Guest: Bruce Pittman. Topics: Commercial space, new technologies, emerging space industries. Please direct all comments and questions regarding Space Show programs/guest(s) to the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm. We welcomed back to the show Bruce Pittman for a 1 hour 23 minute far ranging discussion on commercial space and related topics. We started our first segment with the Planetary Sustainability Initiative. More about this is available on the Sustainable Silicon Valley website, www.sustainablesv.org/ssv2013/index.php. Bruce shared with us stories from the recent conference, including the fact that California Governor Jerry Brown attended and was involved in the discussions. From this program, we talked about new technologies that could benefit life support for deep space missions including Mars as well as space technologies that could be used here on Earth. Another example cited was the Bloom Box by Bloom Energy (www.bloomenergy.com). Bruce also mentioned the SpaceX Raptor engine designed to use methane for BLEO missions. In talking about 2013 commercial space, Bruce cited the successful end to the COTS program and we talked about emerging business opportunities on the ISS. He also mentioned a change toward commercial space investments in the attitude of VC types in Silicon Valley. In addition, he mentioned the blossoming cubesat and nanosat industry. The Moon came up, especially in light of the recent Chinese lunar robotic lander and Bruce talked about the developing lunar and commercial space private ventures underway in the U.S. now. Next, our guest was asked about public/private partnerships and here we had quite the discussion, especially with regards to some saying more government oversight was needed for commercial ventures. Dave called in to continue the public private partnership discussion in light of the NASA Advisory Council and consideration toward applying such partnerships to heavy lift vehicles. Bruce brought up the potential game changing technology for launch vehicle reusability. In our second segment, our guest talked about the excitement ahead for 2014 given the advances with the suborbital companies, the potential start of space tourism, and more. We talked about the Google Solve For X program focusing on fusion energy. Bruce mentioned advances with LENR. Doug called to talk about the Space Act Agreement and budgeting issues for space and the private companies. We concluded our discussion with a preview glance at the 2014 ISDC Conference to be held in Los Angeles in May. The last listener question dealt with Mars One and Inspiration Mars. Bruce offered a few comments on both program. Please post your comments/questions on TSS blog above. Bruce Pittman can be contacted through me.
Guest
The Space Show
