…on the new space policy. And he graciously cites my piece in The New Atlantis from last summer. He also has a report from the Cape today. It’s interesting that no one has mentioned yesterday’s Gagarin and Shuttle anniversaries. I actually worked them into my Popular Mechanics piece, but they were edited out, presumably because they seemed a little tangential. I imagine that next April 12th, on the fiftieth and thirtieth anniversaries, respectively, people will make a much bigger deal of them. And I hope by then we’re seeing some real progress in the new direction.
[Both Tierney links via Clark Lindsey]
Rand,
Given the contracting process at NASA the most you may hope for by next year would be for NASA to at least have the RFP for Commercial Crew out.
On the other hand, April 12, 2011 would be a great day for Virgin Galactic to start their commercial service and a great way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of human space flight. I hope Spaceshiptwo is ready to go by then 🙂
Nope, that comment died also.
Funny, if I post a comment that has some substance, it disappears. If I say nothing worthwhile, it stays.
Anyway, SS2 has only flown a single captive carry test flight. It’ll be a long time before they start carrying passengers. April 12th next year would be a good time for a high altitude powered test flight, weather permitting.
Rand,
I am increasingly impressed with your ability to write clearly and in depth about a subject dear to my heart. Thanks for the link to your New Atlantis article, it was excellent.
We may disagree on some things, but you have my complete respect, regardless.
Thanks for doing a great job.
Larry,
Spaceshipone did all its flights within 10 months so it might be possible with an solid test program.
But if not, then perhaps it could make its first flight about 100 kilometers then.
Tom
SS1 was never intended for passenger service. While it had 3 seats in it to meet the X Prize requirements, it never flew with more than 1 person on board. Instead, it carried ballast for the record flights.
There’s a world of difference between building an experimental plane flown by a single test pilot and intended to win a prize and a plane intended to carry passengers on regular flights. IIRC, they’re planning dozens if not hundreds of flights before they carry passengers.
I thought Rand’s New Atlantis article was good.
We need to establish markets in space.
We currently use a lot of rocket fuel in space.
If you ship rocket fuel to space you are establishing a market- if a party
can elect to buy rocket fuel that is available in space.
Once we start mining water in space and making into rocket fuel, there will be a market for water, rocket fuel, and electrical energy in space.
I was stunned that Neil Armstrong signed this, he has been a bit of a hermit
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36476183/ns/technology_and_science-space/