Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly speaks at the annual Commercial Space Transportation conference on Feb. 9, 2023.
Michael Sheetz | CNBC
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who flew to space four times over a 15-year career as an astronaut, praised the growth of the space industry and gave a rallying cry for intensified competition.
“Some of the advancements are truly stunning; this has been a great success,” Kelly said, speaking at a luncheon during the Commercial Space Transportation conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
Kelly noted that the cost of sending satellites, people and cargo to orbit is currently “a fraction” of what it was when he flew on NASA’s space shuttle. He added that — while the industry’s growth is encouraging — companies building rockets need “to step up to the plate” and bring more “new launch vehicles to market faster and embrace renewed competition, not stifle it.”
“We need more launch vehicles to continue to reduce the costs associated with getting a payload to orbit,”…
2023-02-10 13:45:24 Astronaut Sen. Mark Kelly praises ‘stunning’ space business
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Sen. Mark Kelly, a four-time astronaut, recently praised the commercial space industry during a speech at the Brooks City-Base. During his address, Kelly described the businesses that are now utilizing space as “stunning”, and he believes that more will soon be getting involved in the commercial space industry.
Kelly noted that exciting companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have opened up new opportunities for businesses to utilize space. These companies are making tremendous strides in becoming more affordable and sustainable access to space, with their reusable rocket technology. With these new developments, businesses can use space to help solve global problems.
Kelly believes that businesses should explore the potential of commercial activities in space. He acknowledged that the commercial space industry is still in its infancy, but with the right investments, it can make a real difference in our lives. He also stated that the commercial space industry needs a stable and reliable regulatory infrastructure in order to succeed.
Kelly believes that commercial activities in space are becoming increasingly important, and that there is great potential for businesses to use space for a variety of purposes. He specifically noted the importance of satellite communications and imaging for a variety of global issues.
Overall, Sen. Mark Kelly’s remarks show his belief in the potential of the commercial space industry, and that businesses should explore this potential. He believes that businesses have a great opportunity to utilize space to solve global issues and improve our lives. These remarks demonstrate Senator Kelly’s long-held dedication to expanding our understanding of space and its potential.