Digest Number 378

Hello

I think the comments are getting too divergent. The issue is can tourism
support a viable space industry without government subsidy.

I do not know the answer. I believe (my opinion) the current tourists are not
paying the true cost of their flights, but they are being tolerated for
publicity value. If this is not true, I apologise now.

My argument had been a cheap means to orbit makes most space development
models viable, mining, tourism, energy, exploration, whatever.

My point had been that NASA should be more like its predecessor, NACA, and
devote its efforts to doing the primary research that allows industry to
commercialize space.

BTW, what ever happened to the X-Prize?