NPR

http://www.virgingalactic.com/

“ We are at the vanguard of a new industry determined to pioneer twenty-first century spacecraft, which will open space to everybody — and change the world for good.”

– Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Galactic

I have absolutely not desire 'to go into space'!!

In a world of trying to cut emissions. Everybody going is probably not a great plan.

It will change the world for good though

Ymx wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:24 am In a world of trying to cut emissions. Everybody going is probably not a great plan.

It will change the world for good though

Can we send certain people on a one way trip?

Sandstorm wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:25 am

Ymx wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:24 am In a world of trying to cut emissions. Everybody going is probably not a great plan.

It will change the world for good though

Can we send certain people on a one way trip?

Hitchhikers Guide had the right idea

Sandstorm wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:25 am

Ymx wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:24 am In a world of trying to cut emissions. Everybody going is probably not a great plan.

It will change the world for good though

Can we send certain people on a one way trip?

As we discovered with Challenger I think that may well be an option....

Sandstorm wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:25 am

Ymx wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:24 am In a world of trying to cut emissions. Everybody going is probably not a great plan.

It will change the world for good though

Can we send certain people on a one way trip?

Branson posts on PR?
Perhaps that’s what he means by for good.

I'd love to do this, but it's not exactly best use of my or broader society resource.

We need to be looking to get off this rock as security for the species future. This is another step towards that.

Raggs wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:59 am We need to be looking to get off this rock as security for the species future. This is another step towards that.

I appreciate NASA are looking at private endeavours to pick up development roles, but I'm not entirely convinced that Musk and Branson have society's best interest at heart.

Raggs wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:59 am We need to be looking to get off this rock as security for the species future. This is another step towards that.

Wut??

It’s less than what was achieved 50 years ago in terms of getting of this rock. It’s merely commercialisation of existing capabilities, and “ancient” achievements

Ymx wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:05 am

Raggs wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:59 am We need to be looking to get off this rock as security for the species future. This is another step towards that.

Wut??

It’s less than what was achieved 50 years ago in terms of getting of this rock. It’s merely commercialisation of existing capabilities, and “ancient” achievements

I'm torn on this - the US getting to the moon required something like $150B in today's money even with the 'borrowed' German rocketry expertise (I vaguely recall about 3-4% of federal budget was diverted for nearly a decade to cover this), getting this down to something less insane is a clear and obvious step.

Of course, the original moon landings were simply a proxy cold war act - even though the Russians came first in just about every other aspect, how the US claim they won the space race is beyond me - so they just threw 1960s dollars at it.

The key bit missing is the guiding hand, to avoid this just being a rich man's plaything or an Elon Musk egotrip (eta: I should of course also reference Bezos here) - using commercial enterprises to develop the IP and technology is one thing, leaving said IP in their hands seems a bit to laissez-faire.

To be fair to Musk, at least he’s attempting a new endeavour and pushing to create civilisation on Mars, rather than this, which is just a (reverse) space bungee jump thrill.

Ymx wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:05 am

Raggs wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:59 am We need to be looking to get off this rock as security for the species future. This is another step towards that.

Wut??

It’s less than what was achieved 50 years ago in terms of getting of this rock. It’s merely commercialisation of existing capabilities, and “ancient” achievements

It's more in terms of allowing every day people get into space at a sustainable cost and with little training. If a colony is to be created thousands will need to travel and they won't all be astronauts.

Those ancient achievements were also lost. We couldn't replicate them today but we have done better in other terms.

Openside wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:23 am I have absolutely not desire 'to go into space'!!

It's hard enough staying grounded.

Done. Successful.

Think it signposts travel into space becoming more routine which is something I'm enthusastic about. Yes its just the ultra rich for now but this was once true of aviation.

Also flown by humans all the way up and down which is a nice change from 'spam in a can'.

Ymx wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 3:45 pmDone. Successful.

All back and safe?