and may balk at shifting dollars from existing National Aeronautics and Space Administration programs already hurting for funding to the new initiative. The White House's ultimate commitment to the initiative is murky, according to these people, because the budget isn't expected to outline a clear, long-term funding plan.'"

Comments

Bureaucracy Fail

[Plugh]

Government programs don't "encourage" free enterprise. At best, they steal from some people who would not have spent it The Right Way and give the money to the wonderful people who will use it the way the Bureaucracy feels is Much Better.

The way to actually encourage free enterprise, is to stop threatening violence against the people who practice it.

Stop stealing their money. End the "license raj". Let the people do business with anyone who will freely trade with them -- whether or not they have a government-granted "permit". Let the people do whatever they want on and with their own private property, as long as they're not harming anybody else.

Of course, all that will never happen. Not unless people who feel the same way concentrate their efforts in one place. Fortunately... we already are. See my sig

Re:Bureaucracy Fail

[Plugh]

I'm sure the CEO's of those companies will promise you they are defenders of the free market.

A corporation is distinct from a business. The former are granted limited liability -- by the government -- in return for being the government's bitch. It is often the case that the people employed by that government-created entity do not make the mental connection between their enterprise and government-controlled, inherently non-free, enterprise.

Re:Gee, let's outsource governing to private firms

[twiddlingbits]

First off, his actions speak louder than anything. He is a Marxist, in Moderartes clothing. Go look at the party platform of the United States Communist Party and compare it to what Obama is doing, they are one and the same. He likes to hide behind the people in Congress and let them take the heat but behind the scences via his advisors and even in person he fully supports what is happening. You can fool a lot of people once but you can't fool nearly as many twice.

If the market wants productst they'll buy it, we don't need Government "stimulus" to encourage them. Plus those "stimulus" contracts normally come with a lot of Government "red tape" which sucks 30-40% out for overhead. There is proof out there that the Government money is not vital as firms have done some great things with zero Government bucks (Spaceship 2).

Ferrying people to LEO or ISS is silly, by the time this stuff goes online ISS will be de-orbited. LEO hops to where, Space Dock?? Why should be go back to the Moon? Why, we've been there and know it pretty well, unless it's a long term presence it's wasted money. A better idea is funds to do some cool R&D like the Space Elevator or technology for a Misson to Mars. Warp Drive anyone? Or lets see if Quantam Entaglement might yield the equalivent of a Star Trek transporter.

Also consider that there are very few firms in the US who have the know-how to undertake such work, and they are the same ones who are working for NASA now. So the money goes to the same people, just from a different Government account.