Space Tourist Standards

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Posted by michael on Friday February 1, 2002 @05:56AM from the thrifty-brave-clean-and-reverent dept.

Snuffleupagus writes: "I found an interesting story at cnn.com about NASA's new standards for civilian space travel. It looks like if you have a history of drinking, lying and cheating you won't be going into space anytime soon, no matter how much money you have. Looks like I'll be stuck here on Earth for awhile." The guidelines for future space tourists are on NASA's site.

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Yeah, Right by gmhowell · 2002-02-01 06:00 · Score: 2, Insightful

Just like if you are a fucking unrepentant drunk you don't get a new liver.

Unless you are a baseball player.

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The Future by Toby+Truman · 2002-02-01 06:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

This applies just to the space station, it seems, not to space in general. The thing to remember is that NASA has no real authority over space -- It's just space, it doesn't belong to anyone. They *do* have authority, however, over the facilities that we put into space, so they get to call the shots on the space station.

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Technical Writer?
1. Re:The Future by Lumpy · 2002-02-01 06:19 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  please correct that further... They can control the United states modules of the ISS. The Russians would get mighty pissed if the US space angency tries to tell them what they can do with their property...
  
  This really only amounts to someone in NASA trying to justify their job and trying to make policy that is pretty much silly and un-warrented.
  
  --
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2. Re:The Future by CrazyBrett · 2002-02-01 06:35 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  The thing to remember is that NASA has no real authority over space -- It's just space, it doesn't belong to anyone.
  
  I remember when we used to say that about the internet too.
  
  Give it time.
Yep... These won't change... by FortKnox · 2002-02-01 06:04 · Score: 3, Insightful

These are the kind of rules that will never change

Come on. By the time you and I get into space (if we aren't too old), these rules will be changed over 100 times. Think about it.

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1. Re:Yep... These won't change... by aardvarkjoe · 2002-02-01 06:10 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Well, of course. By the time you and I get in to space, the rules will have to have been changed. Otherwise we wouldn't be there. See?
  
  --
  
  How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
NASA != Space by seanellis · 2002-02-01 06:12 · Score: 4, Insightful

Subject line says it all, really.

Commercial spacelines wouldn't be using NASA facilities anyway; they're too expensive.

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Re:Russians anyone? by GSloop · 2002-02-01 06:28 · Score: 2, Insightful

if you have a history of drinking, lying and cheating you won't be going into space anytime soon

And I guess that rules out most of America...
Space credentials by PaulGibson · 2002-02-01 06:34 · Score: 2, Insightful

Well it looks to me (in the NASA document) much like the security clearance background check stuff that many of my friends had to go through to work for DoD related companies. Basically, the lifestyle stuff is there so that they don't get surprised. Of course NASA has some other concerns, including general health, because they don't want any medical emergencies up there, which means that Joe Beergut does not get to go.
However, as with a security clearance, the fact that you smoked a bit of weed and took some mushrooms along the way probably won't hurt. If you have a history of abuse ala Tyson, then perhaps they won't want to include you in a crew that gets to spend weeks in a sardine can together. It just makes good sense.
Sometimes you really just want the wheat
Re:Who then? by chinton · 2002-02-01 06:38 · Score: 3, Insightful

If I had bill gates $, i'd be philanthropic.. I'd just be extremely careful how that money is spent.
Yeah, cause good ol' Bill isn't philanthropic enough...
Re:Here's an interesting thing by Sick+Boy · 2002-02-01 06:42 · Score: 2, Insightful

And just how many people who don't "wholeheartedly support large corporate power" do you think have $60 million to blow on a 2 week vacation?

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Does narcissism count as a hobby? --Shawn Latimer
Yes, another crazy idea by mrroot · 2002-02-01 06:48 · Score: 5, Insightful

I wonder how much additional money it would generate if the govt had a "lottery" for space travel instead of a you-pay-you-go type thing. I bet they could work it out to generate alot more money per space tourist that way, while giving us ordinary citizens a chance to go.

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I Heart Sorting Networks
Oh please... by joto · 2002-02-01 07:43 · Score: 3, Insightful

This is just like the requirements for a basic security clearance. It's not like you can't ever have tasted alcohol (few responsible people haven't).
They look up your police records and military records, interview you, and some of your (earlier) employers, family, and so on, to try to determine if you are a responsible person. If you aren't, then they won't risk the lives of other astronauts, important space research, huge amounts of money, etc, just to get you into space.
This is nothing but common sence. You shouldn't trust untrustworthy people. I fail to see the logic behind allowing Osama bin Laden on the space shuttle just because he has enough money.