The modern Space Race

With the launch of the first payload to orbit by a private company on a privately designed rocket yesterday, we are, I think, at the forefront of the beginning privatization of space. Between SpaceX's launching craft to orbit, Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipOne's manned suborbital hop a couple of years ago, and the recent forming of ULA by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, we are seeing a rapid explosion in funding and development of a private means to get into space, as opposed to strictly government run programs. NASA is even making use of this trend, with the announcement of it's Commercial Orbit Transport System (COTS) program in 2006, which would make use of private spaceflights to provide transport and supplies to the International Space Station.

While competition in the private sector can definately spur rapid development in this area, we must be cautious and not lose sight of the future over rapid gains now. Low Earth Orbits are already quite cluttered with plenty of space junk, and without proper oversight, private spaceflights will only add to that, which will in turn make space more dangerous. While there are plenty of issues at home that need more immediate dealing with, sometime in the next decade the question must be asked as to how to best utilize what available space we have. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 is an excellent start on providing for regulation in terms of governments, however there are no provisions for what might happen with the private expansion into space. Only time will tell as to how best to utilize what little area we have around our planet for the betterment of all; perhaps limiting certain companies to certain orbits, perhaps limiting the quantity of items launched into space, perhaps providing for a way to capture and bring space junk back to earth. At this point however, the stars are literally the limit.