Exploring NewSpace at the 2011 San Diego SpaceUp Unconference

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: This episode of Planetary Radio centers on the 2011 Space Up “new space” unconference in San Diego, highlighting grassroots enthusiasm for commercial space, NASA’s evolving role, and ambitious low-cost access concepts. It also covers Stardust-NExT’s Tempel 1 flyby, celebrates planetary science, and ends with Bruce Betts’ sky guide and trivia.

Main Topics: Stardust-NExT encounters Comet Tempel 1: The show opens with anticipation around Stardust-NExT’s flyby of Tempel 1, emphasizing the mission’s tight fuel constraints and its scientific goal of revisiting a comet altered by Deep Impact in 2005. The Space Up unconference and 'new space' culture: A major segment immerses listeners in Space Up, an unconference at UC San Diego where attendees set the agenda, reflecting a collaborative, startup-like culture in the commercial space movement. NASA's role in the age of commercial space: Attendees debate whether NASA is 'a zombie,' with many arguing NASA should refocus on high-level science and exploration while commercial companies handle transport and routine services. Crowdsourced and breakthrough launch concepts: Participants present ambitious ideas like StarTram, a maglev-based launch system, showing how new space spaces function as incubators for unconventional engineering concepts and collaboration. Human spaceflight, space suits, and industry identity: Interviews with XCOR and Orbital Outfitters representatives show the growing ecosystem around suborbital flight, suits, and entrepreneurial space careers, alongside deep personal commitment from attendees. Night sky update and space trivia: Bruce Betts closes with observing tips for Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and the Moon, plus a space-history recap and a trivia contest focused on the Milky Way and asteroid brightness.

Key Arguments: Stardust-NExT’s fuel scarcity made the Tempel 1 flyby risky, but careful operations could still yield valuable data from a comet that may preserve clues to solar system origins. The Deep Impact crater on Tempel 1 remained scientifically important because a second pass could reveal what the first impact ejected and what the comet is made of. The unconference format works because participants themselves are the right people to generate useful topics and discussion without a fixed agenda. 'New space' is defined by smaller, more nimble commercial companies that can deliver services more efficiently than traditional cost-plus government contracting. NASA should not be eliminated; instead, it should concentrate on science, deep exploration, and missions like Mars while commercial firms handle transport and routine orbital services. Grassroots space enthusiasm is growing internationally and across generations, with attendees treating space as both a profession and a passion-driven community. Innovative access concepts such as StarTram may become practical by combining existing technologies like maglev and tethers, and could dramatically lower launch costs.

Data Points: Date of Space Up unconference: Saturday, February 12, 2011 - Matt Kaplan attended the second annual Space Up unconference in San Diego. Estimated attendance: About 70 attendees - Mostly young space enthusiasts gathered at UC San Diego for the unconference. Stardust flight distance: Almost 6 billion kilometers - Bill Nye referenced the mission’s long journey to Tempel 1. Planetary Society membership: Nearly 100,000 members - Mentioned in the membership promo during the show. Voyager 1 portrait timing: This week in space history - Bruce Betts referenced the Voyager 1 solar system portrait and the 'pale blue dot' imagery. Pioneer 10 milestone year: 1973 - Bruce Betts noted Pioneer 10 becoming the first spacecraft to pass through the asteroid belt. John Glenn orbital flight year: 1962 - Bruce Betts cited Glenn as the first American to orbit Earth. Next trivia deadline: February 21, 2011 at 2 p.m. Pacific time - Deadline for submitting the answer to the next trivia question. New trivia subject: Brightest asteroid on a regular basis - Bruce Betts asked listeners which asteroid is brightest in the sky, excluding Apophis in 2029. Suggested launch concept acceleration: 2 Gs for 1,000 kilometers - Jesse Powell described the StarTram concept as accelerating payloads to orbit. Orbital speed target: 8 kilometers per second - StarTram would reach orbital velocity according to Powell. Space Up conference organizer: Chris Radcliffe - He described himself as the 'spark' behind the unconference.

Pivotal Quotes: "You guys are making this. And so, whatever you think is interesting to talk about, you want to talk about." — Chris Radcliffe: Explaining the unconference format and participant-driven agenda at Space Up. "I think that in the next 10 years, certainly the next 20 years, the entire landscape of how we get to space is going to be revolutionized." — Molly McCormick: Discussing optimism about commercial space and the future of access to orbit. "What we were. All made of." — Bill Nye: Riffing on the scientific importance of comets as primordial material from the early solar system.

Implications: The episode presents new space as energetic, collaborative, and increasingly credible. It suggests NASA may evolve toward science leadership while commercial firms expand launch and access, potentially making spaceflight more routine and affordable.