Testimony Highlighted Role Of Entrepreneurs In Space

Jeff Greason, President and CEO of XCOR Aerospace testified at a public hearing before the President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy (Moon, Mars and Beyond) in Atlanta at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Commission, also known as the Aldridge Commission, is comprised of business, aerospace and planetary science leaders. The Commission is charged with building consensus, providing recommendations to the President regarding moon research activities, increasing young people's interest in space science, and bringing together industry and other countries as space partners.

Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Chairman of the House Science Committee, said on March 4th: "This is about a lot more than 'joy rides' in space, although there's nothing wrong with such an enterprise. This is about the future of the U.S. aerospace industry. As in most areas of American enterprise, the greatest innovations in aerospace are most likely to come from small entrepreneurs. This is true whether we're talking about launching humans or cargo." Mr. Greason's testimony echoed the Chairman's statements.

Mr. Greason testified about the role entrepreneurial space companies can play in advancing President Bush's space exploration initiative by developing affordable and sustainable access to space. Highlights of Gleason's testimony included:

"I am here today because I have seen signs of hope. There is an awareness that we cannot succeed by re-creating Apollo. When President Kennedy set America on a course for the Moon, America had launched one human being on a fifteen-minute suborbital flight. It is very likely that before this year is out, one or more private companies will launch human beings on suborbital flights with private funding, as part of the X-Prize Foundation effort."

"Like many emerging companies in the field XCOR currently does work for the Department of Defense, but not NASA. NASA can play a pivotal role in encouraging private, low-cost access to space. NASA can position itself to grow with the private sector very simply, by buying space transportation services available in the commercial market. That is a simple role with profound implications. I believe that NASA should use commercial providers as its sole means of transportation to Earth orbit."

"If the exploration initiative falters, there will be no business to compete for. If NASA continues business as usual, that is where we are headed. America can afford to dare and do great things, but we have to do it as exploration has been done throughout history; by working with what we have, by living off the land where possible, and by building expensive custom equipment only when nothing else can do the job. That is the true spirit of exploration and an endeavor XCOR would be proud to be part of."

FMI: www.xcor.com