Space Tourism a Reality by 2012

305 · Dec 6, 2009

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571787,00.html

"There are more projects like this going on than most experts even know about," Doug Raybeck, a futurist and an emeritus professor at Hamilton College in New York, tells FoxNews.com. "There are a lot of people developing this technology under the radar and they want it that way."
Click to expand...

Here's just a sampling of cutting-edge spacecraft:

• WhiteKnightTwo is a jet-powered carrier that will launch the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft; the two vehicles form a two-stage manned launch system, and Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has already ordered a pair of WhiteKnightTwos. The ships will form the basis for Virgin Galactic's suborbital fleet, which will charge space tourists $200,000 a head for a 2-hour space flight. The first services will operate from Spaceport America in New Mexico, though other spaceports may open in the U.K. or Sweden.

• The Dragon, a free-flying, reusable spacecraft is being developed by SpaceX for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. Developed in 2005, the Dragon spacecraft consists of a pressurized capsule for personnel and an unpressurized trunk for transport of cargo.

• The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle is NASA’s next-generation spacecraft. It will transport crews to and from the International Space Station, the moon and Mars and is being developed by Lockheed-Martin and Orbital Sciences Corp.
Click to expand...

opfinistic · Dec 7, 2009

Virgin Galactic to unveil commercial spaceship

LOS ANGELES — After five years of secret construction, the cloak is coming off a privately funded spacecraft designed to fly well-heeled tourists into space.

The long-awaited glimpse of SpaceShipTwo, slated for rollout Monday in the Mojave Desert, could not come sooner for the scores of wannabe astronauts who have forked over part of their disposable income for the chance to float in zero gravity.

"We've all been patiently waiting to see exactly what the vehicle is going to look like," said Peter Cheney, a 63-year-old potential space tourist from Seattle who was among the first to sign up for suborbital space rides marketed by Virgin Galactic. "It would be nice to see it in the flesh."
Click to expand...

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/nation/virgin-galactic-to-unveil-commercial-spaceship-104687.html

BuckeyeKing · Dec 8, 2009

Not worth it IMO.

200K for 5 mins of weightlessness.

Dol-Fan Dupree · Dec 8, 2009

BuckeyeKing said:

Not worth it IMO.

200K for 5 mins of weightlessness.
Click to expand...

That depends on the view and how much money you have.

Log in / Register

Forums

Space Tourism a Reality by 2012

305 Brawndo Club Member

opfinistic Braaaaains!

BuckeyeKing Wolves DYNASTY!!!!

Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

Share This Page

Log in / Register

Useful Searches

Space Tourism a Reality by 2012

305 Brawndo Club Member

opfinistic Braaaaains!

BuckeyeKing Wolves DYNASTY!!!!

Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

Share This Page