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Americans
are fascinated by outer space. Most would take a trip into orbit if they
could. But critics maintain that, in the three decades since men last walked
on the Moon, NASA has gone from science and exploration to bureaucracy and
politics, with high costs keeping space inaccessible to most entrepreneurs
as well as to the general public.
Privatization and deregulation of industries such as airlines, trucking,
and telecommunications have reduced costs and created new economic opportunities.
The communications and information revolution has transformed the economy
and society. It is time to unleash the dynamics of free markets in the
space sector.
Entrepreneurs already are providing private launch services, satellites,
and modules for broadcast and Internet services. Other planned innovations
include collecting and beaming energy to Earth from orbit, a lunar rover
sponsored by Radio Shack, and even space adventure travel for private
citizens. But such profitable plans require radical reforms of America's
space policy and the role of NASA.
At the Cato conference, former representative Bob Walker, a science adviser
to President George W. Bush, will discuss the future of space policy.
The first panel will review the development of America’s space program
and NASA’s bureaucratic and cost problems. The second panel will examine
the legal and regulatory barriers to private space activities and the
lessons learned from deregulation and privatization of other industries.
Our luncheon speaker will be Fred Abatemarco, vice president of Space News and editor of Space.com. The third panel will explore current and potential
private space efforts. The final panel will discuss the various reforms
being considered on Capitol Hill, how the International Space Station
might be run by the private sector, and what kind of a private property
rights regime is necessary if space is to be the next free-market frontier.
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