VSE

Michael Belfiore was the guest for this Space Show program. We began our discussion with Michael with a focus toward his new book, "Rocketeers: How a visionary hand of business leaders, engineers, and pilots is boldly privatizing space." Michael told us how he got the idea for the book, his interviews with the leaders he refers to in the title, we discussed the contents of the book through the Table of Contents and learned that the book will be available around July 2007. His publisher is Smithsonian Books which is a division of the larger Harper Collins.

Paul Eckert, Robert Dickman and Carl Walz were the guests for this special program to discuss making the VSE a long-term reality as well as the coming AIAA Dec. 4-6 2nd Space Exploration Conference which will be held in Houston. We started the panel discussion with Bob Dickman explaining why the AIAA has this conference and its role in helping to establish the VSE as a long-term reality for the nation. Paul Eckert of Boeing was next and he went through the conference agenda with us, focusing on the commercial panel and commercial opportunities stemming from the VSE.

Dr. Wendell Mendell returned to The Space Show for this program. Dr. Mendell started the discussion looking back over his 40 plus years of being with NASA and discussing how things have changed within the organization and based on my question, with the American public regarding space issues. I asked about his thoughts with the various NASA administrators that he has known and then we turned our attention to the main topic of the evening which focused on changes at NASA based on the VSE. Dr.

Professor Haym Benaroya returned for this Space Show program. We began the discussion with Dr. Benaroya updating us on his upcoming conference, the Rutgers Symposium on Lunar Settlement, June 3-8, 2007 in New Brunswick, NJ (www.lunarbase.rutgers.edu). The professor highlighted the keynote speakers and talked about the conference format, goals, and objectives. In the second segment of the interview, we spoke mostly of lunar and space settlement engineering and technology.

Cathy Shields, Jim Chilton and David Brock were the special guests for this program which discussed how small businesses can work with NASA in supporting the nation's VSE and Partnering with New Orleans which is focused on how to do business with Boeing Space Exploration. This program was most informative as we learned about NASA Small Business Specialist Center Industry Assistance programs, how these programs work with companies such as Boeing, and then how Boeing mentors and works with smaller businesses. For example, Ms.

Joan Horvath returned to The Space Show to discuss her new book, "Saturn: A New View." We started the discussion with a short review of the Personal Spaceflight Symposium and the X Prize Cup held last week in Las Cruces, NM. After returning from the first break, Joan talked with us about the book, the cooperation involved to put it together, the amazing photos used in it and the editing process to put the photos and book together. We then discussed the VSE, NASA, JPL, science funding and programming, science education in the United States and more.

Constance Adams returned to The Space Show for this special program. The theme of this program was reality check. Ms. Adams is a specialist in designing closed loop systems for space, space stations, future settlements, etc. We went into depth about what is required for a closed loop system, what our state of the art is today, what is needed for the future, what our problems and issues are and how these problems are solved. We also talked about evolving new technologies in the field, the politics of all this, funding issues, and NASA and the VSE. Ms.

Dr. Sam Dinkin returned as the guest for this Space Show program. We began the interview with a brief update from Dr. Dinkin on his new blog, Decisive Win (www.decisivewin.com). Check it and comment on it. Dr. Dinkin continues to write for The Space Review but his posting on his own blog will now constitute his blogging rather than his previous contributions to Transterrestrial Musings. The conversation then moved on for updates about SpaceShot, Sam's new start-up skill game to allow people the opportunity to earn a trip to suborbital space.

Shubber Ali was the guest on this special program and we thank Shubber for being with us live at the unheard of time of 2:30-4:30AM in Sydney, Australia! During the first part of this program, Shubber talked about space tragic and why he does not like the term "space industry." We then looked at recent developments in the space world since his last appearance on the show and asked for his analysis. This included CEV, COTS, Lockheed, Kistler, Atlas 5, Bigelow, space tourism and Ms. Ansari on the space station, the VSE and more.

Dr. Buzz Aldrin was the very special guest for this Space Show program. Buzz outlined a three point engagement plan for moving forward with space development, education, and engaging the public in space, specifically the VSE. This program started with his description of his ShareSpace Foundation, its educational work and objectives, followed by explaining the importance of coming up with the right nomenclature to properly describe those going to space as adventurers or explorers, not just tourists.