An inspiring overview of the history of the private space companies, plus a survey of today's major private players in this exciting new field and their programs to reach space for tourism and other commercial purposes. Beyond all the technological issues, what other challenges are they encountering in creating successful businesses in an industry once the exclusive preserve of governments—and how are these challenges being addressed? Linda Abrams will discuss the role of prize competitions, like the X-Prize, in inspiring achievement and garnering attention; the value of stair-step businesses such as Zero Gravity Corp., in acquiring operations experience; and the crucial concerns of safety.
Linda Tania Abrams is a life-long aviation enthusiast and holds a private pilot's license.