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IN THE NEW SPACE RACE, here come the entrepreneurs. Four years from now, the company plans for re?

By Glenn Reynolds

IN THE NEW SPACE RACE, here come the entrepreneurs.

Four years from now, the company plans for real modules to be launched and assembled into the solar system?s first private space station. Paying customers ? primarily nations that do not have the money or expertise to build a space program from scratch ? would arrive a year later.

In 2016, a second, larger station would follow. The two Bigelow stations would then be home to 36 people at a time ? six times as many as currently live on the International Space Station.

If this business plan unfolds as it is written ? the company has two fully inflated test modules in orbit already ? Bigelow will be buying 15 to 20 rocket launchings in 2017 and in each year after, providing ample business for the private companies that the Obama administration would like to finance for the transportation of astronauts into orbit ? the so-called commercial crew initiative.

All is proceeding as I have foreseen.

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on June 08, 2010 (boomark / email).