Grounded but with aspirations

    Today we are going to stay grounded, heads are out of the clouds and feet solidly planted on the pavement. Well not really because we are talking space. New industrialization will not come easy. Take NASA for example, they are happy to develop tools and science instruments for 3d printing but they are not the leaders in science that they once were. Since the space shuttle program is over. Commercial missions are more often considered for going into space and resupplying space stations  and satellite maintenance. Planetary jaunts are less and less even though as far as I have heard Mars was a major win. Wouldn't it be great if as a vehicle delivered it's pay load it could go to the next space station with new tools for that specific need instead of returning for a resupply. Taking it a step further planetary missions could be extended to other planets with repairs and specialized tools becoming available upon landing. Let's hope the big wigs at NASA take the opportunity to jump in the driver's seat to realize these opportunities.

   Bloomberg editor at large decided to take on a manufacturer of large 3d printers and grill him on his companies future. This surprised me because he did not have his fourth quarter earnings but pressed on anyway. He led off by stating that the 3d printers that were available at Staples were not selling well. Then he upscaled it to Voxeljet as they sell 3d printers for industrial use. However, Rudolf Franz would not fall for this comparison and said the 3 3d printers that his company sold last quarter were worth 1,200 MakerBot printers. All in all it was pretty interesting seeing how Voxeljet responded to the questions of this new industrial age being thwarted before it started.