[FPSPACE] Robert Bigelow's Space Plans[Scanned by MAIL]

[Matula, Thomas L.]

David,

The big question is if any private customers will come forth for Bigelow's service, and if they do, if any private launch systems will be able to provide them service to his station. If none do then he will, by default, have to become a government contractor to survive. And that likley means modifying his station to meet government needs. His strategy to serve Soveriegn customers is a step on this pathway.

Tom


-----Original Message-----
From: fpspace-bounces at friends-partners.org on behalf of David Anderman
Sent: Tue 3/20/2007 12:49 PM
To: FPSPACE at friends-partners.org
Subject: Re: [FPSPACE] Robert Bigelow's Space Plans[Scanned by MAIL]
 
There is a fundamental difference between a company developing a 
product that is then sold "off-the-shelf" to multiple customers, even 
government customers, and a company that develops a product to meet a 
single government's requirements (a/k/a a "contractor".

Plenty of government employees fly on airlines, but that does not 
make American Airlines the equivalent of Northrop Grumman in this regard.

The contractor role is what Dr. Matula et all are talking about in 
regards to Bigelow, but inappropriately so.



At 10:44 AM 3/20/2007, Brian Dunbar wrote:
>They're paying customers - what's wrong with that?  You'll not find too
>many terrestrial businesses that don't have the government as a customer
>at some level.

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