Strictly Business: Q&A with Bob Rice of Mojave Air and Space Port
| Friday, Jul 15 2011 12:00 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jul 15 2011 12:00 PM
An era is ending with the conclusion of America's 30-year space shuttle program. NASA says it is not ending space exploration, but any future manned flights will probably be collaborative efforts with other nations, most likely Russia. We decided to check in with the Mojave Air & Space Port to see where things stand with private space exploration.
NAME: Bob Rice
AGE: 50
TITLE/OCCUPATION: COO, Chief Operations Officer, Mojave Air and Space Port
FAMILY: Married, four kids, two grandchildren and three dogs.
Question: What was your reaction when you first learned the space shuttle program was ending?
Answer: I knew the program's life span, having worked closely with the shuttle program while in the Air Force. I was an Air Force Airman, firefighter stationed at Edwards AFB and supported STS 1, Columbia the first space shuttle mission. After several years of assignments overseas I returned to Edwards AFB in 1993 now as the deputy fire chief while supporting multiple landings at Edwards. NASA awarded me with the Space Flight Awareness Award for work at Edwards in rewriting the shuttle crew rescue procedures at Johnson Space Center. I was sent to Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch of Atlantis, STS 76, in March 1996. While meeting with the crew two days before launch I was joking with the pilot, Col. Rick Searfoss, that if the mission that was scheduled to land at Kennedy diverted to Edwards that I would see him on the runway. STS 76 did get diverted to Edwards after nine days and after the landing and the crew exited and walked around the shuttle on runway 22, I approached Col. Searfoss underneath Atlantis and welcomed him to Edwards AFB. After witnessing the launch, I returned home and worked the landing in charge of all emergency responders; pretty cool stuff. Now I work here at Mojave where Col. Searfoss is a test pilot.
Q: Is more restrained public participation in space exploration going to hurt overall efforts by making space exploration in general less visible?
A: It may be less visible as far as NASA is concerned, but it will become more visible with private sector growth.
Q: What opportunities does the end of the space shuttle program present for the private sector?
A: Many. Just look at what is happening right here in Mojave, multiple space related companies. The most visible being Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company (TSC) and XCOR. TSC is in the final stages of completing a new 70,000-square-foot hangar here for flight tests.
Q: Does the private sector have the resources to take advantage of the vacuum or is it too daunting a task for private companies?
A: Having worked here for the last eight years and being very involved with the X Prize flights in 2004, and everything else that goes on here, there is nothing too daunting for private companies. With my past experience with the government/NASA, the private sector is much more cost-effective and efficient and not afraid of risk.
Q: Where do private companies interested in space travel get their investors? Who is funding efforts thus far, for the most part?
A: People with vision and capital do it, like Paul Allen who teamed up with Burt Rutan to win the X Prize in 2004. Richard Branson and TSC are full steam ahead here developing and flight testing White Knight Two and Space Ship Two (SS2). SS2 will take six passengers into sub orbit and it is being built and flight tested here in Mojave, eastern Kern County.
Q: How many jobs has the experimental flight industry created in east Kern County?
A: Here at Mojave Air and Space Port, approximately 2,000 people a day come to work. Our facilities average 100 percent occupancy with 65 tenants, and a new 70,000-square-foot hangar is under construction.
Q: Who are the region's chief competitors, and how do we stack up against other markets interested in recruiting aerospace pioneers?
A: We are a very unique flight test facility which has the infrastructure, and experienced staff that is not risk adverse but does not compromise safety. That is why so many rocket development companies come here.
Q: In this difficult economic environment, some people are arguing that there are better uses of limited resources than high-risk, expensive space exploration. What's your response to that sentiment?
A: So many of the high-tech things we enjoy today are because of the space program, whether that be government or private. NASA is looking more and more to the private sector for good reason. It is simply more efficient and not afraid to try new things.
Q: What are the main barriers to private space exploration?
A: Government intervention through over regulation.
Q: What can be done to overcome those barriers?
A: We and the companies here work on this continuously. We received our space port license (first inland spaceport) from the FAA office of Commercial Space Transportation on June 17, 2004, five days before the first Space Ship One flight from Mojave, which reached 334,000 feet and made Mike Melvill the first civilian astronaut. Our relationship with FAA/AST has been excellent. They inspect/approve our spaceport license annually.
Q: How well are we positioned to recruit public employees to eastern Kern County?
A: The Mojave Air and Space Port is thriving and a truly very exiting place to work. History will continue to be made here in eastern Kern County with all that is on the radar. It is going to be a fun ride.
