2008 01 00 New Scientist - Vol 197 No 2638 - Robert Bigelow Interview - From UFOs to space stations

Magazine Overview

Title: New Scientist
Issue Date: 12 January 2008
Cover Headline: Shooting for profit on the final frontier

This issue of New Scientist features an interview with Robert Bigelow, a Las Vegas real-estate billionaire who has transitioned into the commercial space industry with his company, Bigelow Aerospace. The interview, conducted by David Shiga, explores Bigelow's motivations, his company's ambitious goals, and his unique background, which includes an active interest in the paranormal.

Interview with Robert Bigelow

Early Influences and Inspiration

Robert Bigelow recounts his childhood in Las Vegas, a city marked by nearby nuclear bomb testing and frequent UFO sightings reported by his family and friends. These experiences instilled in him a sense that there was much more to the universe than was commonly understood, and that humanity's rocket technology was immature compared to other aerial phenomena. This led him to a lifelong quest to enter space.

Recognizing that financial resources would be crucial, Bigelow pursued a career in real estate, where he found it easier to accumulate wealth than in professions like law. He decided to seriously pursue his space ambitions at age 55, realizing he needed to act while he was still able.

Founding Bigelow Aerospace

Bigelow initially tried investing in other aerospace companies but found many lacked basic business skills. His breakthrough came when he read about NASA's TransHab program, which aimed to design inflatable modules for the International Space Station. When Congress cut funding for this project, Bigelow saw an opportunity. He acquired the necessary licenses from NASA and founded Bigelow Aerospace in 1999. Although initial work began without licenses, the company didn't gain significant momentum until 2002.

Bigelow Aerospace successfully launched a small prototype inflatable space station into orbit in 2006, followed by a second in 2007. The company's goal by 2010 is to have full-sized orbiting stations available for lease.

Business Model and Target Market

Bigelow explicitly states that his business is not focused on space tourism or solely on servicing NASA. While these may be components, they are not the sole drivers of a robust business. Instead, Bigelow Aerospace aims to lease its modules to major corporations that wish to conduct research or operations in space. These companies would not necessarily need to purchase the modules outright. The primary focus is on serving professional astronauts and companies engaged in laboratory research, nanotechnology, or other specialized fields.

Bigelow's own astronaut group would provide essential services, including labor and maintenance, as part of the lease agreements.

Risk and Motivation

When asked about the financial risks involved, Bigelow acknowledges that everything he has invested could potentially be lost. He states that his primary motivation for entering this venture is not to make money; if that were his sole goal, he would have remained in his established real-estate businesses. He emphasizes that a willingness to take on significant risk is essential for anyone involved in such ambitious projects.

Personal Interests and Hobbies

In his free time, Bigelow enjoys reading and visiting ranches, as well as driving around the desert landscapes of southern Nevada and Arizona, areas he knows intimately. He used to enjoy bird hunting but no longer does. He considers his work in aerospace to be his hobby.

Interest in the Paranormal

Bigelow reveals a deep and long-standing interest in the paranormal, which he has actively pursued for over 20 years. He has funded his own paranormal research organizations and others, viewing the paranormal field as vast with many subsets. His interest extends to phenomena like remote viewing, which involves determining information about a location using only coordinates. He finds these subjects fascinating because they are not easily explained by conventional scientific or medical frameworks. He was a director for several years at the Rhine Research Center in Durham, North Carolina, and considers this exploration as another facet of his broader interests, akin to space exploration.

When questioned about a connection between his paranormal research and his space projects, Bigelow offers a tentative "possibly," indicating it's a complex question he is not yet ready to fully elaborate on.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue highlights the intersection of ambitious commercial ventures with unconventional interests. The editorial stance, as presented through the interview, is one of exploring groundbreaking possibilities in space exploration driven by private enterprise, while also acknowledging the role of personal fascination, including UFOs and the paranormal, in inspiring such endeavors. The magazine appears to be interested in individuals who push boundaries in both scientific and less conventional fields.