(P. Edward Murray) wrote in message om...

And at the moment, we can't really afford it.

Ed Murray

Depends on how its done. GW just proposed a massive reorganiztion of
the Social Security administration - privatizing that organization.
This will have a mssive positive impact on the financial services
sector as well as on the insurance companies and medical services
companies that will all benefit from such a privatization.
Efficiencies will likely be improved if competitive pressures can be
brought to bear between benefitting entitites. Also, government costs
associated with aging populations will be slashed dramatically.

This is a model of how to do space exploration post SpaceShipOne.

The stock market downturn when the bubble burst in 2000 vaporized 9
trillion dollars worth of capital. The economy slowed - and rebound.

We have a $40 trillion per year global economy. Of that, the US
accounts for nearly $10 trillion. The US financial services sector
basically runs the free world's capital base. In good times we grow
at 5% per year - that's $2 trillion in new income. In bad times we
grow at 2% per year - that's $800 billion in new income at present.

We have enough money. That's the point. How we spend the money
determines whether or not we can afford it.

Reagan was fond of pointing out that when the government runs health
care, we can't afford health care. When private industry runs health
care, health use expands appropriately to market demand. When the
government runs food production, people stand in lines. When private
industry runs food production, we have supermarkets with shelves
filled beyond capacity with all manner of foods - and food producers
competing on style, convenience, price, taste, you name it.

Clearly if you follow this logic, when the government runs space
exploration, we cannot afford it. When private industry runs space
exploration, we have an abundance of space exploring firms that offer
a wide variety of services appropriate to the market, that is
constantly being redefined and expanded by entrepreneurs.

So, what can the government do?

First, the government can turn NASA into a service organization that
serves the private sector. The first step is to allow limited access
to secret information, and where that information cannot be
distributed (calculation of warhead re-entry heat loads frex) provide
that service to qualified users without compromising security. The
next step is to establish research and development efforts in areas
defined by industry, and allow industry access to this research for a
fee (at cost). In this way, common issues get resolved. For example,
the development a commercial cryogenic rocket system, or the
development of a commercial nuclear rocket system. This is very
similar to the role of NACA (NASA's predecessor) in the early days of
flight. Third, NASA would review the security implications of
commecial developments. Again, mimicking NACA's role in helping the
development of the US Air Services, which became later the USAF.

In a world dominated by commercial space programs there is plenty NASA
can do to a) transfer knowledge, b) provide service, c) develop new
knowledge economically, d) review knowledge for its security
implications and use.

Second, the government can offer tax credits to investors in space
travel.

Third, the government can give a tax holiday to any space development.

Fourth, the government can allow the ownership of property in outer
space changing the nature of the outerspace treaty

Fifth, the government - having broached the outerspace treaty - can
develop a nuclear pulse rocket technology and make that available to
qualified commercial users, establish standards for its use, etc.

Sixth, the government can establish a means to buy and sell property,
establish claims, settle disputes, and so forth,

Seventh, when appropriate, the government can establish a marshall
service in interplanetary space to enforce orders of the court.

Eighth, when appropriate, the government will begin a rational level
of taxation on established enterprises to provide for greater
government services, if needed and desired by interplanetary
residents.

THIS CAN ALL BE DONE WITHIN OR BELOW THE CURRENT BUDGET OF NASA.

This will help our war on terror how? Because our war on terror IS A
WAR OF IDEAS!

What can the West do to inspire awe and excitement in teenage boys and
girls now growing up under the sway of muslim clerics? What can the
West do to cut right through the 11th century doctrines and place
something more exciting in the imaginations and hearts of those youth?

That's right, space exploration and commercial space development.

We abandon space exploration today at our own peril. We have every
reason to do space exploration right. We should start immediately.

Bill Mook