Quantum Limit.com: Moon trip for only $10,000 by Ralph Buttigieg

It ought to be possible to get something going for Bill Gates's
fortune (plus the revenue that the project generates in platinum-
group metals or solar energy or whatever, plus the amounts that
settlers pay to go). Gates is spending his fortune on visionary
projects, just not this particular kind. It seems possible that
sometime in the next couple generations there will be a billionaire
who plays a major part in space development. Otoh, I certainly don't
think we should count on it. Governments are a better bet, just not
the only one.

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Chris Smyth wrote:
>
> Joe,
>
> I truly believe that there will come a time (unfortunately, not
in
> our lifetimes) when a person - a live person - will be able to buy
a
> ticket to the moon for $10,000 (or the future equivalent of 2008
> dollars). When this happens, we will be on the cusp of the
beginning of
> space settlement as most of us envision it.
> Space settlement necessarily requires a huge capital investment,
in
> much the same way that Hoover Dam required it. Only governments of
> industrialized nations have this kind of money, and the willingness
to
> spend it on "visionary" projects.
> That said, once the average middle class worker is able to save
up the
> money to take the "trip of a lifetime" or to relocate to start a
new
> life where they feel opportunity awaits - I think we'll find that
the
> spirit of adventure is a lot more common-place than our
industrialized
> culture leads us to believe.
> National space programs are vitally needed at this point in time.
It's
> going to be businesses like Bigelow Aerospace and Virgin Galactic,
> however, that will ultimately usher in, and cash in on, our move
into
> space. I encourage their efforts. If they make huge profits by
being the