OLDER STORIES
- House Subcomittee discusses energy from space
- NASA Report on Space Tourism to be Published in January
- SPS 2000 Receives New Grant
- Space Frontier Conference VI Opens Space for Business
- World Tourism Organisation sees stars
- CATS Prize launched
- SPS '97
- IAF Chair supports SPS and Tourism
- X Prize Gala Full of Surprises
- Bristol Spaceplanes goes on the web
- Zero-g and high altitude trips offered to ambitious tourists
- NASA is obstructive claims ex-head
- Ex-astronauts vie for trip to space
- NEAP a Prelude to Asteroid Mining?
- Bantam contracts held up
- 29 July 2012
- Added "Space Debris and Its Mitigation
" to the archive.
- 16 July 2012
- Space Future has been on something of a hiatus of late. With the concept of Space Tourism steadily increasing in acceptance, and the advances of commercial space, much of our purpose could be said to be achieved. But this industry is still nascent, and there's much to do. So...watch this space.
- 9 December 2010
- Updated "What the Growth of a Space Tourism Industry Could Contribute to Employment, Economic Growth, Environmental Protection, Education, Culture and World Peace
- 7 December 2008
- "What the Growth of a Space Tourism Industry Could Contribute to Employment, Economic Growth, Environmental Protection, Education, Culture and World Peace
- 30 November 2008
- Added Lynx
to the Vehicle Designs page.
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News / Other (None)
5 March 1998 by
Hollywood's Variety entertainment trade publication ran this innocuous article recently:
News / Other (None)
1 March 1998 by Sam Coniglio
Newsweek, Fortune, Popular Science Introduce the Entrepreneurs to the Public
The proverbial cat is out of the bag. After years of struggling to get recognition, the new space entrepreneurs are getting serious coverage in the mainstream press.
The December 29 issue of Newsweek looked at "The New Celestial Capitalists." Focusing on the business side of space, the article discussed the new opportunities that are changing the frontier. Jim Benson's SpaceDev
was showcased as a 21st century gold rush: exploring and claiming near Earth asteroids. Low cost satellite launch and fast package delivery were represented by Kistler Aerospace and Rotary Rocket Company. Space Tourism was represented by Interglobal Space Lines, LunaCorp, and Zegrahm Space Voyages. From the article's perspective, all of these new initiatives spring from the assumption that NASA no longer wants to deal with mundane space operations. As an example, the cost savings that SpaceHab gives to the space shuttle program was compared to the old SpaceLab: $185 million per module versus $1.2 billion.
The February 2 issue of Fortune, normally a conservative magazine, discussed how the new space companies are being formed to deal with the glut of data communication satellites that need to be launched. The X-33 and Lockheed Martin's Venture Star vehicles were discussed. The article then pointed out that even with NASA support, no Venture Stars will be ready to fly by 2001, when several of the competitors will already be operational. Kelly Space & Technology, Kistler Aerospace, Pioneer Rocketplane, and Rotary Rocket Company were mentioned in the article.
Finally, the February issue of Popular Science had the most extensive coverage of the three magazines. The article included several excellent computer images of the best known vehicles. Plugging names such as Tom Clancy, Burt Rutan,
Buzz Aldrin, and Pete Conrad, the article did its best to show how serious these companies are. As well as the companies mentioned in the other articles, Space Access was also reviewed. The story of Federal Express' founder Fred Smith offer to put money into a hypersonic cargo plane was discussed, as well as the U.S. Air Force's attempts to build a reusable space plane. The X Prize got a good plug as a side bar article.
The secret is out. The general public is beginning to hear stories of these amazing flying machines. Now with Senator John Glenn getting a ride on the space shuttle, it will not be long before people will start demanding a ride into orbit.
Sources:
The December 29 issue of Newsweek
looked at "The New Celestial Capitalists." Focusing on the business side of space, the article discussed the new opportunities that are changing the frontier. Jim Benson's SpaceDev was showcased as a 21st century gold rush: exploring and claiming near Earth asteroids. Low cost satellite launch and fast package delivery were represented by Kistler Aerospace and Rotary Rocket Company. Space Tourism was represented by Interglobal Space Lines, LunaCorp, and Zegrahm Space Voyages. From the article's perspective, all of these new initiatives spring from the assumption that NASA no longer wants to deal with mundane space operations. As an example, the cost savings that SpaceHab gives to the space shuttle program was compared to the old SpaceLab: $185 million per module versus $1.2 billion.The February 2 issue of Fortune, normally a conservative magazine, discussed how the new space companies are being formed to deal with the glut of data communication satellites that need to be launched. The X-33
and Lockheed Martin's Venture Star vehicles were discussed. The article then pointed out that even with NASA support, no Venture Stars will be ready to fly by 2001, when several of the competitors will already be operational. Kelly Space & Technology, Kistler Aerospace, Pioneer Rocketplane, and Rotary Rocket Company were mentioned in the article.Finally, the February issue of Popular Science had the most extensive coverage of the three magazines. The article included several excellent computer images of the best known vehicles. Plugging names such as Tom Clancy, Burt Rutan
,
Buzz Aldrin, and Pete Conrad, the article did its best to show how serious these companies are. As well as the companies mentioned in the other articles, Space Access was also reviewed. The story of Federal Express' founder Fred Smith offer to put money into a hypersonic cargo plane was discussed, as well as the U.S. Air Force's attempts to build a reusable space plane. The X Prize got a good plug as a side bar article.The secret is out. The general public is beginning to hear stories of these amazing flying machines. Now with Senator John Glenn getting a ride on the space shuttle, it will not be long before people will start demanding a ride into orbit.
Sources:
- Begley, Sharon, and Weingarten, Tara. "The New Celestial Capitalists."
Newsweek
- Schonfeld, Erick. "Blasting Off the Cheap Way." Fortune. Feb. 2, 1998. pp. 140-141.
- Sweetman, Bill. "Rocket Planes." Popular Science. Feb. 1998. pp.40-45.
News / Other (None)
24 February 1998 by Sam Coniglio
Payloads, Launch Capacity Discussed
News / Other (None)
7 February 1998 by Patrick Collins
Space flight by 76 year-old Senator will show that anyone can go
NASA has announced that Senator John Glenn (D Idaho), the first US citizen to orbit the Earth (in 1962) will fly on board the space shuttle in late 1998. Scepticism has been expressed about claims that this will be useful for research on ageing, and it is acknowledged that his case is exceptional. (There's a long queue of other ex-astronauts who'd like a flight!)
has announced that Senator John Glenn (D Idaho), the first US citizen to orbit the Earth (in 1962) will fly on board the space shuttle in late 1998. Scepticism has been expressed about claims that this will be useful for research on ageing, and it is acknowledged that his case is exceptional. (There's a long queue of other ex-astronauts who'd like a flight!) News / Other (None)
6 February 1998 by Patrick Collins
Publication of Joint NASA/STA Research on Space Tourism Delayed
A joint press conference by NASA and the Space Transportation Association (STA) was planned for January 21st at the Press Club, Washington DC, and publicised in the STA Newsletter. However it was cancelled by NASA at the last minute, and a new date has yet to be announced.
and the Space Transportation Association (STA) was planned for January 21st at the Press Club, Washington DC, and publicised in the STA Newsletter. However it was cancelled by NASA at the last minute, and a new date has yet to be announced. News / Vehicles (None)
20 January 1998 by
Rotary Rocket Gets Key Financial Advisor
Rotary Rocket Company, a California company developing the Roton single-stage to orbit reusable spacecraft, announced January 20 that it has brought on the same financial advisors who raised funding for the Iridium communications satellite project.
, a California company developing the Roton single-stage to orbit reusable spacecraft, announced January 20 that it has brought on the same financial advisors who raised funding for the Iridium communications satellite project. News / Other (None)
9 January 1998 by
Board Members Who Helped Create Kistler Vision Step Down
LOS ANGELES - Jan. 9, 1998 - Kistler Aerospace today announced that
Walter Kistler (age 79), chairman emeritus, and
Bob Citron (age 65) two early pioneers of the commercialization of space who co-founded the company, are stepping down from its board of directors to make room for new members who have agreed to join the Kistler Board. Both will continue to work with Kistler as advisors in a variety of capacities.
Aerospace today announced that
Walter Kistler (age 79), chairman emeritus, and
Bob Citron (age 65) two early pioneers of the commercialization of space who co-founded the company, are stepping down from its board of directors to make room for new members who have agreed to join the Kistler Board. Both will continue to work with Kistler as advisors in a variety of capacities. News / Other (None)
24 October 1997 by
Rep. Weldon to Challenge NASA, Industry to Pursue Space-based Solar Power
Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Dave Weldon (R-Palm Bay) will challenge NASA to investigate the feasibility of space-based solar power systems at a House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing today.
to investigate the feasibility of space-based solar power systems at a House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing today. News / Habitat (None)
22 October 1997 by Peter Wainwright
Company Press Release
Steamboat Springs, CO (October 22, 1997) - SpaceDev, LLC a Colorado-based holding company announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Pegasus Development Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PSDM) of Denver, Colorado.
, LLC a Colorado-based holding company announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Pegasus Development Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PSDM) of Denver, Colorado. News / Other (None)
18 January 1998 by
Applied Space Resources plans to return lunar rock to Earth
Comany Press Release:
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