NASA Going Commercial
The image of Neil Armstrong first stepping foot onto the moon is the stuff of legends. It was the first time that man set foot on soil that didn’t exist on the earth, and the first time that we were really able to see what the NASA program was capable of. Unfortunately, however, it looks like the NASA program is going to have to do what many other amazing programs over the years has had to do – sell out.
Until just recently NASA has been a government program that was almost fully funded by tax dollars. This money is what has allowed us to learn more about the world that lies beyond the Earth, and what has allows us to create rockets in order to take man, and machine, into space. But in a two-day conference that was held in the beginning of February 2011, space lovers learned that in order for NASA to survive, it was going to have to sell out and to allow commercial launches.
The national space policy that President Barack Obama recently enacted actually advises NASA to utilize commercial services by delivering both crew and cargo to what is known as low-Earth orbit. This market will be not only for science and exploration, but will also be used for things like suborbital flights and even space tourism. With the space shuttle program coming to an end by the close of 2011, NASA experts all agree that the only way that the programs will be able to continue to provide information about the world around us is going to be to open up low-Earth orbit, making it available to commercial launch providers.
So what does this mean for the average Joe? It depends on how successful NASA’s attempt to bring commercial launch into the picture is. If they do manage to find the balance between commercial launches and exploration, we will still be able to learn more about the solar system and what lies beyond. Being unable to find that balance, however, means that it’s very likely that space exploration will slow and may, if things do not change as time passes, end completely. One thing’s for sure: we’re headed into a brave and bold new world when it comes to space exploration. One where commercial needs are just as important as scientific requirements, and it’s definitely going to be a ride that will be interesting to watch.