Recent Developments In The Commercialization of Space

[ultraforge]

Virgin Galactic has announced plans to build the first commercial spaceport in New Mexico. This is especially interesting when coupled with Space Island Group's plans to build industry on the high frontier. Both of these companies deal with Low Earth Orbit(LEO) commercial space endeavors. In another story, the European Space Agency recently

Comments

[ex_peace2you738]

I'll be staying right here.

[ultraforge]

"And the meek shall inherit the Earth"

I wouldn't mind inheriting the Earth. However, LEO sounds like a nice vacation spot. ;)

[zibacco]

Exciting stuff. Personally, I plan to retire either on the moon or a nice condo habitat in L4.

But plasma engines won't really boost human space travel. For that we need fusion drives. Bring 'em on.

[ultraforge]

Hmm. How far off are fusion drives? Is it even theoretically possible to create a fusion reaction that puts out more energy than is needed to generate such a reaction in the first place?

But yeah, if we can ever build an efficient one we should do it for a multitude of reasons.

[zibacco]

Who knows? They've been saying "ten years to fusion" since the 50's. They're building a pretty promising reactor over in France right now, but who knows if it'll work as advertised.

But if you really look into how we're going to be able to realistically meet our energy needs, fusion is the only way to go. And for fusion that doesn't put off pesky neutron radiation you need Helium3, and the only places to get that in large quantities are the surface of the moon and the gas giant planets. I think that alone could finally give us the economic incentive to have a private space program.

Sorry, I'm kind of a geek about this topic ;)

[ultraforge]

Sorry, I'm kind of a geek about this topic ;)

I'm an aspiring sci-fi writer so any geekiness on this subject is appreciated.

[pookerd]

About six months ago Congress outlawed advertising in space.....yes they spent money on a study about space advertisements and struck down the idea because it would interfere with telescopes......

Is this all really necessary?

[ultraforge]

Well, I'm very excited about the prospect of zero-g manufacturing especially. You can make things up there that you can't make down here such as hybrid materials like glasssteel and plastisteel.

And if people want to pay money to go up to zero-g hotels for a vacation in space, let 'em I say. Why should capitalism end at the upper reaches of the atmosphere?

[pacificocean]

hmm...it will be many many many years later...i..dont care about it so much, but the universe is really mysterious, none knows its limits of time and space.

[ultraforge]

I'd like to find out, baobei. Chat with you after I get back from work.