We are at the dawn of private space exploration, which will lead to the rapid growth of a space-based economy with people working, living and playing in space. This entrepreneurial sector will rely on space-based labor, services and resources, and will require an infrastructure for communications and the delivery of energy. Space resource utilization requires many prior steps before those resources and their products can be used on an economically sound basis, and each step must be profitable. Not only must there be a supply and demand for such resources, but the business, economic and technology infrastructure must be in place, created one step at a time. SpaceDev's first mission, the Near Earth Asteroid Prospector (NEAP) will be the first private mission beyond earth orbit, and the first private mission to visit and land upon another planetary body. NEAP may provide a model for how to jump start space commercialization. By making a profit with this science-based mission, the door may be opened for other entrepreneurs.
Private Space Exploration Is Here: Are You On-Board?
Sixth ASCE Specialty Conference and Exposition on Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space ; 1998 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Space 98 ; 29-36
1998-04-21
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Outreach Development Public Private Partnerships for Space Exploration
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