A major challenge to a viable commercial space exploration industry is connecting paying customers with providers of things worth paying for. For the first time in history, we have a number of commercial opportunites emerging:
- Launch Services
- Suborbital Space Flight Rides
- Cubsesat services
- Inflatable Space Stations
- Lunar Exploration
And now thanks to the Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data program teams being awarded last week:
Data
Until now, I hadn’t really considered data as a part of a commercial business plan in space. In recent history one could argue that data has surpassed selling physical objects as a key economic driver in many businesses.
What other sorts of data would we be willing to buy from commercial space exploration companies?
What kinds of data would we be willing to buy from space hobbyists?
I refuse to answer on the grounds that it would create another damn project to describe and document.
However, these words were found on a small scrap of paper lying on the floor outside my office: “analog settlement testbed”. No idea what they mean. No idea at all.
As long as Pauly Shore isn’t involved, I’m okay with it.
Dangit. I was hoping he’d lend a little star power.