Privatizing Space

This book offers a fast-paced exploration of how the landscape of spaceflight was fundamentally reshaped, beginning with NASA's pivotal Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. It contrasts the old era of clunky, taxpayer-funded missions governed by inefficient cost-plus contracts with the new wave of commercial space ventures. Supported by striking renderings, the narrative details the thrilling journey of both major and lesser-known launch companies that emerged from this policy shift. The account provides a clear and compelling look at the mechanics and motivations behind privatizing space exploration.

What makes this volume particularly engaging is its focus on the tangible outcomes of this commercial transition—namely, the rapid pace of innovation and the dramatic reduction in costs that were once a tremendous burden on the public. It effectively demonstrates how the shift from a government-centric model to a competitive private sector has forever changed our access to orbit. Readers with an interest in aerospace history, economic policy, or the future of human spaceflight will find this a highly informative and visually compelling chronicle of a modern industrial revolution.