Bigelow Aerospace has successfully launched their first test space station, the Genesis I. The craft has inflated, deployed solar panels and is sending telemetry data back to Bigelow space command.
How far do you think these private companies will get?
Do you think this is good or bad?
How soon will there be mass tourism to Earth orbit?
2006-07-12 17:25:54 · 5 answers · asked by tantamount_to_anarchy 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
it may get us a less expensive means to get to outer space.
a private venture is usually made in order to make money, not to achieve a goal, or to best some political agenda. NASA had to satisfy politicians, industry and the private sector as to the distribution of time, materials and finances to achieve its goals of reaching space. but maybe a single investment firm, building on the knowledge given by NASA for the basic, can improve on the type of launch vehicle and return to earth. Look at the rutan project. they used rubber and nitrous oxide for the fuel, a single sealed composite hull for heat resistance, and saved weight by launching at altitude instead of the at ground level. all very different ideas. sure the goal was different, but it shows that by thinking outside what is expected by what has been done before its possible to overcome the problems.
2006-07-13 10:02:42 · answer #1 · answered by centurion613 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it's good and bad. Good in the sense that people who may never get the opportunity to go may now have the chance. The bad thing is that it will be yet another way for rich people to remind the poor the privileges of upper class. Yet another way to segregate the classes. Also, I think this will be the beginning of a "this land is my land, this land is your land".... even outer space can't escape the possessiveness of humans.
2006-07-13 00:53:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They will get as far as they can until their first disaster and human life is lost.
It can be good and bad, just depends on who's perspective.
25 years minimum before there is mass tourism to Earth orbit.
2006-07-13 00:40:25 · answer #3 · answered by Dwayne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one except the rich will ever become a space tourist, It is good and will lead to an increase in TV channels.
2006-07-13 06:09:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
More people having sex in space :)
2006-07-13 00:44:12 · answer #5 · answered by Cable guy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋