NationStates Jolt Archive

COMMENTARY: This is the future of space travel. When space travel becomes profitable there will be no stopping the human race from an ever-expanding movement into space. This is exerpted from a newsletter to which I subscribe. Your thoughts about "Capitalists In Spaaaace?" :)


From Virgin Galactic


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PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT – FIRST DUBAI FOUNDER ASTRONAUT!
Virgin Galactic and Virgin Atlantic worked together to celebrate the inaugural VAA flight to Dubai and held a joint Press Conference on 29th March 2006.

Virgin Galactic was proud to introduce our first Founder from Dubai – Namira Salim. As a member of the exclusive Virgin Galactic Founders Club - the first 100 space travellers to sign up in full to a flight on Virgin Galactic, when commercial operations commence in 2008/9 - Namira will be a pioneer for all of those who come after. Our Founders will participate in the birth of this incredible new industry and Virgin Galactic is delighted to welcome Namira on board.

Namira was born with a dream, a dream she strongly believes in. Since early childhood, she was convinced that commercial space travel would become a possibility in her lifetime. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has made this a reality for her and other Founders.

Stephen Attenborough , Head of Astronaut Relations, commented:

“Namira Salim is not only a talented and accomplished artist, but someone who has long dreamt of experiencing the magic of space for herself. We are delighted to help her to realise that dream and to welcome her as a Virgin Galactic Founder. We are especially pleased to be able to make this announcement in Namira’s home country of Dubai and look forward to many others from the region following in her footsteps”

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VIRGIN ATLANTIC PILOTS ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic announced an agreement whereby pilots flying for Virgin Atlantic could become pilots of the future. Virgin Atlantic pilots will have the opportunity to be seconded to Virgin Galactic and trained as fully fledged astronaut pilots flying space tourists on SpaceShipTwo from 2008/9 onwards. Any of the Virgin Atlantic's 700 pilots can apply for the scheme which will involve a 27 month secondment to Virgin Galactic, where they will receive all the necessary training to make their flying skills out of this world.

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PRESENTATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE

25th International Space Development Conference
The National Space Society and the Planetary Society have invited Virgin Galactic to Los Angeles on May 4-7 th 2006 to participate in the 25th International Space Development Conference.http://isdc.nss.org/2006/

We are delighted to be part of this amazing conference which will be a great opportunity to meet the key proponents of this fast moving and exciting industry.

One of the highlights of the event will be the Space Venturing Forum which is to be held on May 4th 2006. Virgin Galactic was thrilled to be invited to participate during this forum and we have scheduled Will Whitehorn, President and Alex Tai, Vice President Operations to present a session giving an update on the project.

On the evening of 4th May, the Virgin Galactic Team will be hosting Founder tables at the Space Tourism Pioneer Orbit Awards Dinner which will be attended by Burt Rutan, Dennis Tito and other well known space luminaries.

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Space tourism - From Lofty Dreams to Commercial Reality
Virgin Galactic is supporting the Royal Aeronautical Society conference which will be held in London on Wednesday 7th June 2006. The conference aims to bring together parties interested in the future of passenger flights into space, to allow them to present perspectives on the evolution of the private spaceflight industry over the next decade, with the goal of stimulating enthusiasm for the creation of a profitable industry and affordable space travel for a mass global market.

For full programme & registration details visit - http://www.aerosociety.com/conference/PDFs/531.pdf

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Farnborough International Airshow
Virgin Galactic is also planning to contribute to the Farnborough International Airshow which is the largest temporary structure exhibition in the world. Run by Farnborough International Ltd this event was launched in 1932 and takes place every two years. This year it will be taking place from 17-23 July, including 5 trade days (17-21 July) and 2 public days (22-23 July). www.farnborough.com

The International Space Pavilion (ISP) is in Hall 5 of the Farnborough Airshow and is solely dedicated to the space industry. Launched in 2004, the ISP is now in its second year and has evolved considerably, attracting more international participation and interactive features / conference sessions in 2006. Virgin Galactic have been invited to give a presentation on Space Day, Wednesday 19 th July 2006.

A new development for the ISP in 2006 is an interactive feature area looking at the influence that space currently has in our everyday lives. The goal is to deliver an interactive, “walk-through” experience, allowing visitors to experience real life situations ranging from satellite navigation in the desert through to checking onto a flight into space.

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EAA AirVenture, OshKosh
Between July 24th – 30th, 2006, members of the Virgin Galactic team are flying to OshKosh, Wisconsin, to take part in EAA AirVenture 2006. Over 750,000 people from 70 nations participate in this event which brings together everything from the fundamentals of do-it-yourself aircraft construction and grass-strip takeoffs to the sophistication of the latest technology for the sky and beyond. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is also a social - as well as a spectator - event, as each year’s friendships build a worldwide community of aviation enthusiasts. Will Whitehorn is confirmed to lead a panel discussion with Burt Rutan at Theater in the Woods on Tuesday 25 th July and to take part in a Q&A session during a forum on Wednesday 26 th. For additional information; http://www.airventure.org/

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VIRGIN GALACTIC MEDICAL FORUM
The launch of the medical and training programme took place at the beginning of March with a meeting of top space medical minds. Experts in aerospace medicine, public health and adventure sports were hosted by Virgin Galactic at Sir Richard's house in London to discuss the new era of space medicine that space tourism will open.

Experts were asked to consider a new context for spaceflight that public spaceflight brings with it; safety but also inclusivity and comfort (maximising the experience). The aerospace industry and adventure tourism industry’s past and current experience were gratefully received by the Virgin Galactic team and has provided a good foundation for Galactic’s medical team to build our astronaut training programme around.


VIRGIN GALACTIC SWEDISH ENCOUNTER
Members of the Virgin Galactic team have just returned from an inspiring trip to Sweden as guests of the Swedish Space Corporation and were lucky enough to have an opportunity to visit a campus of Umeå University, based in Kiruna which lies in the north of Sweden, above the Arctic Circle.

The team was extremely interested in hearing about certain courses which are part of Department of Space Science, Luleå University of Technology and Umeå University's International Summer University. The town's northerly location means that from May to August the days are very long and the nights very short or non-existent! Kiruna is home to the Swedish Space Corporation Esrange, a site for launching rockets and balloons and also the Swedish Institute of Space Physics. Two summer courses are offered in English and tuition is free of charge, although students must cover their own expenses for attending. All students must be formally eligible for the courses. For more information see the web site www.ltu-umu.irv.se under the heading 'Summer University'.


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VIRGIN GALACTIC QUEST GAME
Although the real VSS Enterprise won’t blast off until 2008, Virgin Skill is giving you the chance to try piloting a space ship right now, with the brilliant Galactic Quest game. Galactic Quest puts you at the helm of a futuristic spacecraft and challenges you to navigate your ship through a dangerous asteroid field. Combining arcade thrills with brain-teasing strategy, Galactic Quest offers budding astronauts the chance to pit their skills against one another in tournament play, to win cash prizes by blasting asteroids, building combo scores and collecting bonuses.

Whether you play for free or enter cash tournaments, Galactic Quest is an out of this world experience. Try it now at www.virginskill.com.

Virgin Skill also offers arcade, skill and card based games to play for fun or against other players for cash. Virgin Skill is part of www.VirginGames.com, a complete internet-based gaming site which also offers Bingo, Poker and a range of Casino games.

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ASTRONAUT CLUB
To date, Virgin Galactic has offered three tiers of deposit to those wanting to make firm reservations: 1) Founders, the first 100 to fly 2) Pioneers, the first 1,000 people ever to venture into space and 3) Voyagers, those that have reserved to travel immediately after the Pioneers. Thus far, the minimum deposit has been $20,000. However, we have also experienced strong demand for reservations further out in the flight schedule and with a lower initial deposit. As a result Virgin Galactic is developing an innovative programme designed to secure space flight reservations for the lowest deposit yet. Keep an eye on the website and future newsletters for more details.

visit www.virgingalactic.com

for reservations click here

*recalculates Drakes equation*
Yup, space is still looking relatively safe today. We only have a 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 015 chance of meeting human-like civilizations from an Earth-like planet with a sun that is approximately the same sorts as ours that come from the Milky Way.

I think it's a wonderful idea: the already wealthy can expand their resource base into a realm inaccessible to nigh-upon-everybody. Eventually I suppose they'll be claiming planets and such. Just because they can. Yawn.

Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.

Get a lot of this polluting heavy industry into orbit where it can't hurt anybody. Get all the raw materials we'll ever need. Get enough of humanity off Earth that if something goes REALLY wrong we aren't wiped out...can't see a downside, really.

I think it's a wonderful idea: the already wealthy can expand their resource base into a realm inaccessible to nigh-upon-everybody. Eventually I suppose they'll be claiming planets and such. Just because they can. Yawn.
However, if it catches on, it could very well become within reach of the middle class. After all, if the supply increases to meet the demand, the price drops and therefore, more people will venture out.

They say Shatner is going to go up. That alone justifies the project.

Human beings have just about stuffed the earth, why on earth would we want to ruin the heavens also?

Why not let the human race die out. It tends to be self-destructive anyway.

*recalculates Drakes equation*
Yup, space is still looking relatively safe today. We only have a 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 015 chance of meeting human-like civilizations from an Earth-like planet with a sun that is approximately the same sorts as ours that come from the Milky Way.
Stop calculating and save your coins! You do want to make the thrid flight at least, yes? :)

Capitalist Pigs in Space? Wasn't that a Muppet Show sketch?

I think it's a wonderful idea: the already wealthy can expand their resource base into a realm inaccessible to nigh-upon-everybody. Eventually I suppose they'll be claiming planets and such. Just because they can. Yawn.
It's inevitable. Learn to live with it. :)

Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.

Get a lot of this polluting heavy industry into orbit where it can't hurt anybody. Get all the raw materials we'll ever need. Get enough of humanity off Earth that if something goes REALLY wrong we aren't wiped out...can't see a downside, really.
Me either. I'm sure there are some, since virtually everything has a downside, but at this point all I can see are the positives. :)

However, if it catches on, it could very well become within reach of the middle class. After all, if the supply increases to meet the demand, the price drops and therefore, more people will venture out.

Absolutely, but in say, 200 years time, they'll be venturing into an already saturated market where ownership of resources has already been arbitrarily decided by those who were there first, and therefore have an apparently God-given right to them...

However, if it catches on, it could very well become within reach of the middle class. After all, if the supply increases to meet the demand, the price drops and therefore, more people will venture out.
And that will allow the meek to inherit the earth. Everyone's happy, yes? :D

It's inevitable. Learn to live with it. :)
No.

They say Shatner is going to go up. That alone justifies the project.
LOL! Why do I get the impression you're hoping he won't be coming back? :D

Capitalist Pigs in Space? Wasn't that a Muppet Show sketch?

That was just "Pigs in space".

Human beings have just about stuffed the earth, why on earth would we want to ruin the heavens also?

Why not let the human race die out. It tends to be self-destructive anyway.
I'll fight ya for 'em. Best two out of three falls? :)

Capitalist Pigs in Space? Wasn't that a Muppet Show sketch?
Actually, it was "Pigs in Space." I added the "Capitalist." Good memory though. :D

Absolutely, but in say, 200 years time, they'll be venturing into an already saturated market where ownership of resources has already been arbitrarily decided by those who were there first, and therefore have an apparently God-given right to them...
Which illustrates one of the primary reasons Socialism and Communisim don't work: both are gloomy as hell! :p

So you're saying that space is limited in ... space? Ridiculous! :p

No.
Then live on in your little bubble of gloom! See if I care! :p

The Swedish Encounter. (http://www.ltu-umu.irv.se/)
Man, Sweden just gets more awesome! :D

Which illustrates one of the primary reasons Socialism and Communisim don't work: both are gloomy as hell! :p

So you're saying that space is limited in ... space? Ridiculous! :p

Er, right. That's a masterful analysis right there.

And sure, it is - I don't have any fanciful notions of warpspeed and the like, i'm afraid. Which leaves us the solar system, unless you fancy a several thousand year long journey.

So I ask - what gives private companies this right to the resources in space? Nobody owns them now, so who decides who gets them?

Then live on in your little bubble of gloom! See if I care!

Fine, I shall. Ignorance is bliss, after all.

LOL! Why do I get the impression you're hoping he won't be coming back? :D

Heh, Am I that easy to read?

I have a very long list of people I'd like to see go into space and not return. And most of them happen to be super-rich, which is why this project is so excellent.

Man, Sweden just gets more awesome! :D
I know! Really kewl country. Besides, the wimmin iz awesome! :D

if youre short on cash and need a place to stay (because the motels in las cruces are too expensive) you can always stay overnight at my house. the new mexico spaceport will be about 100 miles from me.

he hasnt changed his mind about setting up business in new mexico has he?

if youre short on cash and need a place to stay (because the motels in las cruces are too expensive) you can always stay overnight at my house. the new mexico spaceport will be about 100 miles from me.

he hasnt changed his mind about setting up business in new mexico has he?
It would be an honor to stay at your place! As far as I know, they're go for the New Mexico Spaceport. :)

you wont see me on any of thoughs flights till I know I am not going to get:headbang: with the atmo and burn and die... Also this is all I have to say to capitalism:upyours: :mp5: :gundge: :sniper: :sniper: LOL I love these smilies:D

Heh, Am I that easy to read?

I have a very long list of people I'd like to see go into space and not return. And most of them happen to be super-rich, which is why this project is so excellent.
Kewl! You can enjoy all the ultimate benefits of a commercial space program, and get rid of people who annoy you all at the same time! Can't ask for much more than that, yes? :)

I love these smilies:D
You'll get over it. :rolleyes:

I'll fight ya for 'em. Best two out of three falls? :)

Errr, ya lost me ol salt.

Er, right. That's a masterful analysis right there.

And sure, it is - I don't have any fanciful notions of warpspeed and the like, i'm afraid. Which leaves us the solar system, unless you fancy a several thousand year long journey.

So I ask - what gives private companies this right to the resources in space? Nobody owns them now, so who decides who gets them?

Fine, I shall. Ignorance is bliss, after all.
Who gives private companies the right to private property on Earth? :rolleyes:

Should we survive the next few decades, I am optomistic that we will find a way around the speed limits. We always do. Have a bit of optimism, dude! Sheesh!

Errr, ya lost me ol salt.
"ol salt?" :eek:

Human beings. I'll fight ya for 'em. Winner gets to do what they want wid 'em. :)

Virgin can't even get a train to the right place in England, and we're meant to believe they can a ship into space?
Who are they trying to kid?

Who gives private companies the right to private property on Earth? :rolleyes:

Exactly. Don't roll your eyes at me. Private property is an artificial construct. The first person to declare ownership over a block of land essentially took it away from the rest of us. And so it shall be done in space, with the difference this time around that only a very small minority can actively claim the property. Forgive my skepticism, but I don't see why any single priveliged group of people have the natural right over any of the rest of us to those resources.

Virgin can't even get a train to the right place in England, and we're meant to believe they can a ship into space?
Who are they trying to kid?
Film at eleven! :D

www.farnborough.com[/url]


Woot! it's my home town and, believe it or not, i didn't know the dates for the show. I can now make plans to be well out of the madness for the week!

hurrah! and thank you Eutrusca :D

Exactly. Don't roll your eyes at me. Private property is an artificial construct. The first person to declare ownership over a block of land essentially took it away from the rest of us. And so it shall be done in space, with the difference this time around that only a very small minority can actively claim the property. Forgive my skepticism, but I don't see why any single priveliged group of people have the natural right over any of the rest of us to those resources.
:rolleyes:

Who said anything about "natural rights?"

Woot! it's my home town and, believe it or not, i didn't know the dates for the show. I can now make plans to be well out of the madness for the week!

hurrah! and thank you Eutrusca :D
LOL! Talk about "unintended consequences!" :D

You're welcome, I guess. :p

"ol salt?" :eek:

Human beings. I'll fight ya for 'em. Winner gets to do what they want wid 'em. :)

I see. I'm not sure which is worse. Giving up on humans, or doing whatever you want with them. Personally, I'm not up for any such fight. You win.

Incidentally, just what would you do with the humans? Put them all on Mars so that you can enjoy earth to yourself? .

:rolleyes:

Who said anything about "natural rights?"

Me. I can't think of any basis in reason, other than "they were there first", which doesn't really justify ownership from my point of view anyway, and hasn't held up too well in past human history. Something must therefore give them the right to make claims in space.

*recalculates Drakes equation*
Yup, space is still looking relatively safe today. We only have a 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 015 chance of meeting human-like civilizations from an Earth-like planet with a sun that is approximately the same sorts as ours that come from the Milky Way.

I remember that equation. Isn't it the one that was widely debunked for some reason or another? Not sure though, as there are several "equations" that fail to take into account any number of variables, so it's possible I'm thinking of something else.

As for the commercial space travel: I'm curious on how the government will regulate this, and more importantly how the hell these people plan on getting off the ground. The cost alone is daunting, and likely unprofitable(with current technology) for any business to seriously consider it, and the amount of debris left(considering how much junk is in orbit right now from the past 30 years) would cause a serious headache for any pilot trying avoid it. Has any of these people ever seen what happens when a space shuttle is hit by a small piece of debris? Even a golf-ball sized piece of debris puts a massive dent(or hole sometimes) in shuttles.

I doubt this will take off any time within the near future(Near as in 20-ish years). If it does, I'll be amazed.