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First-Ever Private Spaceport Nears Final Approval

Posted by simoniker on from the just-like-the-jetsons dept.

bobhagopian writes "According to the article on Space.com, the Federal Aviation Administration is nearing the final stages of certifying the Mojave Airport as the first-ever private spaceport. Both Scaled Composites and XCOR Aerospace (the two leading competitors in the X-Prize competition) currently fly out of Mojave Airport. The approval of a commercial spaceport will certainly facilitate the creation of even more private-sector space technologies."

5 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. Re:There's just one small problem by cemaco · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Think of it as a sign of confidence and commitment. It means even the government is beginning to realize that the private sector has a better chance of making space exploration a going concern. Sort of an approving nod. Official recognition is usually a good thing. With all the red tape involved, making the efort main stream is absolutely necessary. This is a start.

  2. Re:What are they going to do? by dustinbarbour · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't think civilians will go to space merely for the wow factor. I mean, space tourism will have a small niche, but I don't see it getting big just yet. However, getting civilian companies into the business of launching satellites, hiring private astronauts, and other such things seems (to me, anyway) the future of the business. We need to stop relying on NASA and the Europeans to launch our satellites. We all know that governments are ridiculously bad at spending more than need be. Civilians companies are much, much better at it (though not perfect). And that's the whole idea, right? To lower the cost of getting into space? NASA and government-backed space agencies don't have the same impetus to lower costs and raise productivity.

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    What is your penile percentile?
  3. Re:What are they going to do? by Sgt+York · · Score: 5, Insightful
    They were going for fame & fortune. OK, so fame is "I've been to the New World!", but there was the crucial "fortune" aspect as well. They were after gold, or land, or trade, or some other natural resource. People went because they wanted more than what they had; they wanted land, or wealth, or freedom. Besides, most people who went to the New World stayed there. Kinda loses the coolness factor when everyone you know did the same thing.

    The reason there was a mass influx unto the New World is because there was money in it. And that is the same way you'll see an influx into space from the private sector : once there is money in it. And yes, I know 15 quadrrillion dollars worth of minerals on each asteroid, the moon is a giant lump of He-3, and we can beam down solar energy from microwave stations.

    Make the harvesting of asteroids feasible and profitable. Find a present-day use for He-3, and then find a way to collect it that is feasible and profitable. Make the microwave-beaming-thing feasible and profitable, too. Then you will see people enter space.

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    There is a reason for everything. Sometimes that reason just sucks.

  4. Spaceport, Oklahoma by MrDoh! · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Err, there's already one out there in Oklahoma, called, funnily enough;

    SpacePort, Oklahoma.

    Google it up, there's alot of good info about it, and makes a pretty good site too. Just enough out the way.

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    Waiting for an amusing sig.
  5. Re:How to keep the signs up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's why iTunes works so well!