What's Weather Prediction Worth?
/One aspect of the space economy tends to get overlooked: weather. Without space, we'd be in trouble.
Read MoreOne aspect of the space economy tends to get overlooked: weather. Without space, we'd be in trouble.
Read MoreThe most common argument against a publicly funded space program is that we can’t afford it, given the government’s many other priorities. The most common answer is that space makes an excellent public investment. But if it is a good investment, why not leave space to private investors?
Read MoreIt's a mistake to think that private industry has taken over space. Government catalyzes the space economy in three ways: assuming risk, pushing the bounds of technology, and issuing contracts.
Read MoreMost of NASA's budget doesn't go toward NASA employees building equipment. It goes toward private contracts.
Read MoreHere at the bottom of the Well, we have already worked wonders.
Read MoreIt really wasn’t that long ago when the two greatest superpowers were vying to put satellites into space. Now, 50 nations have their own satellites in low Earth orbit. If you’re a Thailand, say, you can call Space Systems/Loral, a Canadian-owned company based in Palo Alto, California, and tell them you want to put a satellite into geostationary orbit for television broadcasting or military communications. You can have the thing in orbit 25,000 miles above Earth within two years.