Space exploration by investors backed by nations was: Digest 110

>Greetings:
> I would like to mention the obvious, even though it seems nobody
>has said it lately. Solar sailing to advance our reach past earth.
> Our ancestors reached out beyond the seemingly endless oceans.
>They used sails for power. They didn't wait for steam, solid, liquid,
>ion or nuclear fuel. They used what was at hand.

Well said, Steve :-)

> The first were explorers. Explorers with courage and faith
>backed by governments willing to take risks for the long term good.

Now that could be risk takers backed also by governments. It could be
even a company made up of many large and small shareholders which
develops and carries on the mining and exploration mission.

I would try to buy some shares if possible :-) . The possibility for
smaller investors to get a stake in such a venture would help that
people can identify them self more with space exploration and spread
the risk onto those which are willing to back it with personal funds.

I would bet a lot of space enthusiasts were willing to buy shares when
they see the possibility to speed up space exploration in such agency
and nation backed venture.

The country or a group of countries (like the nations which are taking
part on the ISS) would only be responsible for the launch business
which could even get paid or partly paid and partly subvention ed.
Countries could also be shareholders.

> It would be ironic if the first for profit missions were done by
>solar sails. Simple and dependent again on courage and faith.
> I wonder what country will be the one to take risks for the long
>term good.

The ISS backing nations would be a good bet for that adventure, they
could accelerate the launch business and the usage of the only space
station we now have in space best.
A space agency, be it US, Russian or EU could provide launch services.

On the other hand a company could shorten the long R&D cycles of
public space agencies for the development and construction of the
mother ship and daughter units bette for their part of the operation.

Frank

www.solar-thruster-sailor.info

For the first solar sail design of a carrier ship with
docking able
landers and with roller reefing

making it possible to leave the atmospheric drag zone
near a space
station and getting back again delivering asteroidal
ore to that
Near Earth space station

take a look at:

www.solar-thruster-sailor.info/figs/fig13.html

http://www.solar-thruster-sailor.info/figs/fig14-15.html

http://www.solar-thruster-sailor.info/figs/fig17.html