Thomas A. Olson

Guests: Space Cynics Shubber Ali, Tom Olson, and me (DrSpace aka Professor L) met for this interview in the hotel coffee shop for an in-person discussion featuring the Cynics' view of several of the topics discussed at ISDC 2008. This was the first ever in-person Cynics show, but we hope to offer you more and with our fourth Cynic, Old Space Cadet, who could not be with us this year. We were also joined by Reda Anderson, who is now an Honorary Space Cynic. The gloves were taken off and our discussion was hard-hitting on many topics.

Guest: Tom Olson. Tom Olson was the guest for this Space Show program focusing on a 2007 year end review. Tom has been doing this review since the early days of The Space Show and it has since become an annual tradition. Along with being a light and fun show, he provided important and substantive analysis on many key topics and issues which faced the space world in 2007. Many of these issues will undoubtedly face the space world for 2008. We had many listener questions on several topics dealing with New Space investments, financing, and maturity.

Guests: Dr. Paul Eckert, Tom Olson.Dr. Paul Eckert & Tom Olson discussed the Space Investment Summit (www.spaceinvestmentsummit.com) which was recently held in San Jose, CA. During this program, we went over the keynote speakers of the conference as well as the panels, their content and what was learned. We pointed out the superb networking opportunities that were available during this conference.

Tom Olson was the guest for this special Space Show program intended to update us on the ISDC conference that just ended in Dallas, TX. Please note that for this interview, there were audio issues with the telephone line with Tom that could not be cleared for this show. I asked Tom to tell us his favorite talk at ISDC was and while he said there were not major show stoppers as there were last year with the luncheon talk by Burt Rutan, he did say he was very impressed with Alex Tai and also talks in the business track.

Paul Eckert, Tom Olson & Eva-Jane Lark were the guests for this Space Show program to discuss the recently held Space Investment Summit (http://www.spacecommerceroundtable.com/upcoming.html). This program focused on the Summit but also on space investment and space commerce. We noted many of the positive changes that have taken place over time, the quality of those attending this particular conference, speakers and presenters which can be found on the above referenced website, and the timing for such a summit.

Tom Olson was the special end of the year guest to bring 2006 on The Space Show to its conclusion. We looked back at 2006 and did much looking forward to examine the space development potential for 2007 and beyond. Tom fielded many listener questions about the NewSpace company business methodologies, focusing on issues that seem to adversely impact the economic development of New Space. This included financing issues, excessive secrecy of many New Space companies, website and rhetoric claims, and more.

Tom Olson, CEO of the Colony Fund returned for his end of the year update on The Space Show. We began the interview with getting an update from Tom on changes being made in the planning and development of the Colony Fund. As Tom likes to say, a wall was hit this year with alt.space which forced new strategic thinking on the Colony Fund management team. Current thinking has the Colony Fund expanding beyond only space investments to include technology, specifically nanotechnology opportunities along side commercial space opportunities. Marketing Colony Fund is also important and Mr.

Tom Olson returned to The Space Show to update us on what has been happening within the entrepreneurial space industry for the first half of the year. Since his last visit on the program at the end of 2004, the industry has continued to move forward with hopes placed on the new NASA Administrator Dr. Mike Griffin as well as on the momentum from events in late 2004. Mr. Olson talked about the Administrator and NASA, he spoke about the continuing impact of Space Ship One, and the many likely entries in the space tourism vehicle market.

Tom Olson, CEO of the Colony Fund, began the discussion this evening with an update regarding the Colony Fund. Given that his program will soon be going through public SEC registration, Tom must continue to be discrete and virtually silent on what is happening with the Fund. However, in response to questions, he talked about investment criteria, including opportunities from other countries, ITARS and more.

Patrick Beatty and Tom Olson, along with me, bring you live cradle to completion coverage of today's historic Space Ship One X-Prize victory flight at Mojave, CA. Our complete coverage is slightly under four hours, starting from when people first entered the Mojave Spaceport to when visitors, the press, and the VIP's were leaving. Patrick, on the scene at Mojave in the VIP section for this award winning flight, does a superb job of bringing us the details of the event via radio.