Private sector enticing public into final frontier

[Tar Devil]

"In the six months since SpaceShipOne soared into suborbital space to take the $10 million X Prize, a burst of activity has been aimed at getting humans into space on a regular basis — for fun, profit, exploration and, ultimately, the grandiose goal of saving our species. What makes this latest push into space unique is that it's being driven by private entrepreneurs from the technology industry."
(Link to article) (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-06-16-space-ventures-usat_x.htm)

Norm would've loved this!

Later,

Phil

[George Roberts]

News people get the details wrong ...

"By 2020, 100,000 citizens a year could be taking suborbital thrill rides."

And I start thinking - How many flights per day is that? (150. How many of these ships are going to be built?)

Later we find ...

"By the fifth year, the rate will increase to about 3,000 astronauts per year and by the 12th year, 50,000 to 100,000 astronauts will have enjoyed that black sky view."

With a more correct estimate we are down to 2-4 flights a day. Might be doable.

I expect the new Japan-Europe supersonic plane will be more popular.

But Norm would have liked it.