NASA, Private Sector to Share Space Station

NASA is willing to turn over operation of the new international space station to private enterprise, possibly within a decade, if someone can prove they can handle the job, agency administrator Daniel Goldin said Friday.

“Our hope is to turn the keys of the station over to an entrepreneur if the private sector sees opportunity,” Goldin told members of the Space Frontier Foundation. “The government would become just one of many tenants and users of the station. The entrepreneurs could make money as we wave goodbye to low Earth orbit on our way to explore the far frontier.”

In an age of shrinking budgets, NASA can no longer afford to manage orbiting operations, such as the space station now under construction, and also reach out to explore the planets, Goldin said.

After five or 10 years of steady operation, NASA would be willing to let private enterprise operate the station, he said.

In an interview after his speech, Goldin said that any private company that wants the job must demonstrate it has the necessary expertise and financial clout.

“We’ve made the offer,” he said.

Goldin spoke to about 400 engineers, scientists and aspiring space entrepreneurs attending the Space Frontier Foundation’s annual conference. The group is among several private organizations that have been lobbying NASA and Congress for greater opportunity to pursue commercial ventures in space.

For years, space exploration was considered the exclusive domain of NASA and a few big contractors such as Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin that built spacecraft and provided services to the agency.

That has changed in recent years as the demand for commercial satellite launches has far exceeded NASA’s launch capability. French, Russian and Chinese entities have become strong competitors in the launch market. U.S. aerospace companies are working to develop inexpensive launch vehicles.

NASA already is willing to allow private companies to share the new space station to explore commercial possibilities. Goldin said NASA will make 30% or more of the station available. Several companies have submitted proposals, but Goldin declined to give details.