After the Apollo missions, many expected Moon bases, manned Mars missions and, of course, floating wheel-like Space Stations. However that future has not yet transpired. So when will Joe and Jane Everyman get into orbit? In the years following the Apollo space program, a gradual evolution of
NASA
(and otherworld space agencies and programs) has been in progress. What started out as a politically motivated space race has now evolved into a slow, steady outward expansion and consolidation of government and commercial space activities. From the multibillion dollar data, voice, television, GPS navigation satellite services to privately developed expendable rockets and space cargo, the private sector has commercialized many aspects that were once the sole domain of government space agencies.
News / Tourism (None)
19 September 2000 by Patrick Collins
NASA's Approach to RLVs Shown To Be Totally Misconceived
NASA
has recently admitted that the
X-34
project, touted with the
X-33
as the route to reducing launch costs, is at an impasse. Readers will remember that in 1995, as a result of the great success of the
DC-X
reusable rocket funded by the Defence Department,
NASA
announced its own
RLV
program - with the
X-33
and
X-34
reusable rockets as its centre-pieces. Both were to start a series of progressive demonstration flights in 1999, leading on to low-cost launch vehicles.
Online / Tourism (None)
23 August 2000 by Peter Wainwright
The Argonauts profile John Spencer
Just to prove that Mike
Kelly
, CEO of
Kelly Space & Technology
, isn't the only one getting a little press attention lately (GQ Magazine, September 2000), founder of Space Renaissance Inc and the
Space Tourism Society
John Spencer
has recently been
profiled by The Argonauts, a web magazine focussing on adventure travel.
Media / General (Good)
10 August 2000 by Carol Pinchefsky
"Survivor" in Space
According to
MSNBC, Mark Burnett, the producer of “Survivor” who envisioned and realized 16 castaways duking it out for survival, like Gilligan’s Island with an edge, has made an even more daring programming decision: He plans a new “Survivor” series that will send 13 to 15 contestants to Star City, Russia. After a process of elimination, one lucky winner will be sent to Mir Space Station.