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 (One of our clients did)
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.
Create another COTS style program and include more companies in the award. Make the awards for more component suppliers; not the entire solution. These types of firms have a much better chance of raising their own capital and surviving. The all or nothing COTS approach was a bad idea and only embraced one solution to getting to space; a salt shaker style vehicle. I feel that government monies and opportunities were wasted and that the spirit of the program was corrupted by bad management of the process.
6. Do you think the NASA COTS program could be improved? If so how?
Read the above.
7. What do you see as the biggest barrier/obstacle to commercial space?
The fractious nature of the companies involved in this industry and the lack of a comprehensive program by the government to foster the development of a sound independent industry. The lack of a real program and the inclusion of the private sector financing disciplines and academia is appalling and indicates that the US government does not take this issue seriously. NASA is itself much to blame for this due to the current pervasive culture that exists not only in NASA but also the primes. One must understand that we are dealing with more than just research, national pride, and exploration here. This is very much of a national security issue in regards to getting short notice lift capacity for space. This will only be accomplished by a partnership between government – industry – academia and small innovative businesses.
8. What do you think is the most important thing that NASA could do to support and promote commercial space?
Read above.
9 Any other comments or suggestions regarding commercial space?
Call me to discuss.
10. Name and contact information for follow-up (optional):
Name: Charles George
Organization: MSI Limited