It is with sadness that we say farewell to the NASA space shuttle program and the loss of over 10,000 engineering, manufacturing and science jobs when the Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its final return flight on July 25th 2011.
The 31 year history of the space shuttle program has seen many an achievement; 135 flights, more than 50 satellites launched, 3 interplanetary craft launches, and the deployment of a number of space telescopes including the Hubble telescope in 1990.
NASA closing the book on the space shuttle program is not however the end for space engineering or space exploration. Many private companies are looking to fill the void that will be left by NASA
Three companies of interest include Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and Space Island Group.
Virgin Galactic is possibly the most well known brand vying for a share of Space and is looking to initiate a whole new industry – Space Tourism. Virgin Galactic plans to provide low orbit space flight in a fleet of reusable manned spacecraft named the WhiteKnights.
SpaceX, backed by Paypal founder Elon Musk, is entering the space launch market by providing cost effective solutions for the private and commercial launches. Led by a philosophy of safety and simplicity SpaceX believe they can provide a launch service at a fraction of the cost of the previous NASA program.
Space Island Group is one of the first companies into the space manufacturing and research industry. Through low earth orbiting facilities they aim to capitalise on the zero-gravity vacuum environment in providing new and innovative manufacturing and research techniques
It is only now that these companies can really start to gain real market share. For the past 59 years NASA’s large Government funding has made private space projects uncompetitive and unviable. NASA’s levels of investment have pushed private companies out of the market. However as NASAs monopoly comes to an end on the 25th July they make room for a plethora of private space companies – Entrepreneurial companies that will benefit from the increased competition. Expect increased growth in the industry, new job creation, increased competition and faster technological development. Ironically the end of the NASA space shuttle program may be the best thing to happen to the Space Industry since Apollo 11 on July 20th 1969