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The last frontier

© Simon Jones

Space is the last frontier that has yet to be truly explored and exploited for all its worth.

Many of the major developments in space are predicted to be made not from organisations such as NASA but from private companies who are able to attract funding from investors. There is a limited amount of research and development that NASA can do on its own. In the hands of private enterprise, however, all activity can be concentrated on a single project so that more progress can be made.

Space Dev is one such private company that is striving to set numerous precedents for the exploration and commercialisation of space. The company aims to send the first private spacecraft to another planetary body to land payloads. They also propose to provide scientists with access to deep space at a set commercial price.

There are no rules in space because no one owns it. Before planetary development takes place, property rights need to be established. The question of which company will be the first to get the paying public into orbit is cost, not to mention the implications of safety regulations which will create a legal minefield. After all these factors are dealt with the opportunities for the commercialisation of space could springboard the next industrial revolution.

Unlikely as it may sound; private missions to the moon are predicted by some to commence in as little as two years time. And for the ultimate souvenir; one company is planning to sell pieces of rock and moon dust. Another suggested use of the rock is for the production of cement. Using the moon as a big site for heavy industrial use such as nuclear plants, or factories could ease the environmental impact on Earth. But do we have a right to exploit the moon in this way? Recent interest in business activity in space has provoked environmental concerns and a lunar ecology group in California has been set up to fight against what is seen as an abuse of its resources. We all look at the moon in different ways. Is it a natural wonder that must be left pristine or a barren lump of rock devoid of life that offers a wealth of opportunities for human expansion?

With our planet's resources gradually dwindling, it seems inevitable that we will ultimately colonise space. To make planets such as Mars habitable the atmosphere needs to modified to the same conditions as on Earth in a process called terraforming. One suggestion from NASA has been to pump the Martian atmosphere with greenhouse gases http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1... Creating an environment where basic micro-organisms and algae can survive is predicted to take at least 200 years. [Terraforming: Planetary Environments Martyn J Fogg].