Space Flight
Ask Yourself These 7 Questions About Taking A Suborbital Flight To Space
WOW! That’s what most people say when they hear about taking a trip to the edge of space.
Yes, it’s a wealthy man’s sport, as to visit the International Space Station costs over $30 million and for a brief flight into suborbital space fares currently run from $95,000 to $200,000.
If you can afford it then:
1) Why should you go?
2) Which Company should you fly with?
3) What vehicles are the safest?
4) Who is a reliable source to get updated space
tourism information helpful in the decision
process?
5) How do you register?
6) Where will you take off from?
7) When should you start the process?
1) Why should you go?
You are an adventurer, a thrill seeker and an avid space enthusiast. You have been dreaming about experiencing what it would feel like going on a spacecraft, being weightless, feeling G-forces, the thrust of rockets and viewing the earth from space. Also, being an early space traveling pioneer could possibly get you listed in the Civilian Space Flight Hall of Fame and give you not only a memory of a lifetime, but bragging rights to your friends, family and business peers.
2) Which Company should you fly with?
In deciding on whom to fly with there are a few important items to consider, such as: a) company history and safety record b) differences in their program experience c) cost d) insurance e) flight training and qualification requirements f) terms for initial registration, cancellation and termination g) projected and expected initial dates of first civilian space flight operation
NOTE: It appears that the earliest civilian space flights should begin sometime in 2012. It is suggested that interested applicants need to do their own due-diligence with at least two different space companies as a basis of comparison before making their decision as to which group appeals to them most. Some adventurers have even selected several groups to register with for the opportunity to enjoy the different experiences and to assure that they will be within the group of the earliest pioneers of civilian space flight.
3) What vehicles are the safest?
Safety is by far the most important factor for all. Safety is each groups main concern as no company wants a catstrophe to occur. The fatal fueling accident at Scaled Composites in the summer of 2008, which killed three men on the ground, most certainly delayed Virgin Galactic’s plans and XCOR’s perfect safety record on several dozen E-Z Rocket flights is quite impressive. To date no other reported industry fatalities have occurred.
NOTE: It is predicted that a future ill-fated vehicle incident will occur, however, the most dependable groups at this time, Virgin Galactic, XCOR and Space Adventures put their future flight testing successes, planned by summer of 2011, as proof of dependability and to gain a level of consumer confidence needed as civilian space flights begin in 2012 with a growing level of interest and participation.
4) Who is a reliable source to get updated space tourism information helpful in the decision process?
Wikipedia, they provide a comprehensive list of space companies with hot links to each of the named space groups and vehicles with a description of who they are and at what phase of development they are in. Other sources are search engines like Yahoo, Bing and Google. Also The National Space Society and Space Frontier Foundation.
5) How do you register?
Once you have decided you are going and you have researched several companies, their history, vehicles and program differences and also evaluated costs, terms, etc, its time to register. Complete preliminary input on their website and obtain the necessary paperwork, which may be on line, and read it thoroughly. Check out provisions on cancellations and termination, refunds, insurance for sickness or business interruption and also on payment terms and security. Find out if you are able to tour their facilities and visit them.
6) Where will you take off from?
It appears that in the beginning space flights for XCOR and Virgin Galactic may originate at the Mojave, Spaceport in California or, if ready, Virgin Galactic will fly from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Space opportunities are opening up around the globe. And as the space tourism business grows, the opportunity of accessing other International spaceports around the globe will become more viable as many are already being planned and some under construction.
7) When should you start the process?
Once you have done your research, have the money and have decided which experience is the one you want, even if you prepare to register for more than one flight, then now is the time to proceed. Although you still may have some concerns and reservations, as you want to see and hear what some others experience is like before you commit and you may expect that costs will drop, the chance you now have to become an early space pioneer is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You will now enjoy the thrill of telling everyone you are going to be a future space participant. This will create the excitement around you to know for sure you have made the right decision to go where so few have gone before you…… To the edge of space.
Traveling into space is a pinnacle life experience and even maybe your name might be listed in the Civilian Space Flight Hall of Fame? By waiting to register this one time life opportunity will pass you by and this is the right time to get on the list!
About the Author
Mitchell J Schultz is a Space Tourism Specialist operating a website at
http://www.XtraordinaryAdventures.com
as an authorized agent of RocketShip Tours, representing XCOR’s new Lynx spaceplane. View their exciting video, learn about civilian space flight and sign up now for your FREE newsletter about the growing space tourism industry at:
http://www.XtraordinaryAdventures.com/newsletter
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