|
|
|
Reach for
|
Space Tourism Quotes - ArchiveView quotes from:
2008“Within 10 to 15 years, people will be visiting hotels in orbit, shortly followed by holidays to the moon and hopefully beyond.” (Comment by Carolyn Wincer, Head of Astronaut Sales for Virgin Galactic, as reported in Luxury Travel magazine on January 17, 2008) Editorial – We like your enthusiasm Carolyn but things just aren’t going to happen that fast! “Testing of SpaceShipTwo is still on track to begin in 2008, but that the first commercial flight may not occur until 2010, a year later than was projected.” (Carolyn Wincer, head of astronaut sales for Virgin Galactic in the Houston Business Journal as reported on January 4, 2008) Editorial – Actually we think it is 2 years later than first projected… but whose counting! We just want to see it happen. NOTE: Since we are predicting that VG will be the first company to the marketplace this delay, in turn, is driving back the first release of our Space Adventure Assessment/Report to NET 2nd Qtr. of 2009 so that the latest Space Tourism information is available when released. Back to Top2007"Starchaser Industries has received a $200,000 contract from the European Space Agency to submit an analysis of the proposed Thunderstar Starchaser 5 rocket and to develop a business plan on the sustainability of space tourism." (Starchaser spokeswoman Kimmarie Hartley as reported by the AP news agency on January 16, 2007) Editorial - Surprise, another government agency is looking into the benefits of Space Tourism! "By stimulating the growth of commercial space enterprise, NASA will free itself to focus on long-range exploration of the moon and Mars." (NASA's Scott Horowitz in a release following an announcement that NASA would share technical information with PlanetSpace Inc. and Transformational Space Corp. (t/Space) - released on February 2, 2007) Editorial - This is exactly what we believed NASA's position on space activity was going to be once they got the COTS program in place. Now everyone can see it in "black and white".... "The flying weather is great, and the views of the entire island chain and the ocean from space will be spectacular." (Charles Lauer, vice president for business development for Rocketplane Kistler, commenting in an AP article on February 13, 2007, on the possibility of a Spaceport located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.) "By encouraging such potential collaborations, NASA supports the development of greater commercial collaboration and applications that will serve to strengthen and enhance the future benefits of space exploration for all of mankind." (NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale on a NASA and Virgin Galactic agreement to explore the possibility of working together, as reported by the UPI news agency on February 22, 2007) Editorial - We need more of this kind of co-operation between the government and private enterprise. "Tourism is likely to be the initial driver for commercial space travel." (Commentary for the Wall Street Journal on March 30, 2007, by venture capitalist Esther Dyson.) Editorial - Isn't this what we have been reporting on for the last two years? "New Mexico is prepared to launch a whole new era of discovery, exploration and commercial activity in space, on the moon and beyond." (Rick Homans, chairman of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and the state's secretary of economic development, commenting on a New Mexico county approving a spaceport tax for development of Spaceport America, as reported in The Washington Post on April 6, 2007) "We think the time will come when orbiting space complexes won't be considered a novelty, but a necessity." (Robert Bigelow of Bigelow Aerospace announcing his company's plans in Colorado Springs, Colorado on April 10, 2007) Editorial - Stay tuned, Robert Bigelow and his company will be doing some extraordinary things in the next three to five years.... "It has been a hard slog and continues to be a hard slog. It's just that we're getting results from that slogging." (Jeff Greason, XCOR's president and co-founder, commenting on the progress made by his company as reported in Space News on April 23, 2007) Editorial - What does slog mean? "I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go into space." (Statement by world renown physicist Stephen Hawking before his flight in a zero gravity aircraft as reported in the London Times on May 1, 2007) Editorial - We completely agree with this comment. "...our nation seems to innovate - and prosper - the most when faced with the greatest and most sustained challenges. That's what space offers." (NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale in an op-ed in the San Jose Mercury News on May 21, 2007) The "design will be based on a melding of the NASA and Air Force X-2, X-15 and T-38 vehicles - rather than using an earlier design - the orbital NASA HL-20 lifting body craft... the "new design is deemed safer and more aerodynamic..." and it will "be easier and faster to construct, allowing BSC to remain on-schedule to make its initial commercial spaceflights in 2009." (Statement by Jim Benson, head of Benson Space Company, announcing a new approach in the design of his firm's 'Dream Chaser' space tourism vehicle during the National Space Society's International Space Development Conference in May 2007. As reported in Ad Astra on May 24, 2007) Editorial – Talk about a design change! We remain open-minded, but don’t see how this will speed up their entry into the Space Tourism sub-orbital “race to space”. It won’t be happening before Virgin Galactic. “…it's going to take more than lone tycoons to build the personal spaceflight industry, and many 'NewSpace' firms have had to court individual angel investors who were willing to put their money where their outer-space dreams were." (Comment by Alan Boyle writer in the MSNBC.com “Cosmic Log” blog on June 8, 2007) Editorial – Yes, additional major investors is the preferred way to go but many of the “lone tycoons” have pockets as deep as NASA so Space Tourism spaceflights will happen with or without outside investors. "First there were two, and now there are a total of five private companies cooperating with NASA by dedicating entirely private funding to help establish a robust commercial space transportation industry." (Statement by Scott Horowitz, NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems as reported in Space News on June 19, 2007) Editorial - This should have happened years ago... “`Hey, we think there's a market out there.” (Comment on Space Tourism by Burton Lee, a managing partner of Innovarium Ventures, which advises technology startups - as reported by the AP on July 3, 2007) Editorial – “If you build it they will come.” "In the old days, when people talked about financing space activity, they meant getting Congress to appropriate money, usually via NASA's budget. This time, although there was talk about the 2008 elections and what they would mean for space, the focus was different. No one I talked to had high hopes for major government space initiatives. Instead, the main concern was ensuring that Congress and bureaucrats wouldn't somehow manage to wreck what's regarded as a scene that's vibrant and promising all on its own. The future, most people felt, was with the space entrepreneurs, not the space agencies." (Article by Glenn Harlan Reynolds in the July 2007 issue of Popular Mechanics) Editorial – Nothing else needs to be said… “It remains to be seen whether COTS will ever make the transition to human space transportation.” (Ron Dittemore, president of Alliant TechSystems Launch Systems Group, interviewed by Space News on July 25, 2007) Editorial – I bet Elon Musk of SpaceX would have something to say about that. “With the best technology in the world and plenty of patriotic pride, it's easy to forget that even sub-orbital spaceflight is both difficult and dangerous.” (Benjamin Radford, managing editor of The Skeptical Inquirer . in an opinion piece for LiveScience.com on August 16, 2007) “To achieve great things you must risk everything. Here's the truth the public must be made to understand about the Vision: people will die achieving it. Rockets blow up, spaceships fail, people make mistakes. Space is hostile and alien to human life. However, so are parts of the desert and the high mountains of the West, and the alluvial plain at the base of Louisiana. We journey onward, not because we believe that safety is assured, but because our lives require we achieve new science and understanding to improve our world.” (Space writer Frank Sietzen, Jr., in an essay for the Space Review of September 11, 2007) Editorial – Amen to that... “Space must be a national priority and its exploration a shared responsibility of government and the private sector.” (Comment by Roger Krone, president of Network and Space Systems at Boeing and executive co-chair of the Space 2007 Conference & Exposition, said on September 18, 2007 at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics space conference.) Editorial – Everyone is jumping on this bandwagon now… “Young doers don't know what is impossible and they have less to risk when proposing bold solutions. Once the cost of spaceflight comes down, and the young entrepreneurial minds are let loose, the possibilities of what they will do with those resources are as boundless as their imaginations.” (Dr. Peter Diamandis, in a posting on the Huffington Post blog of October 5, 2007.) “RpK came in with a lot of promises and a half baked business plan and the market place is weeding them out.” (Comment by David Gump, president of Transformational Space Corp. on the failure of Rocketplane Kistler to secure the necessary funding to continue on in NASA’s COTS program - as reported in Space.com on October 9, 2007.) Editorial – Sour grapes? “I always wanted to be an astronaut, but everyone always told me that it would never happen.” (Anousheh Ansari speaking with high school students as reported in the Huntsville (AL) Times on November 16, 2007.) Editorial – See what a little perseverance and $20 million can get you. More power to you Anousheh. “The competition to build spaceships for NASA can lead to alliances as strange as anything seen on a 'Survivor' episode, as illustrated by PlanetSpace's new partnership.” (Comment by Alan Boyle writer for the “Space Log” on MSNBC.com on December 3, 2007) Editorial – I happen to like ‘Survivor’! We are surprised that it actually took this long for Old Space to realize the potential business opportunity that New Space was creating… Back to Top2006"A plan to build in New Mexico the world's first airport for launching commercial spacecraft is the latest development in the new space race, a race among private companies and billionaire entrepreneurs to carry paying passengers into space and to kick-start a new industry: Astrotourism". (Reporter Ed Bradley on the CBS program 60 Minutes aired on January 1, 2006) Editorial - Ed, stop making up your own words. It's called Space Tourism. "I think as a general rule the verdict is clear. Private sector is considerably more efficient than government. We ran that experiment in the 20th century. It was called communism versus capitalism you could not have a more clear verdict. I think anything that can be done by private enterprise should be done by private enterprise." (SpaceX owner Elon Musk responding to CNBC's Kudlow & Company anchor Lawrence Kudlow on privatizing NASA. The show was aired on February 6, 2006.) "We did lose the vehicle. Clearly this is a setback, but we're in this for the long haul." (Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's vice president for business development, talking to reporters after they reported that their Falcon 1 rocket and its satellite were destroyed during it's maiden launch attempt. Reported by MSNBC.com on March 27, 2006 Editorial - This attitude is what will make SpaceX successful. “The 'Kitty Hawk Moment' is that instant when the impossible becomes a reality. Is it any wonder that people find it hard to take in? The media reported the achievement but have yet to fully grasp the significance of what happened." (Bob Clarebrough of The Space Review on April 25, 2006, reporting on the sub-orbital flight of Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne, heralding the birth of the private enterprise space industry.) Editorial - We hear you , Bob, and couldn't agree with you more! “I’m a big proponent of private space travel.” (Dr. Buzz Aldrin, second person to walk on the moon - after Neil Armstrong, talking to a group of reporters after he signed copies of his new book, 'Reaching for the Moon,' at the Missouri Science Center on May 4, 2006) “NASA should develop a long-range strategy to harness the engine of free enterprise for the exploration of space, with government providing regulatory oversight, while allowing private partners in the pilot's seat." (Article appearing in the Houston Chronicle on May 30, 2006.) Editorial - Now this is a breath of fresh air coming from the home of NASA's Johnson Space Center. "People have stopped taking the risks required. I would not be surprised if, decades from now, we see multi-hundred-million-dollar purses, billion-dollar purses, because it's a very efficient way of causing a breakthrough. Nothing concentrates the mind like a big pile of cash.” (Ansari X Prize developer, Peter Diamandis, talking about competition to stimulate technology breakthroughs, as reported in the magazine Wired on May 31, 2006.) "No human being has ever flown into an aurora borealis. You have to go beyond the edge of space. I think that will be a magical and mystical experience." (Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, discussing their plans to offer spaceflights into the aurora borealis. Reported by the UK Guardian on June 9, 2006.) Editorial - Wasn't that the name of a Beatles album - The Magical, Mystical Tour? "This is as close as it gets to entrepreneurial orbital excellence..." (Burt Rutan, head of Scaled Composites, commenting on the success of Robert Bigelow's Genesis-1 mission which marked the beginning of a long-term vision to build and orbit a private space station for commercial and public use. Reported by Space.com on July 24, 2006.) Editorial - We concur with Burt's assessment. "The Canadian Space Agency has been aware of a proposed orbital launch facility in Nova Scotia for several months. And it says it's supportive of private enterprise reaching for the stars." (Article appearing in the Toronto Star on August 17, 2006.) Editorial - Now this is what we're talking about - getting government support for Space Tourism. "I'm interested in man's march into the unknown but to vomit in space is not my idea of a good time. Neither is a fiery crash with the vomit hovering over me. I do want to go up but I need guarantees I'll definitely come back." (Former Star Trek actor, William Shatner's comments after he turned down an offer from Sir Richard Branson for a free trip into space as a passenger on-board Virgin Galactic's sub-orbital vehicle, SpaceShipTwo - as reported in the UK Register on September 7, 2006) Editorial - Captain Kirk! This is so out of character, what would Spock say.... "A Russian rocket lifts Anousheh Ansari into space on her way towards fulfilling a childhood dream. The 40-year-old achieves a pair of firsts. She's the first person born in Iran to make it into space and she's the first female space tourist." (As reported on CNN Live on September 18, 2006) 'It's a very credible idea; there is nothing wrong with the physics of it. If enough funding is found, it's possible we could see a space elevator in about 20 years." (Robert Cassanova, director of NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts, as reported by CNN on September 19, 2006) Editorial - This won't happen in my lifetime! "Of course this was a dream I was fulfilling for myself, but at the same time I wanted to use it as a means to bring more interest and awareness about human space exploration." (Comments by Anousheh Ansari, first female Space Tourist, at her post mission press conference on October 2, 2006) "Using the airmail paradigm, NASA will purchase seats on these suborbital flights for experiments and possibly astronaut candidates for mission proficiency, if and when they become available." (Mike Griffin, NASA Administrtor, during the Wirefly X Prize Cup Executive Summit in Las Cruces, N.M on October 20, 2006) Editorial - This kind of attitude is exactly why Griffin is the right person for the job at NASA - further defining government support for Space Tourism. "You can't be as safe, or twice as safe, or ten times as safe [as government-funded spaceflight] and fly the public." (Quote by Burt Rutan, head of Scaled Composites, as reported by the Richmond Times Dispatch (VA) in an article on November 5, 2006) Editorial - We concur with this remark. "I know how to learn anything I want to learn. I know that I could learn how to fly a space shuttle because someone else knows how to fly it and they put it in a book." (Comment by Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated actor, and Editorial - Will, we have a lot of respect for your daytime jobs so... "I think humanity will be far more interesting and richer and diverse and just the future will be much more exciting and interesting if we are a space-faring civilization that is expanding among the stars than if we're forever on Earth". (SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in an interview with Mercury News on December 10, 2006.)
Back to Top2005"The Space Tourism sector represents a promising new market that will generate economic benefits for our nation but only if it is considered a sage and reliable form of transportation. We are striving to support and promote the development of this new industry by offering a regulatory environment that fosters innovation and creativity.” (Patricia Grace Smith, the FAA’s Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, speaking before the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics on Wednesday, April 20, 2005) Editorial - The real question is how much of a "hand-offs" approach will the government take to allow this new market to develop. “We’re hoping that this allows the reusable launch vehicle developers to build their vehicles and start flying without too much regulatory burden. That’s the goal of these guidelines. We’re protecting public health and safety, but we’re trying to do so in a reduced manner so that reusable launch vehicle developers can go out and fly." (Randy Repcheck, Deputy Manager in the Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST), on the government's release of a special permit aimed at helping the reusable sub-orbital rocket industry grow. As reported on SPACE.com, May 25, 2005) Editorial - Just maybe the government might do the right thing and surprise us all. Wouldn't that be something new.... "We are filling a gap at NASA. While NASA is equipped to go to Mars and beyond, we're concentrated on taking individuals into space." (Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Galactic, as reported inAviation Week and Space Technology Online, July 31, 2005) "NASA is doing a wonderful job exploring and we need to keep doing that. But there's a role for private companies. In fact, a translunar Soyuz is something that NASA would find useful in the future as a backup or otherwise." (Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson, as reported in an interview with Fox News, August 10, 2005, on his company offering two, $100 million seats in a Russian built Soyuz spacecraft on an around-the-moon trip planned for 2008) Editorial Note - Space Adventures demographic research suggests that 500 to 1,000 people in the world can afford to take this trip. "I'll be the first to fly in the new spaceship. It's an important statement for Virgin Galactic. And in fact if I wasn't willing to, people would understandably wonder why not. It's important to be willing do things yourself. And it's quite fun." (Sir Richard Branson, as reported in an interview with Business Week, August 26, 2005) Editorial - We think being the first to fly in this new enterprise is not only the right thing to do, it is a requirement for success and public acceptance. "Fun" is an understatement. "Why not? I'm compelled to do it because no one else seems to be interested." (Scaled Composites, LLC President & CEO Burt Rutan, as reported in The San Mateo County Times, October 11, 2005, when asked about the future of space travel at the Hiller Aviation Museum fund-raising dinner.) Editorial - It's this kind of "can-do" attitude that will make Space Tourism a reality despite what others may think. "Well, I think Spacecraft One [sic] was a nice stunt. You spend twenty-five million dollars to win ten. I'm not taking anything away from it because the people who flew it were very brave and courageous, but I don't think it leads to much, and I think it's inappropriately displayed up there next to Lindbergh's and Yeager's airplanes." (Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman, who crewed the first circumlunar flight, when asked about the recent addition of SpaceShipOne to the Smithsonian museum and the role of commercial spaceflight. As reported in Aero-News, on October 31, 2005) Editorial - Not to take anything away from Astronaut Borman but... get with the program Frank! "NASA intends to carve out a prominent role for the private sector as it makes plans to send explorers back to the moon and eventually to Mars." (NASA's space agency administrator Michael Griffin talking at the opening session of the American Astronautical Society's annual meeting. Reported in the Houston Chronicle on November 16, 2005) Editorial - Long overdue! Thank You. "Virgin Airlines has announced that in three or four years, they'll begin offering commercial flights into space. Experts say this is the perfect chance to experience the wonder of space stuck between a crying baby and a fat guy." (Conan O'Brien, on NBC's Late Night show of Wednesday, December 14, 2005) Back to Top |
Send mail to webmaster@UniversalSpaceSystems.com with
questions or comments about this Web site.
|
