Golden Spike Company: A Man Sells the Moon (PJ Media Exclusive)
Dr. S. Alan Stern has made an announcement fit for a Robert Heinlein novel. Described as a “game-changing announcement about the future of commercial human space travel to the Moon,” his Golden Spike Company today went public with its plans.
In an exclusive interview with PJ Media this morning, Dr. Stern discussed the company and its founding:
When [NASA's] Constellation [project] was canceled, I wanted to look at the private sector. We talked to a number of private experts; about 20 accepted, and over a period of four months, we put together proposals. This culminated in a meeting in Telluride, Colorado, where we concluded it really was possible to make Moon travel commercial.
Stern describes Golden Spike’s approach as “maximally pragmatic”:
The lunar architecture is based on existing technology, things that are already built and flying, or technology that is coming in a very few years.
Golden Spike is intended to be a commercial, profit-making company:
Our business line is simple: selling lunar expeditions to any country. In the ’80s and ’90s, the Soviets were selling countries trips to the Mir space station. Japan, Austria. … France bought six trips! We think that trips to the Moon will be at least as popular. $1.5 billion for two people to the surface of the Moon — countries already spend that much on robot exploration.
Like any startup, one issue they have to consider is funding; much of the funding rumors surrounding the company over the past month are simply false:
We don’t have any billionaires; Warren Buffett and Sir Richard aren’t investors, and we haven’t sold any tickets. Some people have suggested that because of this, we’re “all hat and no cattle.” We look at it the other way. Our distinguishing characteristic is we are building a technical team that can actually do it. We have a solid architecture, we have a solid business model, we have a solid team.
Selling tickets isn’t the only revenue source they have in mind:
When we stage an expedition, we will monetize the entertainment aspects — sell air time, sell naming rights. We expect this to be about 20 percent of our overall revenue.
This revenue will be shared 50/50 with their customers. He continued:
Our board includes media people as well as technical people, like Michael Bostick, CEO of Walden Media which produced the Narnia franchise — his father was a NASA flight controller.
Why did they decide to go public with this announcement?
We got tired of keeping this secret. And the last expedition to the Moon, Apollo 17, launched 40 years ago today.
Why the name?
Golden Spike is named, of course, for the Golden Spike that joined the first transcontinental railroad. You can see that in our new logo. We want to be the Golden Spike that puts us back on the way to the Moon.
Meh. The moon’s overrated. They have green cheese in Wisconsin.
“Tonite on Discovery…If you liked Gold Rush, Wait until you see “To the Moon”…. with a chance to win a ticket…TO THE MOON!!!!
I’d DVR that….
Perhaps the moon is made of Stilton….mmmmm Stilton…
Sorry, no; and not Dutch either. ☺
The technology does exist, but it would still be a dangerous round trip, how many people who want to take on the extreme challenge have the checkbooks to back it up? If they can get people to do it, then I’m all for it, but it’s not like going LEO on Spaceship 2, which has sold many tickets and still hasn’t had a single flight. However, I don’t see any reason to go to the moon other than to say “I’ve been to the moon.” That will just be rich people’s bragging rights.
As Zeoman said, though, it might make for a good reality show.
Spaceship 2 does not go to LEO. It is simply a lofted high-altitude rocket propelled aircraft that has nowhere near the energy to achieve LEO. I’m not knocking them, they probably have some of the best engineering of the NewSpace crowd, but as you pointed out in all the years since the X-prize was awarded and despite all of the hoopla and all of the money that’s been spent, they still have yet to carry a single fare-paying passenger on one of their high-altitude rides.
The first flights, while they’re still shaking the bugs out of the system, should be Hollywood liberals. And they should pay extra to build another one if something goes wrong. It’s only fair.
If I were super rich I’d paint a giant leering face on the Moon.
Guess there’s something wrong with me.
Wonder if the U.N. would arrest me or villagers with torches show up.
Gub.
I’m sure that’s a suggestion you’ve heard before.
First the tourists, then the surveyors, then the exploiters. Industry on the moon has it’s own problems, but who cares about a biosphere that doesn’t exist? Cheap Aluminum for all, and that’s just the start.
Wait. You pay these guys money, and they’ll take you somewhere where there are no progressives? Even for a short time, it’s worth whatever they are asking. Sign me up, please.
Mr Burns (of The Simpsons fame) explains The Fiscal Cliff:
http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2012/12/excellent-mr-burns-of-simpsons-explains.html
Antarctica except with no air. Can’t wait. (meh) Back on Earth 1, I’m all for commercial orbital and sub-orbital flights. I hope to take at least a sub-orbital one in my lifetime. I’m 54 so time’s a wastin’. The moon is too big a challenge. Until the price comes down via reusable boosters and reusable spacecraft it’s a nonstarter. The tech exists today for LEO so let’s do it. Who knows? After a few decades of space-tourist LEO we might find a better way to the moon.
I am in favor of it, noting that I never will be able to afford the ride. But if it can be done, it will be repeated, and exploited. I can think of a good goal for getting there now, however I am not a nice person.
That said, a key variable has not been mentioned. It could be a project killer. We are not living in a free system. The polite form of the problem is “regime uncertainty”. Will the powers that be, with or without legal authority; allow this enterprise? And if they do, what price will they extort?
By the way, when I first tried to submit this comment; it told me that I was posting comments too quickly and to slow down. Honest, I’m typing as slow as I can. /sarc.
Subotai Bahadur
When I saw the headline, all I could think was “shades of D. D. Harriman”.
My original wording would have made that even more blatant, and no without reason — Alan is very aware of the similarity.
Is 1.5 billion too much for a harsh mistress?
I’ll wait until Southwest Airlines is flying this route, thanks. If I had $1.5B, I’d just buy a country here on Earth.