Boeing is hoping to be able to get ahead soon. It wants to do this, says the Houston Chronicle, by getting into the space tourism mega-business. Despite just lately receiving $20 billion in government subsidies for transatlantic aerospace travel endeavors – a move labeled a violation of international trade law by World Trade Organization judges – Boeing is now knocking on President Obama’s door again. Even with that money, it nevertheless is talking to Obama once more. A rise in commercial spaceflight funding is what the company wants.
Space tourism can be loved by many in 2015, Boeing plans
Boeing’s expectation is that by 2015, space tourism could be possible via a NASA contract that will enable the manufacturer to send astronauts to the International Space Station via a new type of space capsule, the CST-100. The Chronicle explains that tourists could come along through the ride since the capsule has plenty of seats. The current vice president and general manager of Boeing’s space Exploration division is Brewster Shaw. He discussed that human space commerce may very well happen with Boeing and the CST-100. Right now, Boeing and Space Adventures are working together on the project. Space Adventures is the business that used Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to send private flights to the International Space Station.
Even with all the resources it has, Boeing hasn’t won
Boeing is the largest aircraft manufacturer within the whole world, says the Chronicle. Of course, this is in terms of orders, revenue and product. The prime contractor of the space station is Boeing. This adds to its credit. You will find a lot of things Boeing has on its list of things to do. It needs to get a lot done before space tourism can really set off. It required $18 million to start development of rockets and capsules to carry NASA astronauts to low-Earth orbit following the space shuttle program retires in 2011. However, plans for space tourism are estimated to be considerably more expensive. Other corporations are working at getting into the business as well. This means Boeing will certainly be trying hard to be first.
Obama wants cash for commercial spacecraft from Congress
The numbers are flying fast and furious when it comes to just how much cash the U.S. government is willing to funnel into commercial space flight. In five years, President Obama expects Congress to get enough cash. Congress is supposed to be raising $6 billion. The Senate’s latest offer is $1.3 billion over three years, while the House penned a $150 million, three-year version. Of course, priorities seem to be different with the financial disconnect. Boeing has declared it really needs what the President has asked for. Without that cash, there will be very slow progress getting towards space tourism. If it cost Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté $40 million last year to fly to and from the International Space Station via Soyuz, imagine what propping up and entire industry would cost.
Houston Chronicle
chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7203076.html
Google Tech Talk on space tourism
youtube.com/watch?v=yJDKzodiDjE
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