All of this discussion about commercial spaceflight got me to wondering, what would be necessary to start a space based company? Let's limit it to in-space, like a satellite. I know there are some bits I'd need, like ion drives for thrusters to keep it stable and such. Where would I turn for such, what permits would I need, etc?
Quote from: Downix on 02/05/2010 06:54 pmAll of this discussion about commercial spaceflight got me to wondering, what would be necessary to start a space based company? Let's limit it to in-space, like a satellite. I know there are some bits I'd need, like ion drives for thrusters to keep it stable and such. Where would I turn for such, what permits would I need, etc?What do you mean by a space based company?A space shipping line?Space Motel?Space factory?Space repair garage?Hamburger stall in space?
Downix, if you're thinking of starting a small rocket company, I definitely recommend joing the arocket mailing list. As far as regulations and red tape go, ITAR can be a biggee. For flights of a rocket, FAA approval is needed.I've been trying to think of things that can only be manufactured in microgravity that can benefit from all the suborbital craft that are becoming available (Blue Origin, Masten, Armadillo, Virgin...). Those guys will make it easier to space-qualify avionics, etc.Closed-cell metallic foam could benefit from microgravity, especially for large parts. Maybe precision ball-bearings... Very pure pharmaceuticals... Once we get into orbit, a wake shield facility could enable vacuums greater than possible on Earth (you would have to let the shield out-gas for a while before that sort of vacuum becomes possible). That could enable lots of things, like specialty electronics...
Well, my real goal is asteroid mining, with an eventual goal of refining and manufacturing. But need a way up, and down, first.
...Well, my real goal is asteroid mining, with an eventual goal of refining and manufacturing. But need a way up, and down, first.
Quote from: Downix on 02/06/2010 01:54 am...Well, my real goal is asteroid mining, with an eventual goal of refining and manufacturing. But need a way up, and down, first.Well, it depends on what sort of mining. The easiest would be just to collect iron-nickel asteroids (nickel goes for about $10/pound these days, I think), since they are numerous, can survive reentry on their own (or with a little help), and can be spotted via radar. But if you want to mine the more valuable minerals, like PGMs or something, more finesse is needed.Anyway, you need to find funding sources all along the way, kind of like how SpaceX used the Falcon 1 (and DoD funding) to develop most of the stuff needed to make the the Falcon 9 work (especially the engine, going from ablative to regenerative, etc).
Quote from: Robotbeat on 02/06/2010 03:19 pmQuote from: Downix on 02/06/2010 01:54 am...Well, my real goal is asteroid mining, with an eventual goal of refining and manufacturing. But need a way up, and down, first.Well, it depends on what sort of mining. The easiest would be just to collect iron-nickel asteroids (nickel goes for about $10/pound these days, I think), since they are numerous, can survive reentry on their own (or with a little help), and can be spotted via radar. But if you want to mine the more valuable minerals, like PGMs or something, more finesse is needed.Anyway, you need to find funding sources all along the way, kind of like how SpaceX used the Falcon 1 (and DoD funding) to develop most of the stuff needed to make the the Falcon 9 work (especially the engine, going from ablative to regenerative, etc).That is actually my thinking, and have been figuring out the Delta-V for nearby nickel-iron asteroids. Start small and work up for the bigger prizes. And yes, need to figure out interim steps first, which is why my thought of a lifter as a starting point, altho not the only possible one I'll admit.My idea was:1) Reusable lifter design
2) Space Tug
3) Remote robotic mining probe/retriever/tug
in that order, so the next step of the technology I'd need would be able to be used to generate revenue for the next stage of the business. I could easily see a space tug being very useful for satellite launches. Rather than using a larger upper stage for GEO, just get it to LEO and the tug then places it precisely into GEO.
Quote from: Downix on 02/06/2010 05:06 pmQuote from: Robotbeat on 02/06/2010 03:19 pmQuote from: Downix on 02/06/2010 01:54 am...Well, my real goal is asteroid mining, with an eventual goal of refining and manufacturing. But need a way up, and down, first.Well, it depends on what sort of mining. The easiest would be just to collect iron-nickel asteroids (nickel goes for about $10/pound these days, I think), since they are numerous, can survive reentry on their own (or with a little help), and can be spotted via radar. But if you want to mine the more valuable minerals, like PGMs or something, more finesse is needed.Anyway, you need to find funding sources all along the way, kind of like how SpaceX used the Falcon 1 (and DoD funding) to develop most of the stuff needed to make the the Falcon 9 work (especially the engine, going from ablative to regenerative, etc).That is actually my thinking, and have been figuring out the Delta-V for nearby nickel-iron asteroids. Start small and work up for the bigger prizes. And yes, need to figure out interim steps first, which is why my thought of a lifter as a starting point, altho not the only possible one I'll admit.My idea was:1) Reusable lifter designUnless you are a multi-millionaire most businesses have to make money within a couple of years. This is a very expensive option so IMHO forget it. Buy rides on expendable LV. Let the LV companies develop reusable lifter designs when they have sufficient customers.Quote2) Space TugA better option. Delta IV LV can take 25 mT to LEO but only about 11 mT to GTO. So a tug that can take 12+ mT to GEO could have a market. Operators and manufactures of sea tugs are normally different companies.Quote3) Remote robotic mining probe/retriever/tugTotally new products and services. Good luck.Quotein that order, so the next step of the technology I'd need would be able to be used to generate revenue for the next stage of the business. I could easily see a space tug being very useful for satellite launches. Rather than using a larger upper stage for GEO, just get it to LEO and the tug then places it precisely into GEO.
As an aside, I also wonder what other small business opportunities there might be for commercial space contracts. For example, both Orbital Outfitters (the company Peter Homer started after winning the Astronaut Glove Centennial Challenge) and Paragon Space Development were candidates for the first round of CCDev, and Paragon was one of the awardees.
As far as a reuseable tanker, I've thought that a modified Dragon capsule, with 14 m^3 of internal volume, would be excellent, since it already has thrusters and is supposed to be reused. It has enough room for almost any propellant combination except hydrogen. The whole architecture could be nearly reusable, allowing you to greatly lower cost if you need more than 40 flights/year.Supposedly, Falcon 9 Heavy will be able to lift 19 tons to GTO, so I'd imagine you could launch a Dragon capsule full of about 14 tons of propellant. It might be convenient if the Draco thrusters can burn your propellant (i.e. Hypergolic), that way your Dragon/tanker can put itself into LLO/EML1/2, deliver its propellant, and deorbit back to the Earth (this would be a lunar-velocity version of Dragon). You might need more Draco thrusters, and for a cislunar depot, it probably makes more sense to use a more optimized tanker.Anyways, this deserves a new topic...
Why not White Sands, Kodiak, or Vandenberg? Why limit yourself?
