Some People REALLY Want To Go Into Space

This reminds me of Robert Truax's Project Private Enterprise from the early 80's where he basically was going to do the same thing.

He even had his private astronaut chosen. They guy's name was Fell Peters.

From the history file, Truax on the Johnny Carson show.

http://neverworld.net/truax/video/TRUAX_TONIGHT_SHOW.WMV

Sometimes I shake my head at the titles Keith comes up with, but he sure nailed this one right on. These guys would have to be pretty desperate to ride in that thing!

No guidance system during powered flight? No escape system for the astronaut, er, victim? Please somebody stop these guys before somebody gets killed.

Somewhere, there is a line between being brave and having an adventuresome attitude (on the one hand) and tom-foolery (on the other). These folks have crossed the line.

Escape system? It *is* an escape system. :)

I wish them the best of luck.

Throughout history crazy fools have done things that often got them killed and sometimes advanced the overall cause of human civilization. The human gene pool keeps producing this subset of human beings and this is their purpose in life. They take the risks and we all benefit when they get lucky. If a lot of them get killed in the process that is just nature’s way of making sure that they don’t become a dominant force in the human community.

So I say, don’t “stop these guys before someone gets killed”. Leave them alone and let them do their thing. Maybe some good will come from it - and if nothing else, at least we will get to see some nice fireworks.

Gee guys.. take 5 min. to skim the above comments, and then ask yourself: Why dont NASA have real launch capabilities anymore?..
The route that CS is going is SO right.. imagine this launch system up-scaled with NASA fundings and facilities, oops no, thats right! you can´t.. and therin lies the answer to above question.. Naysayers and "think in box" people have dominated the show for far to many years, for to many years now NASA has been busy writing feet thick reports on why things cant be done, instead of just doing it..

NB: Did you guys see the name on the Launch platform.. Isn´t called Saturn is it?

R

I guess a lot of folks are not actually reading the details of the mission. Here is a note in bold letters on the CS web page:

"DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT READ IN THE NEWS, THIS IS A TEST ROCKET FLYING TO A MAX OF 30 KM (NOT INTO SPACE)..."

Further - if NASA 'professionals' these days scoff and say 'impossible', then sign me up. I would rather travel with people who are actual explorers who have a real rocket and an actual countdown in progress ANY DAY than folks with billions and no discernible plan, much less a viable vehicle in hand.

So tell me what will you geniuses have to say when they launch a human and kill him? That it was to further space exploration and the "human gene pool"? You're thinking with your heart and not your head. Give me a break. Some experimental efforts are simply a reflection of their instigator's passions and not good common sense. Unless the passenger-carrying version of this vehicle has a tested and demonstrated guidance and escape system, and not just "launching into the wind", then some authority somewhere should stop it. This isn't progress, it's fireworks.

If you and your family were lost in a tragic plane crash on the end of any municipal airport, they would clear the concrete and be operational that day. For some reason only astronauts are somehow immune to risk taking and considred fools if they dare. This is what happens when PR is more important than exploration. Hundreds of people will die this week on the highway and some killed in aircraft. Life is risky but we don't shut it down just to save bad press. Explorers explore. It is risky and will always be. Everyone will sit on their butts and wring their hands. That's why true explorers are so rare.

I read about it on space.com.

Rocket itself supposedly can get to 30 km. This is WAY OFF 100 km, and this is WAY OFF (orders of magnitude) from actual orbit.

Assertion in space.com article (Dannish potentially as fourth space power) is beyond idiotic.

@ MaDeR Levap:

Well, to assume opinions based on too little knowledge could be called idiotic too.

As a matter of fact, this is a preliminary lauch, meant to provide a first test of launch equipment, rocket, electronic equipment, descent equipment and so on.

It is deliberately shortened to 30 km.

When, and if, this test goes well, it is to be succeded by additional tests, untill the team has proved for themselves, that they have a reliable system, able to propel a human being up to 150 km, and able to get him down in one piece.

Only then will they launch the rocket at full power, with a human astronaut aboard.

They themselves are talking about a timeframe of two years.

I wish these guys luck but my fear is that this is more like a 21st century version of going over Niagara Falls in a barrel than it is the beginning of space tourism.

The launching station is called Sputnik.