The space industry is facing enormous challenges because it is an extremely capital-intensive enterprise, and companies and governments around the world are grappling with the greatest economic crisis in decades, according to participants in a panel discussion at the National Space Symposium.

After three unsuccessful tries, the private company SpaceX launched its two-stage Falcon 1 rocket into orbit for the first time on Sunday -- potentially changing the cost equation for spaceflight.

Google has put up a $30m prize in an effort to trigger a race to put the first privately financed space mission on the moon.

Business 2.0 covers the booming commercial space industry, focusing on space tourism, space launch startups, and the space elevator project.

Internet billionaires are investing in start-ups that are trying to develop cheap and reliable access to space.

Private financing of space exploration and innovation by extremely wealthy investors has drawn away much of the excitement that government-financed human space efforts long enjoyed.

Future space explorers might bring back more than just pictures from their excursions -- they could mine the planets for profit.

Entrepreneurs have long sought markets that can drive enough demand for space transportation to stimulate investment in new low-cost vehicles. David Hoerr argues that the issue is not new markets, but creating a large enough supply of space transports.

NASA needs to thin out its bureaucracy and turn over many tasks to private industry if the agency is to carry out President Bush's new vision to explore the Moon and Mars, a presidential commission has concluded.

SpaceShipOne entered space history as the first privately financed aircraft to cross the threshold of space.