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Originally Posted by Porras
It's not impressive because they could have done more had they put the appropriate effort into it.
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What exactly is appropriate effort exactly? Sending a manned crew to Mars as soon as possible without learning anything about the planet first?
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Originally Posted by Porras
It'll only cost too much under current programs. The Xprize showed us that we could reach space for a lot less than NASA spends doing it. Didn't have the same capabilities as NASA's operations but that just means there's room for improvement. Private industry's a lot more concerned with lowering costs than the government is as the $1.60 rolls of toilet paper at the Air Force Base up the road from me can attest.
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Lowering costs isn't always a good thing, especially when it comes to compromising safety. Of course I'm not saying Branson would do such a thing, he's rich enough to pour his money into it to make it work. Once space tourism eventually becomes competitive just you wait, the wild west days of private spaceflight are sure to be dangerous. Then of course there is the natural risk involved, a potential disaster could set the industry back for years. Which is why space tourism wont get beyond orbit anytime soon (at least not without the aid of the space agencies. Though that isn't likely to be competitive or sustainable as a result of limited capacity).
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Originally Posted by Porras
Tourism. Branson's already prepping to send people into low orbit for more than I've made in my entire life. I'm thinking Mars could be the highest priced resort in the solar system.
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Uh huh, but first you know, you have to spend a couple of years pipping potentially billions of dollars in getting everything ready for such a resort. You have after all the spacecraft to get lots of people there, satellites in orbit, high cost employee's, and you have to learn how to build on Mars to weather dust storms and other dangers. Then once you've had your share of accidents, deaths, cost overruns, you've got to recoup those costs and hope it is profitable enough to do so.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Porras
Tourism. Branson's already prepping to send people into low orbit for more than I've made in my entire life. I'm thinking Mars could be the highest priced resort in the solar system.
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Oh, you mean Spaceship 1/2? Hardly impressive, the feathered wing is the only idea that wasn't recycled. Otherwise your talking about a concept that's been around since the 60's as the X-15 program. It made sense that the winning designed used was something that was already proven but Spaceship 1/2 could hardly reach the ISS.
Oh, and speaking of the ISS. Whenever the next private spacecraft comes around with such capability to reach the station, they shouldn't. Unless of course they wish to contribute to the cost of maintaining the ISS. Which so far the tourist who've visited haven't.
Anyway, I think space tourism has a long way to go in just getting to orbit before we even begin to talk about Mars. Besides I don't see space exploration and space tourism at odds, indeed I think space tourism can only benefit from the knowledge that space exploration uncovers. After all, somebody has to set the groundwork, and I doubt private industry wants to pour money into a program that doesn't make them any money.