Second Space Race Won by SpaceShipOne
On the 47th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik, SpaceShipOne passed the earth’s atmosphere for the second time in a week. Thus, its developers Mojave Aerospace Ventures have won the Ansari X prize as the first successful private enterprise space program. But much more is needed before space tourism becomes a real industry.
First of all, there is a large difference between crossing the threshold of space and actually doing something there. If the entire idea of space tourism is merely to reach 100km above the ground, then, space tourism has arrived. If there is more to it than a glorified plane ride though, the Ansari X Prize is merely the end of the beginning.
As noted in one of last week’s postings, Sir Richard Branson will use this technology to launch Virgin Galatic, a three-hour ride. What will be needed is some competition for Sir Richard, and someone has to put up a destination in space. The moon, at about a quarter of a million miles distant, is to too far for this technology, so a space station of some sort to act as a hotel is required.
With the International Space Station serving almost no scientific purpose on the best of days, and serving no purpose at all when the lights go out, privatization seems to be in order. This would give the private sector a place for tourists to go (and apparently the light show up there makes Las Vegas’ pale in comparison), and the government programs can focus on real science.
October 4, 1957 marked the birth of the space age. October 4, 2004 marked the beginning of the commercialization of space travel. Not bad for a half-lifetime.
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