Townhall.Com has up a piece which lauds the achievement of SpaceShipOne - the first privately-financed space vehicle to reliably go to the edge of space and return with all pieces intact. It then goes onto say that this kind of development proves there is no need for NASA, which has become an agency incapable of fiscal restraint.
While I think the future of space exploration is in the private sector, I think NASA has a strong place as well. However, it may require a rethinking of its place. First, I would start by reconsidering the place of the International Space Station in the future of space. Let's open it up to potential private investment, with two important moves: (1) any private presence on the space station must have a public good to it (i.e. medical experimentation, astronomical observations, etc.) and (2) in return for restricting the use of the I.S.S. no taxes will be levied for the use of the station (just rent, etc.) Imagine how quickly industry could grow on the station without worry about paying taxes to a given country for its use. Second (on the overall point), recognize that NASA is fundamentally a military organization. Consider making this a little more explicit, and consider NASA's place as an international law enforcement organization over interstellar trade.
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