So, this is one of my crazier ideas, but I can't get it out of my head, so here it goes...
Due to the possible cancellation of NASA's Constellation...maybe, there are a lot of space employees looking at getting fired. Even if those employees still had jobs, there will be very little direct work on the more extreme elements of space settlements, at least in the US, when NASA out of the human space flight business. However, I think there is a way we can have our cake and eat it too. Consider this video. (Click to see the video)
So, based on Mr. Pink's arguments alone (I really want to find the study, but I can't find it right now, I'll update this post later with the MIT study referenced, I want more support than Mr. Pink's thoughts), we should be able to have some serious engineering on space systems going on if we can someone ensure that people interested in space can find jobs...(You know, like that's easy).
So, if we can someone ensure that people who want to work in the space field have other technical jobs to hone their skills and give them a platform to work collaboratively over the Internet, we might be able to continue developing spacecraft that are designed for the Moon and beyond. We could end up with the Linux of the aerospace industry
In fact, this model is in effect all ready. JP Aerospace is fully volunteer ran. Why not expand on what they are doing? As long as NASA is able to find their workers jobs, they could easily return to work on space as a hobby.
Tell me what you think in the comments. Do you think I've drank too much of the cool-aid or does this idea have merit?
