The Future of Humanity: Space Privatization

David Shiffman
Duke University

Recent events have shown that humankind is on the verge of the privatization of space. This new “space race,” if properly embraced, will improve the life of every man, woman, and child on Earth.

Lately, the government’s monopoly of space has been challenged. On October 4, 2004, the privately owned SpaceShip One captured the ten million dollar X-Prize by becoming the first non-government vehicle to reach outer space. Additionally, the tourist transportation company Virgin Galactic recently announced that it will be possible for private citizens to buy trips to outer space as soon as 2009 [1]. Private companies are now going places once reserved for governments and militaries.

StarShip One and its launch vehicle, “White Knight.” Courtesy of www.nw.faa.gov

According to the Space Frontier Foundation, this change is long overdue. The Space Frontier Foundation aims to transform space from a government-owned bureaucratic program into a dynamic and inclusive frontier open to all people [2]. This NGO has long sought for fewer restrictions on private companies venturing into space, and claims that the privatization of space will improve all of humanity.

While the Space Frontier Foundation uses its various projects and communications to open space for permanent human settlement, another like-minded organization has tried a different approach. The Ansari Foundation’s model is a unique one. Rather than awarding money to honor past achievements or directly funding research, the Ansari Foundation and its $10 million X Prize spurs innovation by “tapping into our competitive and entrepreneurial spirits” [3]. The X Prize was announced in 1996, and dozens of companies rushed to win the grand prize by building the first privately owned spacecraft to reach 100 kilometers above the surface of the Earth twice in two weeks [4]. The total amount of money spent on space research far exceeded the $10 million prize, showing the effectiveness of their model [2].

The big question most people have asked upon hearing this is: “so what?” Most correctly point out that providing unique tourism experiences to the wealthier members of our society will not revolutionize the world in the way mentioned above. However, space tourism will undeniably lead to cheaper and more effective ways to enter space. Once space entry becomes more affordable, other types of companies can begin making the journey. The mining industry would undoubtedly invest in this technology, because once space travel becomes economical, the rewards are, pardon the pun, astronomical. Our solar system’s asteroid belt, for example, contains about $400 trillion worth of titanium, according to Millennium Society founder Marshall Savage [5]. In fact, we wouldn’t even need to venture that far to find enormous riches. Savage estimates that the moon has tens of trillions of dollars worth of silicon. If this industry was taxed even 1%, the revenue would provide enough money to pay for worldwide social needs such as education and health care [2].

Space privatization is the future of humanity. Courtesy of quest.arc.nasa.gov

The space program can also be used to help solve the world’s energy crisis. According to Princeton physicist Gerard O’Neil, solar power is horribly inefficient (approximately 1.5% efficiency) on Earth since most of the sun’s energy is scattered and absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere [6]. Solar panels in space, however, are close to 85% efficient. [6] With a few large solar arrays in orbit, the days of energy shortages (and wars fought over limited energy) will be a thing of the past. Additionally, space technology can be used to produce food and perhaps even help end world starvation. In order to feed astronauts, space miners and colonists, massive amounts of new research would need to be done in the fields of hydroponics and agriculture. One promising NASA study shows how easy it is to grow large amounts of spirulina algae in a zero gravity high sunlight environment. Spirulina is highly nutritious, and is already used as a food source in much of the Third World [5]. With slight genetic modification, it could become a stand-alone food source. It could also be fed to crabs and shellfish in an effort to grow them as food. Other plants would likely grow well in zero gravity, high sunlight conditions. There is a great possibility that space technology can be used to feed the world and make starvation nothing but a bad memory.

The space privatization revolution is happening all around us. As the government stranglehold on space technology is broken, more efficient companies will be able to innovate with this new knowledge. With new resources and new technologies, the space privatization revolution can help provide healthcare, education, food, and energy to the whole planet. This expansion and revolution can indeed bring benefits to everyone on the planet.

References:

1. Leonard, David. “Space Tourism Taking Shape?” 27 April: 2005.

2. “Space Frontier Foundation.”
[http://www.space-frontier.org/whoweare.html].

3. Diamandi, Peter H. “The Future of the X PRIZE Foundation”
[http://www.xprizefoundation.com/default.asp].

4. Diamandi, Peter H. “Together We Did It!”
[http://www.xprizefoundation.com/about_us/default.asp].

5.Savage, Marshall T. The Millenial Project: Colonizing the Galax in Eight Easy
Steps. New York: 1992.

6. O’Neil, Gerard. The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space. New York: 1982.