Stone Aerospace and the Privatization of Space

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Searching for what I could as per the reference that Vigilans made regarding Stone Aerospace, I've found these links on Space.com for my friends on PPR to discuss:

Links:

Texas firm draws up plans for orbital "gas station".

Mining the Moon's water.

Back to the Moon: How the lunar bases will work.

If Shackleton Energy Co (the subsidiary of Stone Aerospace that wants to do the lunar mining) can succeed in their endeavor it will pave the way for other private companies. Its also interesting to note that there is silicon on the moon so it is possible that solar panel production could be entirely self sufficient there and provide for spacecraft going on other missions. So asides liquid fuel it looks like the moon is also ideal for solar panel mass production. The decreased g also means getting all these panels into space would be relatively painless, which could contribute to plans back on Earth to build solar arrays in space to provide power down on Earth

why precisely should we stone Aerospace?

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A tad tired tonight.

Hmm... I disagree with stoned aerospace... one should never fly, drive or operate heavy machinery under the influence

we just invented FTL

After the first three most are just going to splatter your pressure suit.

I was thinking the inside of a modular, inflatable space station with a large window panorama view of the Earth (or Moon, if in orbit of it instead) designed for tourists. No pressure suits required, except if you want to go for a 'stroll'

Stone Aerospace

Shackleton Energy Company (just a contact page)

Orbital fuel depots were discussed by the Augustine panel that helped chart NASA's new course. The idea being that you need less rocket if you have fuel waiting on orbit (which could be supplied any time). But you could also use them with larger rockets. You get the same benefit but they are less critical.

One of the 4 or 5 areas to R&D under the Obama FY2011 plan was to be fuel depots but the money just isnt going to be there now. Congress wanted the big rocket and capsule straight away. It's currently unknown if NASA will make use of them.

For it to work, NASA as an anchor customer would be very helpful. Just as the ISS is helping commercial supply / crew. They are good in general for commercial because they increase the flight rate (lots of fuelling missions).

I was checking out Stone Aerospace's page and they actually have a pretty diverse range of high tech products/good company history. I think they could pull it off
Interesting that you mention those businessmen simon_says; I have heard that Stone wants to partner with SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace. So they probably can secure that funding with those names associated with them (SpaceX providing launch, Bigelow, the space infrastructure), in addition to their own corporate history