Another NewSpace Casualty?
Microsoft Co-Founder’s Space Project Is in Limbo, Wall Street Journal
“The ambitious venture appears to be on hold, these officials said, because the Microsoft Corp. co-founder hasn’t announced a replacement rocket supplier for the original contractor that dropped out months ago. At this point, project officials haven’t provided even the broad outlines of technology that could be used in the future, a development timetable or how they plan to launch significantly larger numbers of smaller satellites than originally envisioned.”
Golden Spike: Another Space Commerce Casualty? (Update), earlier post
“A month Two months later and the website still says “under construction”.
Another “Space Tragic” lol.
What’s that old saying? Vision without funding is just a hallucination. Inspiration Mars, B612, Mars One, Golden Spike. I’ve kicked in a few bucks to each of them, just to be a small part of the game. But we’re sure not going to get to deep space on crowdfunding. I’m afraid I gotta put Deep Space Industries in with this bunch. Correct me if you think I’m wrong. (I hope I am.)
People should be given credit for trying – and for giving support to people who try (as you did). Trying is better than not trying. But some things work and some things do not. Its natural that this happens – and should be balanced against the things that work.
Well, they sure made for a lot of buzz and some great artwork anyway. And, hopefully, they may inspire some ideas that actually will work as the tech ramps up and the launch prices come down. On the other hand, looking at today’s headlines, do we have to add Stratolaunch to the list now?
Did their business model ever truly make sense?
It was always problematic. How to get the maximum regulatory weight on your company? Combine a new rocket design with a new airplane design.
What does regulation have to do with Vulcan/Stratolauncher’s problems? They can’t find a rocket company to work with, and they can’t design their carrier without a rocket. It’s got nothing to do with regulations. Just physics and engineering.
As for regulatory burden, Scaled Composites (contractor for the carrier aircraft) has a long history of building one-off bizarre experimental aircraft. And the FAA has the fewest rules for experimental aircraft, provided you aren’t selling them commercially.
The FAA also has very few rules for rockets; and certainly no more for air-launched rockets than ground-launched. (Plus air-launched rockets can be carried into international waters before they are fired.)
It’s hard to imagine less regulation short of creating a free-for-all up there.
Well, there’s more where that came from. I’m sure we’ll have another wave of companies with big promises and limited funding sooner or later to replace them. Maybe one of them will amount to something, like SpaceX – and honestly, that one company will make it all worth it.
I want someone to try the “lottery” approach to space funding. Would there be a legal way to do that? I’ve heard the Virginia Company did that to raise money for the first Jamestown expedition.
Marcel
🙂