Damon Root’s take on why he’ll probably knock it down this time.
[Update late morning]
“Save us John Roberts, you’re our only hope.”
Category Archives: Business
Space Development And Settlement
A new alliance. This is long overdue.
I’m not sure about the prize idea, though. I’d rather the government actually purchase bulk items (e.g., water) on orbit. The goal should be a low cost per pound, not reusability per se. I’m pretty sure that reusability would naturally fall out of that. And reusable vehicles will have to be reliable to hit the cost goal.
The Church Of Walmart
“Corporations, like all human institutions, are great engines for making mistakes. The only reason they seem so competent is that companies who make too many mistakes go out of business, and we don’t have them around for comparison.”
SpaceX Versus Boeing
Yes, SpaceX actually has more recent and relevant capsule experience than Boeing.
As I wrote in the book:
When I worked in business development for a government space contractor, I’d always be amused by the standard section we’d always have to put in our proposals to NASA or the Air Force about our company’s previous experience and heritage, as though the people who’d worked on those programs in the sixties weren’t dead or retired.
Organizations don’t have knowledge — individuals do. And to the degree that NASA has any knowledge, it is because it has retained employees who have it.. But many of those knowledgeable people have gone to work for the commercial companies, so there really is nothing “unique” about NASA. But to the degree that there is, it is primarily that, at least with respect to safety, its procedures have resulted in the loss of fourteen astronauts in flight.
But I’m sure Palazzo et al will continue to think that Boeing is a better bet than SpaceX.
The Silicon-Valley Space Race
A good perspective on the new industry, and why it’s different than the 90s.
Fuel In Space
Is it a job for the oil and gas industry, or space miners? I think the former has a lot of expertise and experience to offer.
The ObamaCare Fallback Plan
Of course they’re lying about not having one. Everything they do with regard to health care has been a lie. And of course, all this talk of chaos if SCOTUS rules against the administration is just an attempt to influence their decision.
The Senate Space Hearing
I’m watching it right now. Here‘s Scott Pace’s testimony.
Commercial Space In Congress
There’s going to be a Senate hearing this afternoon, and Jeff Foust lays out some of the issues that will be discussed.
Kodiak
An op-ed supporting the spaceport there. In the interest of disclosure, I should note that I’ve been doing some consulting for them to help develop strategies to expand their market.