There might have been a time when DOT had to sell Fast Lane readers on the possibility of commercial space transportation as an industry. But that time has passed. Last year alone, the Federal Aviation Administration licensed 12 commercial launches; we’ve already seen one licensed launch this year; and we anticipate another this month. We know that new vendors are competing to provide lower cost and more routine private space flight, eventually turning this once novel mode of transportation into a reality for many. And not just for space tourism–the appeal of a two-hour suborbital flight from the East Coast to Asia continues to draw interest and research funds.