NASA Boss Says Mars Colonization Will Be Corporate Only

99luftballon writes "The head of NASA Ames Research Center has said that he expects any colonization of Mars, the Moon or asteroids to be done by private companies rather than by NASA. There's some interesting parallels with the East India Company, although that was hardly a triumph of capitalism. From the article: 'Dr. Simon Worden, director at NASA Ames Research Center, told The Register that the agency was firmly enmeshing itself with the private sector, citing cooperation on the Dragon capsule being developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX team as a good example. NASA developed a heat shield material called PICA (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), capable of withstanding 1850 degrees Celsius (3360 degrees Fahrenheit), and gave it to SpaceX, who manufactured it.' The article also mentions Google's head of space projects, who has 'Intergalactic Federation King Almighty and Commander of the Universe' on her business cards."

BIG corporations only

[Skapare]

And, of course. the government and NASA will help make sure the big corporations will lock out small business and startups from even getting going.

Re:BIG corporations only

[Anonymous Coward]

By the time colonization of Mars will occur, we'll already have targeted ads on our ballots, a president who wears corporate badges on his suit and cap, and five year naming rights for our country sold to the highest bidder*. It'd be a little silly to allow small businesses to come along, innovate, and threaten our sponsor-leaders, wouldn't it?

*At least there'll be a little amusing political humor if we end up being called the Citi States of America or similar.

Re:China

[Dutchmaan]

Well it's not called the Red Planet for nothing...

Unreal Tournament: Real Life?

[Anubis350]

"In 2291, in an attempt to control violence among deep space miners, the New Earth Government legalized no-holds-bared fighting. Liandri Mining Corporation, working with the NEG, established a series of leagues and bloody public exhibitions. The fights' popularity grew with their brutality. Soon, Liandri discovered that the public matches were their most profitable enterprise. The professional league was formed; a cabal of the most violent and skilled warriors in known space, selected to fight in a Grand Tournament. Now it is 2341. 50 years have passed since founding of DeathMatch. Profits from the Tournament number in the hundreds of billions. You have been selected to fight in the professional league by the Liandri Rules Board. Your strength and brutality are legendary. The time has come to prove you are the best. To crush your enemies; to win the Tournament." (video here [youtube.com])

Re:Indentured Servants

[Anonymous Coward]

Downbelow, the brown sector dwellers

Re:Space Mining

[c0lo]

But I'd bet the Chinese are considering mining operations off planet

I find the above quote a little bit too ironic

Speaking of mining and ores, I find yours a bit... (how to put it?)... pun-ic?

Re:Space Mining

[gatkinso]

Probably the US, even extrapolating current economic trends.

However when you throw in the impending collapse of the Chinese real estate bubble....

Re:China

[BasilBrush]

Of course they wouldn't use their own spacecraft, they'd just hijack someone elses...