The World Beyond BetterMost > Anything Goes

Why We Need to Get Off the Planet

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brokeplex:
here are some interesting links to some folks I spoke with at ConDFW about off planet colonization :

http://www.nssnt.org/

www.lunarcc.org

brokeplex:

--- Quote from: susiebk on March 01, 2008, 06:18:55 pm ---Thanks.  I am a member of the NSS and already familiar.  I know some of the folks behind it.  I will check out the lunarcc link.



--- End quote ---
excellent, I was very impressed with the folks I met last week at the con.

injest:
What do ya'll think of the private corporations that are trying to develop space flight for tourism?

Do you think they will spur the government to spend more or will it make it too easy for people to CUT spending, saying the private sector is taking over?

injest:

--- Quote from: susiebk on March 01, 2008, 10:55:06 pm ---I'm not sure more government spending will fix the issue without some attitude changes on the part of NASA, which has become risk averse to the point where it has impeded progress.  It says something that the only way for private citizens to travel into space currently is via old Russian technology - the Soyuz (although the principals of Space Adventures, the company that arranges these flights, are Americans).  One change that has taken place is that the US government now has a policy of taking bids for COTS - Commercial Off The Shelf solutions from the private sector.  So there is something of a technology sharing going on.  I do think that the private sector is where the money and the inspiration is, and where the advancement will come from.

Players in the space tourism industry include Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic), Elon Musk of Pay Pal (SpaceX), and several others (even the Google Guys, to some extent).  There is a lot of private wealth being focused on space tourism.  And most of those involved are participating because the longterm goal is not tourism at all - it is a means to the end of getting us off the planet by way of lowering launch costs and perfecting the technology required (although of course they also just want to go into space).



--- End quote ---

ok, let's say one of these guys manages to make it to the moon for example....what government entity would he be answerable to...

in other words who 'owns' the moon?

brokeplex:

--- Quote from: injest on March 01, 2008, 10:35:11 pm ---What do ya'll think of the private corporations that are trying to develop space flight for tourism?

Do you think they will spur the government to spend more or will it make it too easy for people to CUT spending, saying the private sector is taking over?

--- End quote ---

that is the thesis of the Luna Project I gave a link to above. I am not entirely sure that private investment can carry the load of est a permanent base on the moon. right now the only thing private investment can put together would be limited space tourist operations, ie, orbital flights in NEO. because of the very large capital investment with tiny short term profit prospects right now, I suspect that the hand of government(s) will have to be in the mix when humans establish a permanent presence in space which is capable of becoming self-sustaining. after, the major start up costs are sunk however , private industry or a mix of private / public capital can make space a long term investment and colonization prospect. 

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