What The Bigelow/Lockheed Agreement Says about Lockheed

Everyone seems to be talking about what the deal between Bigelow Aerospace and Lockheed Martin to us an Atlas V to take people to the inflatable space station says about what Bigelow is doing. I, however, see it a different way. What does it say about Lockheed?

It is common among new space folks to talk about traditional aerospace as "dinosaurs" who live off the government and pooh-pooh creativity and innovation. However, what I think this proves it the more correct statement that they are looking for profit.

Lockheed builds rockets for the military and NASA because it is a safe way to make money. What the new agreement with Bigelow shows me is that Lockheed Martin sees these stations as a viable way to make money. They don't normally push new ideas because they are risky. Risky ventures are for companies trying to make a profit from nothing, like SpaceX or Bigelow. I think it is a wonderful milestone in new space that a traditional "dinosaur" is willing to throw their hat into a private space venture, expecting to make money.

That’s just one space writers opinion. Continue with the discussion.