Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Window or Aisle?

Posted by michael on from the down-in-birdland-yeah dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes "Forget Tito. Forget Shuttleworth. Private space travel is now a reality, now that eBay is accepting bids for travel to the International Space Station. I consider this a milestone for space travel, now that the average citizen-next-door can bid for a ticket as easily as buying, er, crap on eBay." Actually it appears that this is just the pre-flight stuff required prior to a trip - Note: Soyuz tickets sold separately, may involve a small added expense, if you get my drift. The real milestone is when tickets are listed on Travelocity. JFK->ISS, non-stop, no smoking, snack only.

9 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. No thanks by Brento · · Score: 4, Funny

    After a lot of Ebay deals gone sour, I've got a personal rule: never purchase from a seller with zero feedback. After they've sold at least a couple dozen of these, then I might reconsider. Heh.

    --
    What's your damage, Heather?
  2. What else to buy... by AstroMage · · Score: 4, Funny
    and after bidding on this on eBay, our intrepid space explorer can also buy himself some prime moon property, or go sign up at the Lunar Embassy.

    Heh, heh... ;-)

  3. Uhm, not spaceflight! by Daath · · Score: 4, Informative

    If I read this correctly this is _NOT_ a ticket to space - This is a ticket to the "International Space Station (ISS) Experience" - sort of like a disneyland ride... The ticket is for the, quote, "Orbital Pre-Qualification Program" - Read it. It looks fun though, if a bit expensive...

    --
    Any technology distinguishable from magic, is insufficiently advanced.
  4. bay auction by 56ker · · Score: 3, Funny

    For Sale: Mir Space Station
    Slightly burnt due to re-entry but still salvageable at the bottom of the ocean. Slightly fire damaged. Buyer pays postage and launch costs. Be the envy of the world - own a second-hand space station today! Starting price: 1 rouble.

    --


    Video Game cheats, hints a
  5. Reason for retracted bid by hitchhucker · · Score: 5, Funny

    I love this reason given for a retracted bid:

    wrong auction sorry.. thought it was for the other space trip

  6. Comericalization of space. Started by the Russians by jellomizer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I find it Ironic that the Russians are the curent/firsts leader in Commerical Space flight. Basicly because a decade ago they were still a Comunist Nation and everything is supported by the goverment and a vacation in space would not be funded by private indrustry. And was beleaved that America will be the first to comericalize space. But now the American Space Launches are still controled by the government.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  7. Re:My favorite is USAIR's tactic by SEWilco · · Score: 3, Interesting
    PanAm accepted 90,000 reservations for Moon trips in the 1960s.

    "The real milestone is when tickets are listed on Travelocity. JFK->ISS, non-stop, no smoking, snack only."
    Yes, but that's only a milestone. I'd prefer a 3-week cruise with transfer at Goddard Station, view of ISS Museum, 1950 DA mining facility and stop at Disney L-5 enroute to Tycho City Hilton. If I were younger I'd make reservations at Tycho Flight School, but instead I'll play with Hub Wings at DL5.
  8. Hayden Planetarium's list? by dpbsmith · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When I was a kid, I signed my name and address in a book at t the Hayden Planetarium in New York indicating that I was interested in being a passenger on the first commercial passenger flight into space (or possibly to the Moon, I forget which).

    I wonder if they still have that list? I wonder if they maintain it? I wonder what the names on a mailing list of "middle-aged geeks interested in being space tourists" are worth?

    I wonder if I need to contact them and ask to have my name removed?

    I wonder what sort of junk mail I can expect to get if I don't?

    --

    "How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!

  9. Re:Must be a hoax... by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 3, Funny
    Who is Yuri Garaging?
    He's the valet of the Star City Night Club...