From the editor

Risk & Insurance, May, 2004 by Cyril Tuohy

The president, in an ambitious initiative to put his stamp on the universe, wants to explore the heavens like no president has before him.

But who wants to go? Not me, and probably not you either.

It's not because the universe isn't worth exploring. With all the images beamed back by the Hubble telescope, the heavens offer one hell of a kaleidoscope. And perhaps there's a ski vacation or two to be had on Mars.

But that's not why I don't want a rocket ride to space. The reason I want to cool my jets is that I can't get insurance in the private sector at an affordable price should something go wrong.

The risk of never coming back to Mother Earth shot up last year when Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entry, killing seven of the nation's bravest. And, as this month's cover story reveals, NASA's record of facing its internal demons isn't encouraging.

No commercial insurer offers cover for manned space missions. The families of the seven astronauts who died aboard Columbia received compensation payments equivalent to those paid to any other federal employee--hardly enough to cover the mortgage or the cost of college in 20 years.

Better leave space to telescopes, satellites and robots. They've done a better job, they're cheaper, they're disposable and they're insurable in the commercial market.