1. What statement best describes your interest in space? Please mark (or highlite with red font) all that apply to you
a. Supplier of space launch services or hardware/software
b. Supplier of ground processing or support services or hardware
c. Supplier of space based assets or services
d. Buyer/user of space services (e.g., biotech, material science, earth science)
e. Financier (Angel, VC, investment banking, etc.)
f. Media/entertainment representative
g. Other
2. Do you know about the NASA COTS program? (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services)
a. No or not much (if no skip to #7)
b. Have heard about it
c. Some knowledge
d. Very familiar
3. Did you or your organization apply for a NASA COTS award?
a. Yes
b. No
4. Do you think NASA should offer other COTS type programs?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Don’t know
5. Do you have any ideas for future NASA COTS type programs? If yes please briefly describe.
6. Do you think the NASA COTS program could be improved? If so how?
All programs would be improved if the funding cycle were more stable. Commercial companies cannot commit resources for programs when approvals for funds and the start dates are always in question. The negative impact from loss of continuity is staggering.
7. What do you see as the biggest barrier/obstacle to commercial space?
The biggest barrier to commercial space is the lack of true co-development. Technologies can be developed for terrestrial applications as well as for space thus reducing the development time and cost for both.
8. What do you think is the most important thing that NASA could do to support and promote commercial space?
Establish an easily communicated vision, develop the strategy to get there, co-develop technology with the commercial world, and remove the “on again/off again” funding model.
9 Any other comments or suggestions regarding commercial space?
10. Name and contact information for follow-up (optional):
Name: Michele Blubaugh
Manager, Technology Intelligence Services
Corporate Intellectual Asset Management
Organization: Caterpillar Inc.