Article Blog Fifteen

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36881724/ns/technology_and_science-space/

This article talks about a tourism firm who is planning on offering a ride to outer space for 102,000. An American space tourism company that arranges multimillion-dollar treks to the International Space Station for the ultra-wealthy has struck a new deal to offer suborbital spaceflights for nearly half the going cost. Virginia-based firm Space Adventures has signed an exclusive deal with Armadillo Aerospace, a Texas-based company founded by computer game entrepreneur John Carmack, to sell space tourist seats on new suborbital rocket ships that are currently in development at Armadillo. Flights aboard Armadillo's vertically-launched rocket ship in development will depart from a spaceport in the United States and take passengers to regions above 62 miles (100 kilometers), where space begins.

This is so awesome to me. I've seen some reports about this being offered to the mega elite like Richard Branson and felt I would never be able to afford such a thing. But, this price is nearly fifty percent less than the going rate that other companies provide this service for. Now I realize 102,000 is still extremely expensive and something still for the wealthy, but it's very encouraging to me that the price went down by that much. Who knows, maybe in 20 years it will only be 5000 for this opportunity. I for one would absolutely do this. I was never the kid growing up who loved space and wanted to be an astronaut, but the idea of seeing the world from outer space is absolutely fascinating to me. I can't even imagine what it would be like seeing the world from there. This is something even 20 years ago people thought was only possible in science fiction movies. Now, this is a reality.

The only thing that worries me is that as the market grows for this service, the precautions and standards may go down. This could result in a serious incident and all but likely death for anyone involved. This is all too common with other things such as food or car. There is such a demand for the products that more and more we see serious recalls on these items. I know that the two things are not very much related, but demand is demand. As we've seen in other space craft accidents all it takes is a single panel not being welded right or a screw not tight enough to cause a tragic crash. I think that is definitely something that could come about as a result of more tours being given.

http://www.spacetoday.org/Astronauts/SpaceTourists.html

This article talks more in depth about the idea of space travel in general. California millionaire investment fund manager and onetime NASA rocket scientist Dennis Tito, 60, was the first private space tourist selected by Russian space officials for a visit to the ISS. He paid $20 million for a ride up to Earth orbit aboard a Souyz craft for a 10-day round trip excursion. Currently, Russia offers a similar service that is extremely popular. The Russians have said they are holding seats for Space Adventures customers on four Soyuz flights to the ISS through 2015. Meanwhile, in July 2005 the U.S. space shuttle fleet resumed flights when Discovery flew to the station. However, further shuttle flights have been delayed by problems that cropped up during the 2005 flight. I can only hope before I die I am a position to do this.