"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...
In article 11aa0b36-4c0d-4949-a1ff-
, says...

Better to have an industry built around hauling
cheap cargo into orbit, rather than the richest
and most famous.

no we need tourists for seed money. it will be a big industry if its
reasonably safe

And for a good definition of "reasonably safe", I'd look at the
historical example of early airline travel. Smallish markets, only the
very rich could afford to fly, yet this was not as safe as airline
travel today. Anyone who asserts that space tourism *needs* to be as
safe as today's air travel is needlessly ignoring history.


The future of space travel, built upon the backs of the
rich-and-famous thrill seekers? A business plan depending
upon a pricey novelty? And a joyride that's mostly a
combination of shear terror, followed by gut-wrenching
space sickness? Will the lead story show Angelina Jolie
kissing the ground as she departs from the first flight?

That type of novelty oriented business starts out big, then
quickly starts declining. So the first big problem immediately
kills the business. Why pour good money into bad? That's what
happens to a declining business. Poof! The investors flee before
the story even hits the paper.

Space tourism is all about ego, Branson et all want to be first
and make a name for themselves, just like all the passengers.
That's not a business plan, it's how the rich-and-famous
masturbate~

How many facials...ah..I meant...how many take off and
landings can you 'squeeze' out of the rich-and-famous?

Atlanta Intl Airport handled 976,000 take off and landings
in 2006.
http://www.natcamembership.org/media...enumbers.msp#1

Airlines can connect you to almost anyplace on Earth, that's
a very valuable service for just about any person or any cargo.
What need or valuable service will space tourism provide?
Until the burning question of space travel is answered, which is
creating a ...valuable reason for people and bulk cargo to go
there, commercial space travel isn't going much beyond
the current satellite industry.

Imagine a business plan for the Concorde, except it doesn't
take you anywhere, it's only a ...joyride. Business plans
are all about potential for growth.

If history is a guide, it was the government paid bulk cargo
called the US mail which jump-started commercial aviation.
Then the passengers followed.

Space Solar Power could be that government paid cargo.
It not only provides a burning public need, but the room
for growth is enormous, energy is the second largest
industry on Earth. Several zeros larger than even
....commercial aviation.

Space travel is very hard and expensive, you have
to think BIg to make it happen, like saving the planet
with ever cheaper energy, not sMALL as with space
tourism.




s



Jeff
--
" Ares 1 is a prime example of the fact that NASA just can't get it
up anymore... and when they can, it doesn't stay up long. "
- tinker