Contact:
Rich Holtzin
New Mexico Space Technology Applications Research Group
505.750.2840
rich at nmstarg dot com
NMSTARG.COM
LOCAL COMPANY REACTS TO LATEST ENTRANT
Albuquerque, NM. May 15, 2012 — ATK (LINK) is a company that used to build the Space Shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB), and is now the latest entry into the competitive field of spacecraft launching. We asked NMSTARG, a local space technology applications group about the news.
"We're thrilled," said Rich Holtzin, a founding member of the group. "We welcome them, and wish them the very best of luck." When asked if he thought that this would hurt NMSTARG’s business endeavors, Holtzin scoffed. "Everyone out there has great ideas and contributes a lot to spaceflight. If you don’t mind me saying so, our ideas just happen to be better,” he said.
When asked to comment, Joe Maness, the other founding member said, "I agree with Rich, and wish them godspeed. I would add that, you know, welcome to the party everyone, but be prepared to pry open that wallet of yours.” He added with a wink, "Or bank vault, as the case may be."
When asked what he meant by that, Maness turned serious. "Funding is what makes rockets fly. I like how Elon (Musk, the CEO of Space X) worried that if his rocket test failed, then Congress would use that as an excuse to get rid of the $400 million in needed funds. I thought wait, is this guy serious? I mean, does he not understand the huge amount of money involved? Let's do the math, shall we?"
Maness then got out a piece of paper and a pencil. He wrote as he talked. "Let's see, they're going to charge $20 million per seat to go to the ISS (International Space Station). At five seats per pop, that's $100 million per flight. It costs them $60 million dollars to fly, so that's a difference of $40 million dollars per flight. If they can fly 10 times a year, that's $400 million dollars a year. Over the next 10 years, that's $4 billion dollars." He put his pencil down, with a satisfied look.
"Now, what was Elon complaining about again? Just cough up the money and be done with it," Maness said with a grin.
"Yes, I agree," added Holtzin. "Enough of this depending on the government to get things done. The return on investment surely justifies whatever costs are involved. If you want to get into the space business, then be prepared to invest heavily, but also be prepared for a hefty return. Moreover, going with us, our far-reaching plan and idea, actually gains the maximum amount of profit in the shortest amount of time."
NMSTARG is a space technology research company that is tasked with creating a comprehensive space program using off-the-shelf technology paid for by the extraction of lunar commodities.
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