Types of Competitions

[Guillermo Söhnlein]

Burton's comment on this Group's page raises another interesting question: what types of competitions do we think we should run? Obviously, we can start with business plan competitions. However, are there others out there?

- Prize competitions (a la Google Lunar X PRIZE)?
- Partner/customer contract competitions (a la COTS)?
- Recruiting competitions (e.g., Microsoft/Google coding competitions)
- Scholarship/fellowship/intern competitions (e.g., winner gets a 12-month EIR position with a VC firm looking for aerospace investments)?

We can certainly get creative!

[Dave Hook]

A set of competitions that promote space entrepreneurism. Guillermo, you and Burton have a great idea! Let me share something with you that I've been chewing on ever since the last time you were on The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston in June this year; it may be worthy of generating a competition.

Serious investment in space technologies really began at the start of the Cold War. Because these technologies were the closely held prizes of governments and major corporations, the protections for preventing "the other side" from obtaining them required similar, large-scaled resources. The exchange of ideas and technology concepts with beneficial foreign companies have been allowed, but only by Congressionally approved exception to ITAR. I think many would agree that some of the antiquated mechanisms within ITAR could be streamlined for strategic economic benefit in our sector. But someone must represent the interests of the space entrepreneurs...and speak for us with a single voice...to make this happen.

ITAR is a sore subject in our Space 2.0 market segment, I know. But this subject is a good example of the need for a national organization that represents space business--not business facilitation, not public awareness (and excitement), but business. Dealing with the General Aviation Community as one part of my business, there are a number of companies and organizations that operate solely for the purpose of promoting General Aviation. The one that I believe bears close examination in this case is the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

Ed Bolen and his folks in NBAA represent the business use of general aviation. The NBAA serves as the bridge between the corporate flight departments of small to large businesses with the differening levels of government and with the business aviation industry. They represent the general interests of business aviation. I strongly believe that space entrepreneurs need a similar type of representation.

A competition to foster (fund?) the development of a non-profit, membership-driven corporation which represents and promotes small-sized space businesses would create the opportunity to fill a gap. Having a competition that creates a membership-responsive company with the technical expertise of NASA and the business savvy of Forbes would be highly beneficial to space entrepreneurs. Then our space business community would have the organization that speaks with one voice to NASA, US Space Command, ESA, and so on, not a number of disparate companies with competing interests.

Not a trivial task, I know. But then again, ours is not a trivial enterprise.

[Chris Calnan]

I think Dave has done a great job of defining major issues and impediments. Not wishing to fully play any hand without comprehensive legal Non-disclosure agreements, could be over ridden today with Homeland Security law grabs ....old story. On a minor tangent why is liquid space not seriously part of the current vision here? Or Solid space? Serious definitions or limitaions to Aero space is I feel dramatically limiting in all discussions or more suggestively , solutions.

[Martin Schwab, Ph.D.]

For this reason, I like the phrase [protecting] "the space of Earth" (in the solar system) or "Earth-space" [energy] to get beyond this construct that Earth is one thing and space is another.

We are still mentally challenged when it comes to perceiving Earth as part of a solar system by virtue of the fact that the sun "sets" and the Moon comes "up" every night.

[Mandali Khalesi]

Hi Dave,
Was wondering if there had been any update on this since you posted this in 2008? Is there a NBAA-style group that has been setup in the US/elsewhere or is this still pending? I have just setup the Space Entrepreneurs UK group and wanted to discuss this at our meetup in Central London next week over a few beers. Maybe we can get some more ideas on to this as the private space industry (esp for SMEs) is heating up. A competition may be what we need!
M

[Dave Hook]

Hi Mandali,
There is a new organization which you may wish to examine. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is the lobbyist group within the United States, representing the interests of such companies as Virgin Galactic and SpaceX. I think they are an interesting organization. Here is the website: www.commercialspaceflight.org .

If I had to characterize them in a US aviation framework, they would be more like GAMA--the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association--but not NBAA. GAMA represents the interests of the producers of aerospace vehicles, not necessarily the users per se. So the CSF is out there; it's just one side of the provider-user coin.

I hope that provides enough discussion to be worthy of a pint-or-two.

Cheers from the Alamo,

Dave

[Mandali Khalesi]

Hi Dave,

Definitely enough to mull over with a pint or two... but I guess it's natural that as it's pre-mass market there be a GAMA but not a NBAA for spaceflight. Consider though that we don't have even a CSF in the UK: I'm looking into this as we will need one here fairly soon. The UK doesn't fund EU space programs, so we have an independent space policy that has finally been made public in the last couple of weeks. Exciting times!

It seems the UK space policy is taking a similar route to its foreign policy: align fairly closely to Europe but keep enough independence to build alliances with other commercial powers, especially the US, but also China and India in the longer term. This is good but the UK will need to build its own infrastructure and choose its battles. Let's see if other members have better ideas on Tuesday. BTW, the meetup is at http://www.meetup.com/Space-Entrepreneurs/ if you're interested!

Cheers,
M

[Dave Hook]

I will definitely try to attend. Thanks for the link.

One thought for the meeting. As I continue to see evidence of here in the US, please encourage fledgling New Space entrepreneurs to adopt good security practices early. Not everyone who walks through their door presenting themselves as wanting to do business is exactly who they say they are. Unfortuately, corporate espionage is alive and thriving these days. If any are interested, I will be happy to provide free copies of Planehook's Counter Industrial Espionage for Space Entrepreneurs or could broadcast it on-demand at Aviation and Space TV. Let me know if you think there's sufficient interest for that.

Here's wishing you great success with your meeting!

Cheers from the Alamo,

Dave

[Chris Calnan]

Hi Dave, more info on these subjects is likely to be a good idea for all entepreneurs. Perhaps sanctioning of these protections by policy organizations would add some international clout to the protections you are mentioning.