Everybody wants to go to space these days. Paul Allen and Burt Rutan have just announced they are launching a new company called Stratolaunch Systems with the aim to send tourists into space. This is significant as Paul Allen and Burt Rutan were at the source of Space Ship One, the first privately-funded, manned rocket ship to fly beyond earth’s atmosphere. That was in 2004.
This demonstrates the huge appeal space has for pioneers. We are not saying for companies, but they will get there. We are thinking people who are dreamers and achievers and launching these space projects privately today, at a time when space exploration is out of the question because countries are running out of money. Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic welcomed the move by Allen and Rutan, announcing at the same time that Virgin already has 500 signed passengers. We always here about Virgin in the press, but do you really know how interesting this business will be ? Well, see how many companies are already competing:
- Stratolaunch Systems (USA)
- Virgin Galactic (UK)
- Xcore Aerospace – Lynx (USA)
- Talis Institue (Germany)
- SpaceX (USA)
- EADS Astrium (Europe)
- Space Adventures (USA)
- Excalibur Almaz (various funding)
- Bigelow Aerospace (USA)
- Space Island Group (USA)
The fact that EADS, Virgin, and people like Paul Allen are investing now is a sign that Space is the next Eldorado. Success of jet fighter rides to the edge of space in the Mig 29 in Russia or in the Starfighter in Florida also prove there is a strong interest in going up to touch the sky. Actually, these fighter rides are successful and probably benefiting all the hype surrounding projects such as Virgin Galactic. Another question is, do you think there is a market for all these spacecrafts ? Would you pay the money to go to space ? Give us your thoughts in our FB page.
