Launch costs remain prohibitive. Flights are too few and the lead time between applying for a flight and launch is too long. Insurance is too expensive. And space-station construction will dominate shuttle payloads for several years. In addition, says NASA's Uhran, the agency lacks even a basic price list for shuttle and space-station activities, as well as a central clearinghouse for proposals from the private sector.
Some hurdles are more fundamental.
Bit by bit, the agency is trying to address these problems, officials say. It's also looking to set aside space on each shuttle flight for commercial activities. Still, the agency is moving in the right direction, says Ms. Dash. NASA needs to be congratulated for that. The Christian Science Monitor.