The Race to Space: Part I

By Dwane Brown / KPBS Evening Edition Anchor/Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published August 21, 2006 at 9:00 PM PDT

This story was published more than 19 years ago.

NASA is hoping a little competition will spur the commercial space industry. The agency is providing half a million dollars in seed money for private companies to develop space vehicles. In part one

NASA is hoping a little competition will spur the commercial space industry.
The agency is providing half a million dollars in seed money for private companies to develop space vehicles. The arrangement is unprecedented in the nearly 50-year history of the space agency. NASA hopes the private-sector vehicles can bridge an expected gap when the Space Shuttle fleet is grounded in 2010.

In part one of our three-part series on the commercial race to space, KPBS morning anchor Dwane Brown spoke with the founder of a Poway company that's leading the charge. SpaceDev is the world's first publicly traded commercial space company. I asked the Chairman Jim Benson why he's so excited about space. (click the "listen" icon to hear the story)

Dwane Brown

Brown started his career with KPBS in the early '90s as a radio anchor and reporter before expanding his broadcast news experience at CBS radio and television in New York. He’s been a news director, anchor, reporter and correspondent in San Francisco and has worked as a writer, producer, assignment editor and talk show host. He returned to KPBS in 2005. As the former anchor for KPBS Evening Edition, Brown provided an in-depth look at issues and stories relevant to San Diego. He spent nearly seven years as anchor/host of Morning Edition on KPBS Radio. Between 2006 and 2010, the San Diego Press Club named Brown "Best Morning Newscaster" in San Diego Radio. In 2006, the Society of Professional Journalists also named him "Best Morning Newscaster." During that time he managed and taught a two-week high school boot camp for aspiring radio reporters at KPBS in conjunction with the California Chicano News Media Association. Brown studied English/Journalism at San Diego State University and is a Fast Trac graduate from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. He’s a popular public speaker and Toastmaster International member. He’s been master of ceremonies for the American Red Cross, VA Medical Center San Diego, Urban League, San Diego Office of Emergency Services and numerous foundations. Brown is also a voice actor for movie, documentary, television, radio and Internet projects.

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The Race to Space: Part I

NASA is hoping a little competition will spur the commercial space industry. The agency is providing half a million dollars in seed money for private companies to develop space vehicles. In part one

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