NASA's new administrator says he's talking to companies to take over the International Space Station

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



By Christian Davenport
June 5 at 7:00 AM

NASA is talking to several international companies about forming a consortium that would take over operation of the International Space Station and run it as a commercial space lab, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in an interview.

“We’re in a position now where there are people out there that can do commercial management of the International Space Station,” Bridenstine said in his first extensive interview since being sworn in as NASA administrator in April. “I’ve talked to many large corporations that are interested in getting involved in that through a consortium, if you will.”

The White House touched off a heated discussion about the future of the orbiting laboratory earlier this year when it said it planned to end direct government funding of the station by 2025, while working on a transition plan to turn the station over to the private sector.

Some members of Congress said they would vigorously oppose any plan that ends the station’s life prematurely. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) said the decision to end funding for it was the result of “numskulls” at the Office of Management and Budget.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/06/05/nasas-new-administrator-says-hes-talking-to-companies-to-take-over-the-international-space-station/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.84ce2ec3f54f&wpisrc=al_news__alert-economy--alert-national&wpmk=1

[Mustellus]

1. Yes.. Only corporations can do things like this.....

Governments are too stupid to ever develop something this science-y and space-y.

We can have giant inflated billboards in space.. a mile across... visible from the ground!!!! And endless product endorsements by floating flacks.

I'm really looking forward to the FacebookGoogleYahoo space station. Now, if I can just find enough change I can get out of my driveway past the toll booth at the end of my street.....

[Duppers]

21. 😂

Last edited Tue Jun 5, 2018, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)

[Botany]

2. Trump is a Russian agent working to bring down America from the inside.

n/t

[Delphinus]

3. This

makes me want to cry.

[left-of-center2012]

4. Maybe they'll put Trump's name on it

[rpannier]

5. Hugo Draz starts the bidding at...

[dembotoz]

6. +1 brazillian

[rpannier]

12. An opportunity for Brain to take over the world

[cvoogt]

7. they ought to destroy it.

It was a mistake, and a diversion from bolder human exploration. A sub-lunar orbital station would make much more sense, and could be used for launching human missions to Europa, Mars, etc.

[relogic]

10. Careful what you wish for...

As I recall, for example the prisons of our great, privatizing country are gobbling up as many of these correctional facilities and sucking out the money and leaving states and fed to pick up the pieces. Too many examples: security, military bases, charter schools,...

Surely, you jest. A Koch libertarian couldn’t be happier.

[cvoogt]

16. No I a not joking.

I fail to see how being against the idea of a space station is a libertarian notion. I just think it's wasted effort.

If there's going to be a space station, I don't think it should be privatized. I think core science missions should remain publicly funded. However, I think NASA should have focused on interplanetary human travel rather than wasting efforts on the space station. A cislunar station is a much better investment of time and resources, and sets us up for human interplanetary exploration in a way that the space station never could.

[Volaris]

8. Yep there must be hundreds, no THOUSANDS of companies worldwide

That have VAST experience operating a manned orbital research station...God my neighbor that also owns that one restaurant everybody likes has 2 already...



Human Achievement: how quaint and archaic. Who needs NASA?

[Baclava]

9. When's the last time anybody got up early to watch a space launch?

Americans are apathetic, would rather play video games, Russia owns space, we are just along for the ride now

Sad

[TomVilmer]

14. - but you just own some parts of it.

It is a patchwork from all its national partners, where the United States is one.

[Baclava]

17. I'm talking about the rocket ride to get there, we send our astronauts to Russia to get to space

By 2018, NASA and its partners will have to pay roughly $81 million per person to ride a Soyuz to the ISS and back again — a cost increase of 372% in 10 years



http://www.businessinsider.com/space-travel-per-seat-cost-soyuz-2016-9

[TomVilmer]

18. sorry

i was trying to answer the main op...

[Calista241]

11. i lol'd at Ted Cruz's comment here.

I think it's the first time i've ever agreed with him on something.

[relogic]

13. Who he helped elevate..

(that pathetic idiot whose name is orange) so that budget offices headed by privatizers could do this exact thing. NASA, HUD, parks, schools, EPA, ... Cruz speaks with forked tongue placed like any beguiling hypocrite between his rediculous contradictions.

[KPN]

15. I'm sick and tired of privatization. Thanks Reagan.

[Bayard]

19. Here come the company logo's on it

[Bengus81]

20. Maybe former Enron brass could run it.........

Bet that would work out wonderfully.