The Vice President of NewSpace

Space Florida issued a press release today announcing that Allison Odyssey has been named their Vice President of NewSpace Market Development.

It's the first time I've heard of a job title with the word “NewSpace” in it, but I'm also struck by Space Florida using the press release to define NewSpace:

Today the NewSpace industry is composed of hundreds of small and large businesses and according to industry analysts, is expected to reach 1,000 companies worldwide by 2016. NewSpace is characterized by lean companies that are backed by private investment and use space applications to serve a growing base of commercial customers. By evaluating the business needs of these companies from a technical and financial standpoint, Odyssey is responsible for shaping customized solutions, and providing support and investment in the areas that will have the largest impact and best position them for growth and success.

There are those in the blogosphere who deny such a thing as “NewSpace” exists. There are also those who deny climate change and President Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate.

Space Florida clearly acknowledges that NewSpace exists, and it's the future of the U.S. space program.

As I wrote in September 2012, a new economy has begun here in the United States based on opening space to the private sector. The U.S. space program is no longer NASA; it's NASA plus its commercial partners plus the other NewSpace companies seizing their own independent opportunity to reach into space now that NASA is no longer a government space monopoly.