NASA focused on commercial space travel

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Crossing oceans isn’t enough for you? Well, NASA is working to scratch the most extreme of travel itches. The organization is putting $50 million of economic stimulus cash from the feds into putting the average traveler into space. Companies eager to develop a commercial space vehicle have 45 days to submit their proposals, and the winner will be announced by the end of September.

The program comes at a time when NASA is drastically changing its approach to space. After seven more missions next year, the space shuttle fleet is going to be retired – with the final touch being the completion of the International Space Station. Then, we’ll be outsourcing our space travel to Russia, with U.S. astronauts hitching rides to the space station. Cargo will be shipped to this extraterrestrial spot – 225 miles from Earth – by rockets and capsules being developed by SpaceX and Orbital Sciences.

So, commercial space travel appears to be the key to getting the United States back into the game. Some big names have shown some interest in building the vehicles, including Boeing, Retro Aerospace, Davidson Technologies and Emergent Space technologies.

Gadlinks for Friday 7.17.09

by Brenda Yun on


There are all kinds of great travel reads to keep you occupied this weekend! Here are just a few:

‘Til Monday, have a great weekend!

More Gadlinks HERE.

What financial crisis? Rich software designer blasts off to space for second time

by Jeffrey White on

We’ve written about Hungarian-born software designer Charles Simonyi before here at Gadling. He’s the rich guy who blasted off into space back in 2007 and spent 11 days as a space tourist on board the International Space Station.

Apparently that once-in-a-lifetime experience wasn’t enough.

Simonyi launched into space for his second trip today. He went up in a Russian Soyuz rocked that lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The rocket is following the Space Shuttle Discovery, which is on its way to the International Space Station to relieve a crew that is working up there.

What exactly is Simonyi going to do up there? By my reading, not a whole hell of a lot. Last time he shared his experience with a blog. He’s going to be doing more blogging this time around, and chatting with school kids via radio.

How much did he pay for his seat? He’s not saying exactly, though he says that the list price for the seat to space was $35 million.

Gadling Take FIVE: February 7 –February 13

by Jamie Rhein on

We heard Tynan was coming back to blog on Gadling, and sure enough, this week he began his series Life Nomadic about living no where in particular, but where everywhere is filled with possibilities.

This week boasted a few more tales of amazing feats.

  • One of them was Richard Donovan’s marathon spree of around the world travel– literally. For anyone who wonders if you’ll ever get in shape by spring, read Kraig’s post and weep.
  • In London, 17,000 people mobbed London Liverpool Street Station. Scott posted the video to prove it.
  • Tom wandered in Madrid’s red light district, but not so far that he got into trouble
  • and Brenda gave a heads up on Hawaii’s possible foray into space tourism.
  • Then there is our own, Mike Barish who braved Hotel Carter to wow us with hilarity and look at what the dirtiest hotel looks like. From what I can tell, he’s over feeling woeful and almost good as new.

Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo is on the way

by Grant Martin on

On the far side of the air travel spectrum, where oil isn’t an issue, flight attendants aren’t cranky and passengers aren’t grumbling about extra baggage fees, Virgin Galactic is hanging out alone in the space travel sector.

Earlier this year, VG announced plans for its new aircraft, the White Knight Two that is being built by their partner, Scaled Composites, along with the release of a variety of media and fanfare.

Now, production has moved far enough so that they’ve been able to pin down rollout and first flight dates for their space vehicle. Virgin hopes that their prototype is ready for operation by the end of July while first flight is slated for some time in September.

The group has yet to construct and reveal Spaceship Two, however, the center part of the dual-aircraft that will actually reach sub-orbit; they plan to have that out the door sometime next year. So don’t get your hopes up on commercial space flight too quickly. Both aircraft, the White Knight Two and Spacehip Two have to be thoroughly tested before the business gets off the ground.

Not that its stopping anyone from reserving their seat. Over 250 people have pledged up to $20,000 for their seats so far, giving the group $36M in the bank for development and company hot-tub parties. Let’s hope that the flight tests go well.

[via Endgadget]