Privatizing Orbit: An Odyssey into the Commercial Space Frontier

Imagine a time when the vast emptiness of space was accessible only to the dreams of governments and their heroic astronauts. Fast forward a few decades, and a new kind of voyager emerges on the cosmic horizon — the privatizer of orbit, reshaping the space-time continuum of commercial enterprise. As detailed in the thrilling Episode 189 of the “This Week In Space” podcast, Jeffrey Manber stands at the vanguard of this galactic transformation, heralding a new era known as NewSpace.

The Visionary Behind the Spacesuit

In the cosmos of commercial spaceflight, Jeffrey Manber is a celestial beacon. During the 1980s, when dreams of private spaceflight were as elusive as stardust, Manber transformed aspiration into tangible reality. He carved out a pioneering role at the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce, navigating diplomatic channels with the Soviet Union, which were as enigmatic as the Andromeda. This diplomacy laid the groundwork for groundbreaking collaborations in the then-nascent field of commercial space endeavors.

Bridging the Celestial Divide

As we delve further into his journey, we discover Manber’s unique ability to weave a celestial tapestry of cooperation in a post-space race era. His masterminding of the first commercial space expedition to the dormant Soviet-era Mir space station, with a stellar crew enduring 70 days in the orbit, is a testament to his visionary prowess. As recounted in the podcast, his initiatives didn’t just touch the stars; they pioneered them.

Crafting a Commercial Constellation

Not content to rest on past laurels, Manber spearheaded projects that would make Aristotle’s celestial spheres envious. From launching platforms for small satellites from the International Space Station to rolling out the Bishop airlock as part of the ISS, his ventures are a clarion call for private ingenuity. Through the formation of Nanoracks, he standardized satellite deployment, a feat akin to sculpting geometric harmony from the celestial ether.

Enter the Age of Starlab

The narrative crescendos with Manber’s latest odyssey — the creation of Starlab, a testament to private ingenuity, currently under development through Voyager Technologies and its consortium of aerospace aficionados. This private space station foretells a destiny where commercial outposts orbit Earth, holding the promise of the stars within terrestrial ambitions.

According to Space, this embrace of the NewSpace paradigm positions Manber amongst the great space pioneers of our time.

In Episode 189, immerse yourself in this inspiring journey, where humanity’s reach toward the cosmos is bridged by private enterprise and the dreams of a solitary voyager, guiding us into the future, one orbit at a time.