The commercial space industry is beginning and has a lot of failures ahead from which to forge success. Just recently the Space Frontier Foundation congratulated Bigelow Aerospace for its innovative inflatable space habitat.

The Space Frontier Foundation congratulated Bigelow Aerospace on the successful launch of its Genesis 1 inflatable space module Wednesday. Placed in orbit aboard a Russian Dnepr rocket, the 12 foot diameter (when inflated) test module presages ever larger components of what will eventually become the world's first commercially built and operated space station.

"Small steps and giant leaps. That is what the opening of a frontier is all about," said the Foundation's Rick Tumlinson. "This small step towards the creation of an orbital station is actually part of a giant leap forward in the opening of space."

Sustainable success needs an innovation-ready mindset. According to those who have studied the innovation process, you need to: think the unthinkable, be inquisitive, flexible, open to wacky ideas, take risks, and shun the cynics and know-it-alls. Thinking this way not only helps you design your own system for going into space, it will help you find potential customers who may have ideas that help to shape your business.
Bob Clarebrough can be reached via email. He lives in England. David E. Brown's website for the book, Inventing Modern America is worth a visit. The Lemelson-MIT Program website includes The Invention Dimension with bios of these and other inventors.

It is also possible to access the Patent Office which has searchable patents since 1790. Another resource is The Black Inventor Museum .

So, get a life! Do some failing to pave the way to success. Just keep your mind open and running.