Warp Speed, Mr. Sulu

This past spring, some science journalists and bloggers were all abuzz about certain posts on the NASA Space Flight forum that seemed to indicate that NASA may have broken the speed of light using the EmDrive, an experimental propulsion device.  According to posts on the forum, when lasers were fired into an EmDrive resonance chamber, it was found that some of the beams appeared to be traveling faster than the speed of light.  If this is true, then it would mean that the EmDrive is producing a warp field or bubble.  While nothing is confirmed yet (and some distancing from the buzz has happened), this could mean that NASA is closer to achieving faster-than-light travel, which would be a leap toward making deep space travel possible. 

What is confirmed, however, is that a growing number of startup companies, such as Virgin Galactic and XCOR Aerospace, have moved into private space flight.  Some of these companies are investing in space tourism, while others are investing in developing space mining and space manufacturing operations.  Networks of seed- and early-stage investors, such as Space Angels Network, are focusing specifically on private aerospace ventures.  In March, Bessemer Venture Partners, which manages more than $4 billion in capital and primarily invests in cybersecurity and enterprise technology firms, announced a new aerospace investment practice.  While the private aerospace industry is still in the nascent stages, there is a significant level of research and development activity here, and accelerating venture capital interest in funding these companies.  It will only take a few very public successes in this industry to spur additional investment in this industry and drive up the value of companies and intellectual property in this space.

While the private aerospace industry is still quite young, I expect that any visible successes in the sector in the near-to- mid-term could inspire investors and entrepreneurs to enter the market, and boost company and IP value.