One word about space tourism: Fantastic.  :D

http://www.virgingalactic.com/htmlsite/intro.htm

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2006/01/richard_branson.html

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/11/space_oddity/

Nothing has interested me more about science and technology than space itself. And hopefully, in about fifty years time, I'll be able to buy myself a ticket into space for under $250,000 (Which is the current price).

In my opinion, space tourism will be a victory for space travel, as it will provide the necessary funding for expensive space equipment and will allow the space industry to be self-funded rather than from the Government. Hence improving the technology of space travel and giving humans a REASON to keep launching space crafts.

Once again, capitalism has shown us the way. And through capitalism, space travel will thrive.   :D


But I'm slightly critical of this program. Am I being unrealistically optimistic about this program? After all, it hasn't even launched yet.

The space industry already is mostly self funded - all those satellites.

The $250000 price tag may be heavily subsidised.

Quote:

The space industry already is mostly self funded - all those satellites.

Really? Please explain. Very interested.

Quote:

Nothing has interested me more about science and technology than space itself. And hopefully, in about fifty years time, I'll be able to buy myself a ticket into space for under $250,000 (Which is the current price).

I reckon you could go for less than that now. Invest $25k to start a project to build your own rocket. Think of all the advertising you could squeeze onto a 20 metre high propulsion tube! Then you could syndicate your story. From the profits, you can establish your own space program and get 'outer' any time you like!

Quote:

Quote: The space industry already is mostly self funded - all those satellites. Really? Please explain. Very interested.

See my previous post...

Quote:

I reckon you could go for less than that now. Invest $25k to start a project to build your own rocket.

Um... don't rockets cost 'slightly' more than 25 k?

But still... I 100% agree with advertising. Advertising would definitely bring in the bucks for the space industry. All that empty space on the rocket... why not use it?  8-)
After all... I think it was a few years ago that Volkswagon paid the AFL 1 million to merely display the logo on the football. The profits for the space industry for advertising could go into the billions.  :o

i really don't like this whole idea of space tourism because it is really expensive.

i mean we have a huge chunk of the world's population living in extreme poverty and then we have this selfish bunch that have so much money that they are wasting it on things they don't need.

long gone are the days of helping out ur fellow man. so sad.

Well... sooner or later... our 'fellow man' needs to help himself before we help them.

Everytime the west tries to help out poverty striken areas... the situation gets worse.

Leave them alone to sort out their own problems. This is the civilisation WE built and WE should be able to do whatever the heck we want.

donaldtrump, those poverty striken areas are deeply in debt to these richer countries.

and when u say leave them alone to sort out their own problems, i agree, but that means that richer nations should write-off the loans provided and not expect repayment.

Quote:

and when u say leave them alone to sort out their own problems, i agree, but that means that richer nations should write-off the loans provided and not expect repayment.

Agreed. But can you give me an example of these 'loans?'

Australia, for example, is still giving Britain money back for Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, and that loan was issued decades ago. But Australia has still managed to prosper.

ex-member DonaldTrump wrote on Feb 27^th, 2007 at 3:10pm:

Quote: and when u say leave them alone to sort out their own problems, i agree, but that means that richer nations should write-off the loans provided and not expect repayment.   Agreed. But can you give me an example of these 'loans?'

refer to the following link:
http://www.africaaction.org/campaign_new/debt_more.php

Thanks Gav.  8-)

but there's nothing out there.

What happens if you are captured by Aliens out there ?

What happens if NASA suddenly comes up with the slogan "Give us your money and we will save you from this dying planet!" as they promise to take billions to brave New Worlds they've discovered - as the Climate Scientists warn of Doom, of a dying Earth... as the Hurricanes, Cyclones, Bushfires, droughts, floods, pollutions, rubbish islands, earthquakes and more seem to be getting worse. The Evacuation begins (especially for the 'chosen' ones remember  ;)).