Guest: Thomas Hoffmann. Topics: Future Scenarios for Space Commerce Through Scenario Development and planning. You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Transcripts of Space Show programs are not permitted without prior written consent from The Space Show (even if for personal use) & are a violation of the Space Show copyright. Note that Mr. Hoffmann's Space Studies term paper that was discussed in this show will be posted below this summary on The Space Show blog per the URL above. We welcomed Mr. Hoffmann to the program to discuss alternative futuristic scenarios for space commerce and how such scenarios are developed. Tom explained scenario planning and development for us and we used several hypothetical commercial space to illustrate scenario development. Our examples involved Space X, humans to Mars by 2030, the back counting method, and other well known commercial space participants and programs. We also talked about existing scenarios such as the OECD Space 2030 series, the Air Force Schreiver Games and more. Tom told us how Shell Oil used scenario development to deal with changes in the oil industry and how effective Shell was due to the use of scenario alternatives. We talked about the application of scenario development for New Space, NASA, and even start-up businesses. In our second segment, Marshall called in and among the issues he talked about, he brought up space solar power (SSP). This prompted me to go over the lack of a business case and economics for SSP short of political policy manipulation of energy costs and markets. I also mentioned a recent article in Salon.com by Michael Lind titled "Everything you've heard about fossil fuels may be wrong." You can read this article at www.salon.com/news/env/energy/?story=/politics/war_room/2011/05/31/linbd.... During this segment, Mr. Hoffmann talked about the OECD reports/scenarios, "Space 2030." Frequent listeners to the program know that we have done several programs on this excellent OECD series of reports. Also in this segment, Tom told us about typical scenario development consulting and toward the end of our scenario discussion, he recommended two text books for those of us wanting more information on the subject. Near the end of the program, I asked Tom about our spiritual connection to outer space given his role as a United Methodist pastor. We talked about religion and the potential confirmation of ET life in the universe, specifically past life on Mars. Tom had much to say on this issue and our spiritual connection to space, told us about the famous UK author C.S. Lewis and what he had to say about possible ET Life. Don't miss this final discussion. For questions and comments, please post them on the blog URL above. Tom Hoffmann can be reached by email using tom@fastforeward.net.