HORIZON at BBC (UK)

Hi Al,

Sorry, I'm in a rush right now, but will get back to you on some of your
other points later. However I should point out to you re your comment,
"Europe and Japan have no developments which will launch people in the
next few years -- except in US or Russian spacecraft." - that the
present Ariane 5 was specifically designed with a view to it becoming
man-rated. Nevertheless, it was not present vehicles I had in mind,
rather those under development and likely to become available within a
few years now.

Best wishes, Andy.

Al Globus wrote:

> andy-nimmo wrote:
> >
> > Mass production and improved use will bring down the cost of space -
>
> > to my mind to around $10,000 per head for a two week holiday in a
> LEO
> > hotel (including transport at both ends) within around 10 years of
> > now.
>
> I hope to get to those dollar figures, but I don't believe the time
> scale for a minute. Let's have a gentlemans bet ($1). I lose if a
> ticket to space is less than $50,000 in 2001 dollars by 2011. I
> sincerely hope you'll win and live to collect.
>
> > It won't be NASA of course, it will be private enterprise that
> > does it, but various national enterprises will first lead the way,
> > particularly during the more expensive phase, now begun by Tito. We
> > used to have a saying in KLM, 'aircraft only make profits when they
> > are in the air'. The same will prove true of spacecraft.
> >
> Actually, government was VERY heavily involved in getting the cost of
> aircraft down to reasonable levels. Mail contracts played a role, but
>
> probably more important was the development and mass production of
> military aircraft, particularly during WWII. I suspect most early
> commercial aircraft were derivatives of WWII era military aircraft.
> Also, the swept wing, jet engines, and the ATC system -- all essential
>
> to the commercial aircraft business -- were developed by governments.
>
> > Within a few years now, Europe, Japan and China will be launching
> their own astronauts.
>
> Europe and Japan have no developments which will launch people in the
> next few years -- except in US or Russian spacecraft. There is
> evidence
> the Chinese are developing something. Let's hope it's good.
>
> --
> Al Globus
> aglobus@..., (650) 604-4404
> http://www.nas.nasa.gov/~globus/home.html
>
> The dinosaurs weren't spacefaring. We are. I don't think that's an
> accident. Maybe we are life's taxi to the stars.
>
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