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Another Space Tourist For Russia
Michael Wallis writes: "Just saw a story on AllNews.ru (in English) announcing South African Internet millionaire Mark Shuttleworth is in training to be the second space tourist. This just two days after the head of the Russian space program said in Quebec that there would be no more tourists to ISS until 2006. Guess Mark will just fly a Soyez to orbit for a few days."
They interviewed Mark on the radio here in SA the other day and he said the place is packed with American also training to go into space. So it looks like Dennis Tito won't be the only American forgoing NASA to get into space.
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"To create an apple pie from scratch,
you first must create the universe."
When will the stupid Fcks in the US Government realize there are hundreds of thousands of people who would pay just about anything to get into space, even if only for a few minutes! I admit, I am one...and I personally know hundreds of others.
So, we have the Russians taking advantage of this,and NASA choosing bad shuttle replacement technology, then scrapping the program...and a huge market just waiting to be opened up! Ask an around about how much something that has been in space is worth. Every shuttle crew that goes up has a personal allowence for each member, and many times they take up stuff to re-sell for thousands of dollars stuff that only cost tens of dollars.
Then we get NASA and the US Government refusing to allow private launches so that people have to go off-shore to launch to try to claim the X Prize!!! ARRGGHHH!!!
ttyl
Farrell
CAN-CON 2019 - Ottawa's only book oriented Science Fiction Convention! October 18-20, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada h
It's certainly possible that, if they're not starting with someone who already has a clue, it will actually take 5 years to train them enough to put them on a spacecraft. So, just because this was announced now doesn't mean they won't put him on the ISS when it's done in 2006.
In any case, assuming someday space travel becomes a part of everyday life, it will be important to know how people who aren't specially selected to go into space have to be prepared, so this is, additionally, important research.
Bruce
Bruce Perens.
. . . if he's worth a shuttle, why's he going in a Soyuz? (-1, funny)
--
Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
You're right. It's just like Disney, but then for really rich people. So you're rich, have a bunch of houses, two big yachts, lots of fast cars, lots of old cars, all the toys you want and you give generously to charity, then you go to space. Why not?
All right, some might say that that money would better be spent giving more to charity. But I guess that's mostly because space travel is so very extravagant. But then again, wasn't flying and skiing too initially?
--- Hindsight is 20/20, but walking backwards is not the answer.
IIRC, Mark Shuttleworth is the guy who set up Thawte, which he sold to Verisign for some gigantic sum.
Anyone know what he's doing nowadays, apart from putting himself into orbit?
Any technology which is distinguishable from magic is not sufficiently advanced.
They should NOT work on food and education, but rather on Democracy, and the first thing one should do is excercise one's right to blow money....
hehe.
... you kill me.
First you complain because the Russians ask for more money, then you complain because they try to raise it themselves.
Are you never satisfied?
I have no problem with this if the Russians are just scooting him up in one of their Soyuz capsules. They have plenty of those rockets and they need the $$$.
Just wondering, though, if back in the days of the Wright brothers whether there was a hoopla about tourists going up in the skies. These days that makes up a very large portion of the aviation industry. We can expect the same of the space industry once launches past earth orbit become routine.
"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
1. Shuttleworth is a good name for someone going into space. Ha ha ha!!!
2. Africans should concentrate on more important things, like food and education.
3. It's important for the Russians to get funding SOME WAY - and if this is it, then by Joe, it's a good thing.
4. This isn't news for nerds!!
5. This is old news - it should be called Olds for Nerds.
Cedric Balthazar Rotherwood
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java Platform +
Cedric Balthazar Rotherwood
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java Platform +
System Admin. for Solaris
Because they have astronauts from many different countries wanting to play DVD's, NASA actually sent two hacked DVD players with region codes disabled to the space station.
Thawte Consulting is of course the certificate authority that started out in Mark's condo, that offered a lower cost alternative to Verisign. It was bought by Verisign a year or so ago for a stupendous amount of money at the height of the dotcom balloon. So that's where the cash for the space trip came from, and now we know what Mark is doing with the cash! Wow!
Maybe if they can get a steady stream of wealthy tourists, they can start pulling in advertising rubles for the space station.. Tourist arrives to a barrage of ads from Rolex, Ferrari, Cartier, etc... I can see the headlines now.. ISS becomes 5 star restaurant!
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Space has gone from being the place for people with the right stuff, to the final frontier, to the star wars defense system, to the defunct starwars, but now...yes, now it is disneyland.