In 2010, The Civilian Space Industry Finally Takes Off

I think that it would be more advantageous to concentrate on developing actual orbital launch capabilities then to invent a really expensive carnival ride.
Human space flight may be an incredible waste of time due to the fact that it is not known if humans can procreate in reduced or spin simulated gravity. All of the current data from various U.S., China, and Russian missions indicates that mammalian embryo's do not develop while in microgravity, though there was a soyuz centrifuge experiment that did show some promise with quail eggs that did develop albeit with minor skeletal deformities. If the ultimate goal of human space flight is to allow humans to live among the stars, then the long delayed centrifuge for the ISS must be flown.

Good point, Torino10. If our International programs want to stay on top of the industry, it does seem a logical place to start. Serious exploration and exploitation can't effectively be carried out without a pseudo gravity system for our transit time. It only makes sense to start finding out which types of systems are going to be most effective, both by mission, and overall usefulness.

@Torino10 Even if human development where hindered by different gravity I don't think it would destroy the future of space colonization. I seem to remember a rather cheep carnival ride where you would patrons would lay on a near vertically mat and the thing would spin up. It wasn't long before you could barely hold your arm out in front of you because of how hard you where being plastered to the wall. There are numerous proposals on how to create gravity for a spacecraft and it's not that hard to do it on a planetary colony ether. But I still don't think it will even be an issue.

I cant blame the government for going slow on the private sector carrying manned passengers to space. It would be very bad for the future of the industry if they funded it and someone died. However I sure hope that after cost C runs its course or at least demonstrates a dozen or so successful missions they go ahead and fund cots D. Its likely cheaper than the Russians and the money will stay where it comes from.

Too build a station that can create gravity is just the next step to what NASA and Russia is currently doing. For private space industries, a station with gravity seems to be more beneficial than it would be for research like the ISS.

We need stations like the ISS still because of the type of research that is done aboard it. Many experiments are only capable because of the 0g. Microbial life grows at an astounding rate when weightless. One of the most recent space shuttles went up with a bunch of worms to do research on how to avoid muscle loss. When humans make it to colonize mars, the moon, an asteroid, whatever, they need to still have ways to keep their muscle mass and bone mass because those gravities are not as great as Earths.

We should keep the money within American companies and not give anything to Russia, except share our knowledge.

SAVE EARTH

Human space flight and colonization isn't a waste of time. We Humans just don't have the technological capabilities to do what we want to do at the moment. Don't worry, by the year 2100, we will have solved a lot of problems, and as time progresses, things that were once considered impossible will become a reality. Perhaps some of us here will survive to see it happen.

"We should keep the money within American companies and not give anything to Russia, except share our knowledge."

The entire Earth should be united in exploring and colonizing space, not one country. I for one am glad that the private sector as well as other countries, are getting involved in the space program. It means more money, more research, and more people becoming space-borne; the more the merrier. To just allow one country, one group of people to participate in space, is just plain stupid. Yes, it's a sad fact that we live in a world filled with war, violence, and greed, and have to be careful, but limiting human space exploration and colonization to the United States is just wrong. Every country on this Earth should be helping each other, afterall, we are all part of the same race, the human race. Perhaps it's going to take some world-wide disaster, or Aliens invading to bring us together for the final and last time, and stop all the wars and stupidity that happen on this planet.

It is important to understand that for any technology to gain widespread commercial acceptance and affordability, it must first go through a period where the prices are high and paid for by rich folks known as "early adopters". Their "amusement rides" as Torino10 describes them, will help pay for the capital invested in these ventures, as well as to raise capital to develop the next phase of development, which will be transcontinental and orbital civilian space transportation that is affordable.
Governments have run space travel for 5 decades and failed miserably at delivering space travel to the people, and they show no interest in doing any different in the future.
If you want commercial space travel development to happen, it has to happen this way.
Beyond just joyrides for the idle rich, these trips can provide inexpensive space access for a lot of science to universities and labs that cannot afford orbital travel and don't need to stay in space for long periods. Let the early adopters pay for this development.

One thing that people must remember is that centripetal acceleration is not the same as gravitational acceleration, It may in fact be the case that the coriolis effect may only become small enough to not have an effect on early embryonic development at extremely long Radii. If centripetal acceleration mimics gravity close enough to allow mammalian embryonic development then we can begin testing different levels of gravity effects on embryonic development and ascertain if it is possible to "homestead" on Mars or even terraform it, or we would be better off colonizing asteroids and hollowing them out to make large O'niel type colonies.

what is all this talk about breeding in space? don't y'all think that's a little cart-before-the-horse-ish?

Where they is potential for $$$$$'s and the technology is achievable there man will go. It is in his nature. Till now governments could only afford to fund this effort. Now with the technologies more economical and ythe efficiencies added by business we WILL see low Earth orbit exploited. In 20 years or so the same exploitation will start to occur outside of Earth's sphere of influence as we learn to live and work in this new frontier. The only major thing keeping us here is lack of a viable prpulsion system. My guess is that this technological development will bring on the next paradigm shift for life as we currently know it.

These are certainly encouraging developments, as it seems NASA is becoming ever less ambitious in expanding the human presence beyond Earth. Maybe the government space program will concentrate more on robotic scouting missions in the future, as commercial agencies increasingly take over the task of moving people and cargo off planet. However it happens, it's either humanity's destiny to become a multi-planetary species, or eventually face extinction if we all remain earthbound.

With the way things seem to be progressing here on earth, recession, oil depletion, continuous wars and global warming, lets hope the private sector can get us into space some time in the next couple decades.

finally, companies are beginning to take control of space away from the government.

@kelloggm
i like your picture... the predator rocks.

During the colonization of the world, journeys into unknown where more like romantic tales, about adventures, mystical new people and civilizations, riches beyond imagination. Space ticket is very expensive and after all, there isn't much to do up there. Adventure and fortune are still present, but the rest is mostly danger, cold and shaking space craft, barely withstanding tremendous forces on it. It's all about seeing home with your own eyes and exclusive privilege to do it.
Private space companies should connect with other industry, like media, TV, movies or anybody else, to develop interest and financial support for future projects. I dream about it, probably like the rest of guys here and everywhere. Science must advance, new technologies must be invented, to really colonize space around Earth and beyond, but most important, space revolution will dramatically change our society and culture.
Thinking about it, in time it will become same old romantic adventure, we are custom to from exploration of our world, seeing all the lights out there...

You have a point Xspot. I predict that the porn industry will invest millions in zero-g porn.

Paging D D Harriman... Paging D D Harriman... Delios, we need you, here...

@Torino10 Even if human development where hindered by different gravity I don't think it would destroy the future of space colonization. I seem to remember a rather cheep carnival ride where you would patrons would lay on a near vertically mat and the thing would spin up. It wasn't long before you could barely hold your arm out in front of you because of how hard you where being plastered to the wall. There are numerous proposals on how to create gravity for a spacecraft and it's not that hard to do it on a planetary colony ether. But I still don't think it will even be an issue.

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billcocchi@yahoo.com I have been studying and buying POPULAR MACANICS Magazines since I was 8 yers old I am 59 yrs lod now and a DRAFTSMAN working along the same lines as this story of private Space Travel. My idea is to build Portable HOME Spheres called "PORT o PODs" that candeliver Fresh Water to the International Space Station so CREWS do not have to Drink Didtilled "URINE and Sweat and when the PODs are empitied they can be CUSTOMIZED into Living Quarters and Attached to Space Station. And on the MOON and Mars they can mine and Produce 'TITANIUM STEEL FOIL" to use a protective costing around the Space Station and to build PORT o PODs on EARTH that can be delivered by Air Land and Sea I propably learn this idea from POPULAR MACANICS 50 years ago in my Uncles Baber shop wating for a hair cut with my DAD Have a Loved filled Popular Macanics Day

it's about time the commercial sector got a shot at space. as for the propulsion system, i understand that there is a subatomic ion engine in development, its fuel, ignition, and exhaust is cyclical and therefore ALMOST infinite. albeit may take some time to get the vehicle up to speed, there are very few forces to slow it down. making babies in space,hhhmmmm, havent done that yet (memo to self). let those fat overpayed undereducated pompous eccentric nitwits pay for the investment to do some real good in the future, even heaven has a financieer.

Ive read some of the comments above and I agree we need an international space agency so all the goverments involved can put there money together and build a better deepspace craft so we can explore and colonize are solar system and not put all are eggs in one basket.
A cheap and economical earth to orbit vehicle are a must and I think that commercial control of leo is a good thing and after they become enconomicly viable they could build a space elevator, and make getting into space even cheaper.

Ive read some of the comments above and I agree we need an international space agency so all the goverments involved can put there money together and build a better deepspace craft so we can explore and colonize are solar system and not put all are eggs in one basket.
A cheap and economical earth to orbit vehicle are a must and I think that commercial control of leo is a good thing and after they become enconomicly viable they could build a space elevator, and make getting into space even cheaper. www.inn-salzach-ticket.de

Science must advance, new technologies must be invented, to really colonize space around Earth and beyond, but most important, space revolution will dramatically change our society and culture.
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If the ultimate goal of human space flight is to allow humans to live among the stars, then the long delayed centrifuge for the ISS must be flown.
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Ive read some of the comments above and I agree we need an international space agency so all the goverments involved can put there money together and build a better deepspace craft so we can explore and colonize are solar system and not put all are eggs in one basket.
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This is to Torino10. I would think it would be a sad thing if us humans would stop reaching for the stars. Just because of the small or big problem of procreating under microgravity. Its easy to make gravity. By exploiting the centrifugal force.online

Live long and prosper friends.

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it's about time the commercial sector got a shot at space. as for the propulsion system, i understand that there is a subatomic ion engine in development, its fuel, ignition, and exhaust is cyclical and therefore ALMOST infinite. albeit may take some time to get the vehicle up to speed, there are very few forces to slow it down. making babies in space,hhhmmmm, havent done that yet (memo to self). let those fat overpayed undereducated pompous eccentric nitwits pay for the investment to do some real good in the future, even heaven has a financieer....

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