Breakthrough and NASA have signed a Space Act Agreement for support of a private mission. This is the most likely way for it to happen, and it will probably happen before a Europa mission (it probably would have even with Culberson, given the requirement to use SLS).
Category Archives: Economics
Space Conferences
I’ve been busy for the past couple days, and will continue to be, with first the Space Settlement Summit, and starting today (and concluding tomorrow) a meeting of the Moon Village Association. For those who want to participate, the latter will supposedly start to be live streamed at 8 AM PDT, but I don’t know the URL. I’ll update when I get there and find out what it is.
[Update after conference start]
Here is the livestream. Scott Pace is speaking.
The Recode Interview With Elon
The transcript has been released. Among other things, he doesn’t like electric scooters.
My Latest Space-Policy Piece
…has gone live on line. The issue has the theme of a space renaissance, also containing a very technical article by Bob Zubrin on Moon Direct, and a piece by Micah Meadowcroft on why space settlers may be doomed to disappointment.
California Has A Housing Crisis
…and doesn’t know how to solve it.
Just spitballing here, but maybe build more housing?
Wilbur Ross
Looks like he may be on the way out. That’s too bad, from a space perspective; he was extremely enthusiastic about space.
Space Access
Henry Vanderbilt will be on the show on Friday with a “mystery guest.” Hope this is good news about a resurrection of the conference.
I’ll miss it because I’ll be attending this event in DC. Flying up from Orlando this afternoon.
[Afternoon update, from MCO]
Welp, missed my flight from MCO to DCA by ten minutes. Now on standby for a 5:55 that gets into DC a little after 8
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) October 17, 2018
[Friday-afternoon update]
Here’s the official press release:
We are very pleased to announce that there will be a Space Access Conference next spring, April 18th-21st 2019, in California’s Bay Area at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley.
Space Access 2019 will be run by a team from the Experimental Rocket Propulsion Society with advice & support from us. The SA2019 Conference Chair will be ERPS’ Michael Wallis, with much relevant experience with both space and conference running. Proceeds (if any) will benefit both ERPS and SAS.
We expect the conference style will evolve – that’s one of the benefits of bringing in a new crew with fresh perspectives. But the essence of Space Access will remain the same: Three intensive days focusing on the technology, business, and politics of radically cheaper space transportation, discussed in depth by a cross-section of the people making it happen.
We will post occasional pointers to updated conference information on the space-access.org website, but the primary web page for SA2019 information will be https://sa2019.erps.org/. Check it out for conference hotel and registration information, and for the conference program as it evolves.
See you all there in six months!
About the same in terms of distance from LA, maybe a little further. But I look forward to it.
[Bumped]
Elon Musk
We need him, and others like him.
1.5 Degrees C
Thoughts on the latest non-news from Judith Curry:
IMO, even with erroneous attribution of extreme weather/climate events and projections using climate models that are running too hot and not fit for purpose of projecting 21st century climate change, the IPCC still has not made a strong case for this massive investment to prevent 1.5C warming.
No kidding.
The Return Of The Space Visionaries
About a year ago, I started writing an essay comparing and contrasting Bezos’s versus Musk’s visions for humanity in space. As is often the case, it expanded into a history of space visions in general, and how we’re finally returning to the old ones, after the tragic detour of Apollo. It’s out in the current issue, but unfortunately, isn’t yet available on line. I expect it will be in a few weeks or less, though.
[Update a few minutes later]
This is sort of a space issue. There is a piece by Bob Zubrin laying out his concept for Moon Direct, bypassing what he calls the space toll booth (Gateway), and another by Micah Meadowcroft on how Mars will disappoint.