Space commercialization lands at Ohio State University

If you ask Peter Mohler, it’s a great time to be a scientist.

Mohler, executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge at The Ohio State University, opened the third Workshop for Commercialization of Research in Low-Earth Orbit with excitement.

“Thank you all for being here today,” he said to the audience. “Whether you’re a scientist or someone in business, this is the kind of thing that when we were all kids, that we dreamed about.”

The location for the event was fitting, Mohler said.

“Ohio has a rich history, as you all know, in space exploration,” he said, referring to the state’s 25 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, and John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth. “And together, we’ll continue to drive the future of space research and commercialization.”

The two-day workshop was held at Ohio State and featured presentations from Starlab Space, Airbus Defence and Space, Hilton Hotels, Voyager Technologies, Palantir and Mitsubishi Corporation. In addition, panels and working groups offered opportunities for collaboration.

“What we want to achieve, not only today but over a series of these types of workshops,” said Brad Henderson, chief commercialization officer for Starlab Space, “[is to] grow the world research community.”

John Horack, the Neil Armstrong Chair in Aerospace Policy at Ohio State, also emphasized the need for collaboration.

“The future belongs to all of us,” he said. “Consequently, the work that we’re doing here is a global effort and we have to welcome all who wish to share in creating a better world.”

In addition to that point, Horack shared four others that he feels are key to the success of space commercialization: Hardware for the sake of hardware is insufficient; the endeavor must be financially sustainable; strategic engagement of universities is essential; and this is a project that will benefit future generations, perhaps more than those currently in leadership roles.

To illustrate his hardware point, Horack described how photographs were taken by satellites when film was still the primary material used. The process is tedious and involves many steps, each with its own set of challenges, he said. The act of taking a simple photograph was not so simple.

“Hardware in orbit is necessary but it was woefully insufficient to achieve the desired outcomes,” he said. “Just having [satellites, the International Space Station] in orbit doesn’t help us fully leverage the space flight environment.”

Universities like Ohio State can help do just that, he said.

“Universities are the world’s best engines of generations of fundamental knowledge and the dissemination of that knowledge,” he said. “Especially at the graduate level, the universities of the United States are the best that have ever been produced.”

Then Horack asked any students and young professionals in the room to stand. While many of the educators in the room may have started their research, their projects, their companies, with goals for themselves, that is no longer the case.

“At some point, we all have to not worry anymore about whether we are personally on the flight deck or are ourselves figurative or literal astronauts,” he said.

The more appropriate role now is being part of the rocket booster, namely the first stage, he said, continuing the metaphor.

“Am I loud? Yeah, I’m loud,” he said. “Am I powerful? Hopefully, right? But the point of the first stage is to initiate the launch and trajectory of whatever or whoever is at the top of the rocket.”

Pointing to the standing students, he asked the audience, “How can we best serve as their first stage? How can we help them fly further on their chosen trajectory?”