Talladega Nights

This blog and the Space Cynics have started a discussion on locating viable revenue streams to support humans in space. Whether we will be successful remains an unanswered question, both for the trivial purposes of our discussions here on the Intarweb (tm) (as invented by algore) and for larger purposes related to the future of the human race.

Previously in comments at Space Cynics I have opined more or less as follows (edited for brevity):

If it is true that humanity cannot really become spacefaring so long as taxpayer revenue is required to pay for spaceflight, then NewSpace needs to locate non-taxpayer sources of revenue to support humans in space. I see four categories for that (and would be thrilled if anyone can offer a category I have overlooked):

(1) Space Tourism

The Space Cynics just love this category, don't they? ;-)

(2) On orbit materials processing and Pharma research

(Paul Dietz has demolished the perfect ball bearing myth and the Cynics confirm that Big Pharma has essentially zippo interest for spending money on zero-gee drug or medical research. However, the category is included for purposes of completeness.)

(3) Space resources and energy

He3 & PGM & space solar power. Opinions vary. ;-)

(4) Media, marketing, sponsorships, brand enhancement

Anyone attempting (1) or (2) or (3) certainly can combine those efforts with product placement deals such as "Intel Inside" spots for computers doing on orbit bio-tech reserch or a requirement that space tourists wear Nike logo flightsuits or appear in videos drinking Gatorade while on orbit. Or this category can be pursued on its own.

This fourth category: (4) Media, marketing, sponsorships, brand enhancement brings us face-to-face with a new classic in American cinema - - Will Ferrell's latest movie Talladega Nights.

Well, okay.

Maybe this movie will not be rememberd as classic cinema however it does offer an amusing parody of the whole NASCAR craze in a manner that illustrates how media, marketing, product placement and the like can generate large amounts of cash. Perhaps not sufficient cash to fund a mission flying Boeing or Lockheed carrier rockets but if we use SpaceX or Russian lift (Soyuz or Proton) the numbers might begin to approach what is needed to close a business case.

Maybe.

We should take note that this is already happening. Masten Space has begun selling logo space on their rockets, NASCAR style. And the Rocket Racing League is self defined as:

The Rocket Racing League™ is an aerospace sports and entertainment organization that combines the competition of racing with the excitement of rocketry. The RRL was established by X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis and two-time Indianapolis 500 champion team partner Granger Whitelaw to advance the technology and increase public awareness of space travel. The NASCAR-style racing league features rocket-powered aircraft that will be flown by top pilots through a 'three-dimensional track way' at venues throughout the world. With millions of fans who enjoy racing and air shows, and an even wider audience enthralled with humanity's next step into space, rocket racing is destined to become the future of racing!

NASCAR money is huge:

Sponsors like Anheuser, Home Depot and General Mills (have shelled out a total of $650 million this year to have their logos splashed on NASCAR's top 35 cars in the Nextel Cup Series. That's up from $500 million five years ago and comfortably exceeds the $485 million companies spend sponsoring NFL teams. (In both cases these numbers include only sponsorship money going to individual teams, and they exclude television advertising revenue.)

Lets review:

Zero gee ball bearings?  Drug research in low Earth orbit?  Not so promising. But if someone wants to try on their own dime, I won't object. We gotta use every club in the bag, as I have written before.

Space solar power? He3 mining? Not any time soon, in my opinion. But I could be wrong.

What does that leave? Tourism and marketing.

I am not opposed to space tourism as a target market. I just don't think that will be enough by itself to create the demand needed to fund the flight rate needed to significantly lower the cost of access to LEO beyond what the Russians can do today and what Elon Musk (hopefully) can do very soon.

And remember, media, marketing, brand value enhancement, product placement and sponsorships can be combined easily enough with any other business model someone wishes to attempt.

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For example, we need not choose space tourism OR marketing, we can choose space tourism AND marketing. America is the world leader in creative and ubiquitious advertising. America is the greatest nation on Earth; Ricky Bobby says so.

Comments

[granger whitelaw]

smiling............. all of the above and more :)