The first humans landed on the Moon with Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969. Our last lunar landing was with Apollo 17 on December 11, 1972. In the thirty years that have past since men walked on the Moon, we have seen the commercial space industry, consisting mainly of telecommunication satellites and expendable launch vehicles (ELVs), grow into a multibillion dollar industry. Yet, today’s commercial space industry is a limited industry. If the commercial space industry is to develop beyond today’s level of space commerce, it needs to expand by developing New Space Industries (NSIs) and emerging space business ventures. Is this expansion plausible in the aftermath of 9/11, a near global recession, and our war on terrorism, and if so, over what time period?

This paper discusses some of the more plausible NSIs and what is needed for the overall success of new and emerging commercial space ventures. In addition, an attempt is made to gauge the full impact of the aftermath of 9/11, the recession, and the war on terrorism upon a newly developing and expanding commercial space industry. The effect of current launch costs upon the developing space industry is also considered including whether the payload consists of cargo or humans to orbit, and the payload destination. Business planning, including the financing of space ventures, is also discussed. Policy considerations play an important role in developing our space economy. As such, some of the conflicts of interest within both the established aerospace industry and NASA that have the potential to adversely impact commercial space development are discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the awesome responsibility we have in seeding the off-Earth environment with our people, culture, business practices, and our economic principles and values.

Resolving the problems associated with transporting people to and from space in a

cost-effective space transportation vehicle—most likely the reusable launch vehicle (RLV)—is crucial to the successful development of the commercial space industry. Suggestions are set forth that have the potential for making a positive impact on the RLV, space tourism, and commercial space industries. Public and private sector cooperation is essential. Financing NSIs and emerging space business ventures is fundamental to developing an expanded commercial space industry.

Private Funding and Commerical Investment