There were designs announced to be within the mega-business of tourism in space, accounts Houston Chronicle, by Boeing. In spite of recently getting $20 billion in government subsidies for transatlantic aerospace travel endeavors – a move labeled a violation of international trade law by World Trade Organization judges – Boeing is now knocking on President Obama’s door again. Obama now has more to deal with. The company has contacted him once again. Commercial spaceflight funding is what the business hopes will be increasing.
Space tourism real to Boeing by 2015
Boeing’s expectation is that by 2015, space tourism will be possible via a NASA contract that will enable the manufacturer to send astronauts to the International Space Station via a new type of space capsule, the CST-100. The capsule would have enough seats to admit space tourists along for the ride, writes the Chronicle. The current vice president and general manager of Boeing’s space Exploration division is Brewster Shaw. He explained that human space commerce may very well happen with Boeing and the CST-100. Space Adventures, using Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to book private flights to the International Space Station, is working with Boeing at present.
Despite the fact that Boeing seems to have it all, it still has not won
Globally, Boeing is the largest aircraft manufacturer in terms of revenue, orders and products delivered, indicates the Chronicle. The prime contractor of the space station is Boeing. This adds to its credit. There are lots of things Boeing has on its list of things to do. It needs to get a lot done before tourism in space can really set off. Just getting NASA astronauts to low-Earth orbit by creating rockets and capsules will cost $18 million. Of course, this is because, in 2011, the space shuttle program will be ending. Of course, that is nothing compared to how much tourism in space would cost. Other corporations are working at getting to the business also. This means Boeing will certainly be trying hard to be first.
Obama wants money for commercial spacecraft from Congress
When it comes to seeing how much money the United States government is willing to help pay for commercial space flights, numbers go fairly fast. President Obama is seeking $6 billion over five years from Congress. Senate most just lately has asked for $1.3 billion in three years while the House still hopes its three year plan of $150 million will work. Clearly there’s a large financial disconnect at work, guided by differing priorities. Boeing thinks it will move much slower towards tourism in space without the money the President has asked for. We can get a good estimate of what the industry would cost by looking at how much is cost Cirque du Soleil founder, Guy Laliberte, to go to the International Space Station. He used the Soyuz and it cost $40 million.
Find more information on this subject
Houston Chronicle
chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7203076.html
Google Tech Talk on space tourism
youtube.com/watch?v=yJDKzodiDjE
