Rutan plans commercial tourist spacecraft

From BusinessWeek, http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_25/b3888046_mz011.htm:

'In 15 years, he [Rutan] predicts, "space tourism will be a
multibillion-dollar business." By year end he plans to hand Allen a
business plan and designs for commercial space ferries that could hold 6
or 12 tourists and whisk them into space once or even twice a day.'

This is the first time I've seen a clear claim that Rutan and Allen are
planning commercial tourist craft to follow their SS1 demonstrator. I
find that quite interesting.

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"Joe Strout" wrote in message
...
From BusinessWeek,
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_25/b3888046_mz011.htm:

'In 15 years, he [Rutan] predicts, "space tourism will be a
multibillion-dollar business." By year end he plans to hand Allen a
business plan and designs for commercial space ferries that could hold 6
or 12 tourists and whisk them into space once or even twice a day.'

This is the first time I've seen a clear claim that Rutan and Allen are
planning commercial tourist craft to follow their SS1 demonstrator. I
find that quite interesting.


Considering the small size of the X-Prize, I'd be surprised if they didn't
have, at least, a vision of this happening. Even if they win the prize, I'm
sure they will have spent more than $10 million on this project. The only
way to ever get your money's worth out of this is to turn it into a fully
commercial enterprise with follow-on vehicles.

It would seem to be appropriate to develop and present such plans after your
technology demonstrator proves the concept.

Jeff
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Remove icky phrase from email address to get a valid address.

In article ,
"Jeff Findley" wrote:

Considering the small size of the X-Prize, I'd be surprised if they didn't
have, at least, a vision of this happening. Even if they win the prize, I'm
sure they will have spent more than $10 million on this project. The only
way to ever get your money's worth out of this is to turn it into a fully
commercial enterprise with follow-on vehicles.

All true -- apparently Allen has spent about $25M on SS1 -- but it was
never certain that he ever intended to get his money's worth out of it.
He may have been doing it for a lark, or for the thrill of the contest,
or just because he's a space buff and wants to go into space himself.

So I'm glad to see some confirmation (from what seems like a reasonably
reliable source) that there is more planned.

It would seem to be appropriate to develop and present such plans after your
technology demonstrator proves the concept.

Quite so. I can't wait to see what comes next!

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| Joseph J. Strout Check out the Mac Web Directory: |
| http://www.macwebdir.com |
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Joe Strout :

In article ,
"Jeff Findley" wrote:

Considering the small size of the X-Prize, I'd be surprised if they
didn't
have, at least, a vision of this happening. Even if they win the prize,
I'm
sure they will have spent more than $10 million on this project. The
only
way to ever get your money's worth out of this is to turn it into a fully
commercial enterprise with follow-on vehicles.

All true -- apparently Allen has spent about $25M on SS1 -- but it was
never certain that he ever intended to get his money's worth out of it.
He may have been doing it for a lark, or for the thrill of the contest,
or just because he's a space buff and wants to go into space himself.

So I'm glad to see some confirmation (from what seems like a reasonably
reliable source) that there is more planned.

It would seem to be appropriate to develop and present such plans after
your
technology demonstrator proves the concept.

Quite so. I can't wait to see what comes next!

I am not sure the present design will scale up well for six or more people
but :-

Just remember if it is a B. Rutan design your first words will probably be:

"Huh! How the #%^*$ is that thing going to work?"

Then you will get a blinding flash of light in your mind as the design sinks
in followed with:

"Neat!" or "Cool!", your choice.

Earl Colby Pottinger

--
I make public email sent to me! Hydrogen Peroxide Rockets, OpenBeos,
SerialTransfer 3.0, RAMDISK, BoatBuilding, DIY TabletPC. What happened to
the time? http://webhome.idirect.com/~earlcp

"Earl Colby Pottinger" wrote in message
...
Joe Strout :

In article ,
"Jeff Findley" wrote:
It would seem to be appropriate to develop and present such plans
after
your technology demonstrator proves the concept.

Quite so. I can't wait to see what comes next!

I am not sure the present design will scale up well for six or more people
but :-

Just remember if it is a B. Rutan design your first words will probably
be:

"Huh! How the #%^*$ is that thing going to work?"

Then you will get a blinding flash of light in your mind as the design
sinks
in followed with:

"Neat!" or "Cool!", your choice.

If we're talking about the same flight profile (carrier aircraft lifts
hybrid powered spacecraft which is dropped and ascends to 100 km), what
would need to be different, aside from scaling the design up by a factor of
two?

Jeff
--
Remove icky phrase from email address to get a valid address.

In article ,
Jeff Findley wrote:
If we're talking about the same flight profile (carrier aircraft lifts
hybrid powered spacecraft which is dropped and ascends to 100 km), what
would need to be different, aside from scaling the design up by a factor of
two?

Lose the stupid portholes, so you don't need a chase aircraft as an escort
because of lousy cockpit view.
--
"Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend." | Henry Spencer
-- George Herbert |

"Jeff Findley" wrote:

If we're talking about the same flight profile (carrier aircraft lifts
hybrid powered spacecraft which is dropped and ascends to 100 km), what
would need to be different, aside from scaling the design up by a factor of
two?

Refinements for even faster turnaround than SS1. A significantly upgraded
passenger cabin, with "comfort" features (like a vomit vacuum system) and
lots of video cameras.

More windows.

In article ,
(Alan Anderson) wrote:

"Jeff Findley" wrote:

If we're talking about the same flight profile (carrier aircraft lifts
hybrid powered spacecraft which is dropped and ascends to 100 km), what
would need to be different, aside from scaling the design up by a factor of
two?

Refinements for even faster turnaround than SS1. A significantly upgraded
passenger cabin, with "comfort" features (like a vomit vacuum system) and
lots of video cameras.

Yes, though those seem like pretty minor engineering challenges.

I do wonder a bit how much motion sickness will impact the suborbital
tourism industry. My guess is not much -- passengers will probably be
advised to take Dramamine, which I'm told pretty dramatically reduces
the symptoms.

I like the idea of lots of video cameras though -- when paying $20K (or
whatever) for three minutes of weightlessness and a great view, you'll
want to have as much to take with you and share with your family as
possible.

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| Joseph J. Strout Check out the Mac Web Directory: |
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`------------------------------------------------------------------'

"Jeff Findley" :

If we're talking about the same flight profile (carrier aircraft lifts
hybrid powered spacecraft which is dropped and ascends to 100 km), what
would need to be different, aside from scaling the design up by a factor of
two?

Jeff

Call me dumb if you want as I am no R.B. but I think/feel that some changes
in the carrier craft will be needed to carry a heavier craft. Most aircraft
design can not be simply scaled up without changing something. A large craft
will need more powerful engines or more of them for example. More engines
means changes ofcourse, more powerful engines probably will not find an exact
scaled up match so some changes there.

Besides it still is R.B., why scale up when he can design a newer better
machine to blow our minds I don't know how he does it, my best guess we
live on Earth, He lives in a world of flight and hydrodymanics.

Earl Colby Pottinger

--
I make public email sent to me! Hydrogen Peroxide Rockets, OpenBeos,
SerialTransfer 3.0, RAMDISK, BoatBuilding, DIY TabletPC. What happened to
the time? http://webhome.idirect.com/~earlcp

In article , Joe
Strout wrote:

In article ,
(Alan Anderson) wrote:

"Jeff Findley" wrote:

If we're talking about the same flight profile (carrier aircraft lifts
hybrid powered spacecraft which is dropped and ascends to 100 km), what
would need to be different, aside from scaling the design up by a factor
of
two?

Refinements for even faster turnaround than SS1. A significantly upgraded
passenger cabin, with "comfort" features (like a vomit vacuum system) and
lots of video cameras.

Yes, though those seem like pretty minor engineering challenges.

I do wonder a bit how much motion sickness will impact the suborbital
tourism industry. My guess is not much -- passengers will probably be
advised to take Dramamine, which I'm told pretty dramatically reduces
the symptoms.

I like the idea of lots of video cameras though -- when paying $20K (or
whatever) for three minutes of weightlessness and a great view, you'll
want to have as much to take with you and share with your family as
possible.

A dvd of footage of the launch and from onboard camera's, burned before
you head home.

--
Chris Mack "Refugee, total ****. That's how I've always seen us.
'Invid Fan' Not a help, you'll admit, to agreement between us."
-'Deal/No Deal', CHESS