Mining the moon, motives and future living

In space besides the motivational drive to boldly mimic previous heros visiting places no other human has been before. There has to be some sort of benefit to traveling to a hazardous place. There in the not so distant future predicts that space tourism will take off. Hopefully will help finance the infrastructure of regular trips to orbit for the public to have zero G fun. Along the way extra cargo can be transported to a habitable environment for people to stay. In time zero G provides excellent conditions for manufacture in the pharmaceutical industry or electronics industry. If all goes well, maybe the motive to travel to other destinations will be a possibility.
In consideration to travel beyond the planet there seems to be a need to find other materials, when the local stock of minerals has run out. The motive to visit and create a moon-base there, will require a few things. Its essential to find a water source allowing the inhabitants to grown food there or to create rocket fuel for any spacecraft. Already top layer of the moon’s surface may hold far more water than previously thought, according to a new study.The newly released study has found that water was most likely formed on the surface of the Moon by the constant stream of charged particles ejected from the Sun. The finding “represents an unanticipated, abundant reservoir” of water on the moon, according to researchers from three U.S. universities, who formally reported their results Sunday in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Researchers announced the discovery after using infrared and mass spectrometry to analyze lunar samples from Apollo. The team found large amounts of hydroxyl inside aglutinate glass, which is a bonded hydrogen and oxygen atom. How the solar hydrogen combines with oxygen in the regolith grains to make the molecules is unclear.
In 2009, NASA bombed the moon -- part of its Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission -- and observed grains of water ice in the remnants of the resulting plume, as well as light metals such as sodium and mercury, and volatile compounds like methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
While the study does not suggest a large amount of readily available water, it may be possible to mine water from the soil or to break up the molecules into their constituent oxygen and hydrogen atoms to create rocket fuel—potential requirements for a lunar base. “With the cost of $25,000 for taking one pint [half a liter] of water to the moon, it is essential that we develop processes of producing water from the materials on the moon,” said Dr. Lawrence Taylor, a University of Tennessee geochemist who advised Apollo astronauts gathering lunar samples.
The researchers concluded in the Nature Geoscience study that positively charged subatomic hydrogen proton particles coming from the solar wind -- a stream of charged particles ejected from the sun's upper atmosphere -- appear to have combined with oxygen on the moon's surface to form the OH hydroxyls.

The result is an "unanticipated, abundant reservoir" of OH and water in the dust, soil, broken rock and other loose material on the lunar surface. As well as hydroxyls researchers have found an abundant source of Helium 3 for which over the millions of years have deposited on the moon. A number of people, starting with Gerald Kulcinski in 1986, have proposed to explore the moon, mine lunar regolith and use the helium-3 for fusion. Recently, companies as Planetary_Resources have also stated to be interested in mining helium-3 on the moon. Because of the low concentrations of helium-3, any mining equipment would need to process extremely large amounts of regolith (over 150 million tonnes of regolith to obtain one ton of helium 3), and some proposals have suggested that helium-3 extraction be piggybacked onto a larger mining.
The price of the isotope helium-3 has skyrocketed from $150 per liter to $5,000 per liter.Helium wasn't technically "discovered" on Earth until about 1895, despite being abundant in the universe. Almost all of the global supply of helium is located within 250 miles of Amarillo, Texas; it's distilled from accumulated natural gas and extracted during the refining process. Since the 1920s, the US has considered its helium stockpile as an important strategic natural resource, amassing some 32 billion cubic feet in an underground bunker in Texas, but for several years now, it's been selling off that stockpile bit by bit to interested industrial buyers. Liquid helium cools infrared detectors, nuclear reactors, and the superconducting magnets used in MRI machines, too. The fear is that, at current consumption rates, that underground bunker will be empty within 20 years, leaving the earth almost helium-free by the end of the 21st century.
The prospect of fusion using helium-3, a rare helium isotope that is missing a neutron. Physicists have yet to achieve pure helium-3 fusion, but the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor soon to be built in 2019 is the best candidate to succeed. The basic reasons for Helium 3 is that using it along with other hydrogen isotopes will give less harmful neutrons in the reaction. The less neutron bombardment the longer the inner chamber will last, which will effectively be cheaper in the cost of maintenance.
The moon could also be a source for rare earth elements, such as europium and tantalum, which are in high demand on Earth for electronics and green energy applications (solar panels, hybrid cars), as well as being used in the space and defense industries.
China is the largest exporter of rare earth elements, but there are growing concerns over supply vulnerability as China drastically reduces its rare earth exports. Scientists know that there are pockets or rare earth deposits on the moon, but as yet they don't have detailed maps of those areas. Potassium, phosphorus and thorium are other elements that lunar rocks have to offer a potential mining venture.
The process of mining will also be need to revised Associate Professor of Engineering at University of New South Wales. Leonhard Bernold spoke of a close pneumatic system where by using the power of suction to extract the minerals. Possibly a directed gas supply is forcing loose rocks out for the suction pipe to extract while filtering and recycling the gas for more extraction. Once contained the sand-like particles can he heated and various elements can be removed and separated for their important uses. If such a machine could be made, it is more likely to be a automated system to reduce human risk as lunar rock is abrasive and could easily wear out a space suit.

The benefits of mining the moon for a potential fuel source have never disappeared, considering Nasa finding water on the moon is the first step to colonizing any area. This whole venture actually requires several different emerging events to successfully happen. The success of space tourism for an orbital infrastructure (possibly the need for a rocket engine to fly from aerospace to outer space), a need for fusion fuel  which requires fusion power to work (hopefully by 2019) and the hugh investment for a company or group to try and extract minerals from the moon. Potentially there is motive already mine the moon with out fusion fuel as I wrote an article about helium running out, which is essential for most things including cryo research and electronics manufacture. The pros and cons of mining other areas besides Earth become more favorable. If there are things to look forward to it will be success or failure of tourism in space that might indicate where the next frontiers of industry will be heading...

The Space race is a private affair...

I am not opposed to sending untrained tourists to outer space as many people like to think that the romance of space travel lives up to the Hype. As Virgin Airlines CEO, Richard Branson goes on CBS news he make a bold statement of population of Mars. Making plans to be among the first of the few people to fly into low earth orbit at $200,000, hoping that the money earn from that adventure will lead to bigger and better things.

He is not alone in this prediction of future travel, as Elon Musk co-founder of PayPal and CEO of Tesla Motors and spaceX, mentions his interest. SpaceX recently signed a contract with NASA, agreeing to re-stock the International Space Station for twelve missions. In terms of sustaining human life on Mars, Musk explained, "You need to live in a dome initially but over time you could terraform Mars to look like Earth and eventually walk around outside without anything on. ... So it's a fixer-upper of a planet." "In order for us to have a future that's exciting and inspiring, it has to be one where we're a space-bearing civilization."

Sadly recent plans for the US government to cut the budget of Nasa for the next year or so will probably stop future plans for any unmanned Mars missions. While governments pull out of the space race, alternatively the commercial sector step up plans to create a need to go into space. Nasa has already asked  three companies to transport cargo into space on a pay by mission contract. Sierra Nevada Corporation, headquartered in Louisville, Colo. Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif and The Boeing Company, headquartered in Houston.
Emerging companies around the world seem to have a converged their dates for a regular space-flight infrastructure to a few years from now.
Virgin Galactic has already collected deposits from more than 500 customers willing to pay $200,000 for a seat aboard SpaceShip Two. Virgin officials say they hope to begin rocket-powered flight tests of SpaceShip Two later this year, with commercial operations perhaps starting in 2013 or 2014.

XCOR Aerospace's Lynx is a two-person suborbital space plane designed to take off and land on a conventional airport runway. XCOR has already signed a deal with the Southwest Research Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Boulder, Colo., to fly some of its scientists and experiments to suborbital space. The Lynx could be in flight-test operations by the end of 2012, according to XCOR officials. The company plans to charge $95,000 per seat when the space plane is up and running.

Armadillo Aerospace, a Texas-based company founded by computer game entrepreneur John Carmack, is developing a vertically launched spaceship for suborbital flights. Armadillo's spacecraft will have room for two passengers. The space tourism firm Space Adventures is booking seats on the craft for $110,000 each. An Arizona man recently won a free flight on the vehicle in a contest sponsored by Space Adventures and Seattle's Space Needle, though the date of his trip has yet to be set.

The Nevada-based Bigelow Aerospace designs and builds large, expandable habitats that it aims to link up in orbit, creating private space stations.
Bigelow has already launched two prototype test habitats into orbit, one in 2006 and one in 2007. The company's current module, the six-person BA 330, provides about 11,650 cubic feet (330 cubic meters) of usable volume. Bigelow envisions joining at least two BA 330s together in space. The company has separate partnerships with Boeing and SpaceX, whose craft would ferry passengers to and from Bigelow's huge space hotels. Potential clients include space agencies, government departments and research groups.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen recently teamed up with pioneer aerospace engineer Burt Rutan on a venture called Stratolaunch Systems. The company plans to launch rockets into space from a carrier plane that would be the biggest aircraft in history, with a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters). Stratolaunch aims to send cargo and satellites into space initially, but it hopes to launch astronauts eventually as well. The firm is aiming for an initial test flight in 2015, with a first operational launch coming in 2016.
ATK teaming up with Lockheed Martin and European aerospace firm Astrium on the venture, which would use the 300-foot-tall (91-meter) Liberty rocket to blast a seven-passenger capsule into orbit. ATK is aiming to begin test flights of the Liberty system in 2014, with the first manned mission expected to occur in late 2015, officials said. If all goes well, Liberty could be available to NASA and other potential customers by 2016.

Blue Origin, a secretive company set up by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, hopes to win a NASA contract to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station with its Space Vehicle. The Space Vehicle is a biconic craft designed to carry seven passengers, or a mix of cargo and crew. Blue Origin is developing a reusable first-stage booster to help get the Space Vehicle to orbit relatively cheaply. Company officials have said the Space Vehicle should be ready to begin commercial operations between 2016 and 2018. Blue Origin is also working on a suborbital spacecraft called New Shepard, which would be launched by a reusable propulsion module.
Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser is a small space plane designed to carry seven astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit. The spacecraft, which is based on a NASA concept vehicle from the 1980s called the HL 20, will launch vertically atop a rocket but land on a runway like an airplane. NASA's CCDev program granted Sierra Nevada more than $100 million in the past two years to aid in the Dream Chaser's development. Company officials say the space plane should be ready to begin operations by 2016.

Aerospace giant Boeing is developing a space capsule called the CST-100 to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station and other destinations in low-Earth orbit. NASA's CCDev program has invested roughly $120 million in the CST-100, which is designed to seat up to seven passengers. The capsule, which measures 14.8 feet (4.5 meters) across at its widest point, utilizes proven technology from NASA's Apollo and space shuttle programs, Boeing officials have said. The CST-100 is expected to make ground landings, though it will also be capable of splashdowns in emergency situations. Each capsule is designed to make 10 space-flights, and the CST-100 could be operational by 2016.
SpaceX is also working on a crewed version of Dragon, which would carry up to seven astronauts to the orbiting lab or deep space destinations such as Mars. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said he founded the company with the primary goal of helping make humanity a multiplanet species.

Gov. Jerry Brown announced he had signed legislation intended to boost the fledgling private space travel industry. Brown said he had signed the bill by Republican Assemblyman Steve Knight, which limits private space companies' liability from civil lawsuits.
Under AB2243, the companies cannot be held liable for the injury or death of customers because of the obvious risks associated with space travel. They still can be sued in cases of gross negligence or willful disregard for participants' safety. The bill also does not limit the ability to sue parts manufacturers. Brown said the legislation will allow companies such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and the Spaceship Company "to innovate and explore without the worry of excessive liability."

Wheels are in motion for space travel, allowing fledging companies to build a travel infrastructure. only time will tell if those companies will survive the next ten years or so. Inventor Alan Bond co founder of Reaction Engines LTD estimates 10 years until a working prototype for a new type of rocket engine, that will easy fly in space and in earths atmosphere. This type of engine privately funded by the same people with investment in space, could bring prices down. So while Companies are rushing to plan a Space-Agency with the Available technology, The real Age of space Travel will likely to start in Ten years, when SKYLON goes online.

Reaction Engine LTD, the future of space is British

My recent article about space travel and the different engines needed to propel a vehicle in both environments of space and aerospace, seems to have overlooked a recent new technology. The Idea of a vehicle is much needed, as the current rocket systems is vastly inefficient.
Consider a ramjet a simple design of no moving parts which works efficiently at speeds around Mach 3 with a upper limit of Mach 6. Nasa had already tested X-43A, a scramjet at hypersonic speeds which is much lighter then conventional rockets because it does not carry oxidizer. Despite a 8 year program costing 230 million dollars it was a successful pioneering piece of technology of which seems to break record speeds.
it size was 12 feet by 5 feet, it also requires a craft to carry the test jet to workable speeds before launching.
The scramjet offers a possible solution to the requirements of escaping the atmosphere by reaching mach 6. The momentum of a vehicle alone could help escape the earths gravitational pull. But without the additional continued thrust in the vacuum of space, it is likely the craft will be drawn back to back to earth. The best current solution is a multi-engine configuration to power the craft to for each environment. This can be a heavy solution to this problem, as weight can be a limiting factor to a aircraft as well as a space craft.

Only recently has a new piece of technology that could solve the multi-environment problem by modifying current rocket technology to allow the burning of hydrogen fuel. Alan Bond had begun work on rocket engines in 1982 with a view to overcoming the inadequate characteristics of existing rocket-based expendable launch vehicles. Within this work Alan realised that the use of heat exchangers within rocket engine cycles can greatly increase their efficiency by allowing them to use atmospheric air to burn in the combustion chambers when flying in the atmosphere like a jet (rather than using heavy liquid oxygen stored in on-board tanks) and extracting heat where it causes a problem whilst using that heat to power the turbo machinery in the engine.
These new Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engines (SABRE) would be suitable for powering modified aircraft directly into Earth orbit and it was subsequently found that in a reconfigured form they would be able to propel aircraft at cruise speeds of up to five times the speed of sound. The key enabling technology that needed to be developed to make these new engines viable was lightweight heat exchangers.
Inspired by the miniaturisation of the silicon chip, and understanding that heat exchangers were far from reaching their physical limit in terms of miniaturisation, developing high power lightweight heat exchangers and understanding the design of the new engines and vehicles that they enable became the focus of Alan Bond and subsequently REL (Reaction Engines Limited). Reaction Engines Ltd ('REL') was founded in 1989 by Alan Bond and the principal two engineers from Rolls Royce behind the RB545 engine programme, John Scott-Scott and Richard Varvill.

There were many problems to be solved for Reaction Engines Ltd at hypersonic speeds such as cooling the oxygen from 1000 degrees to manageable temperatures as well as water vapor forming and freezing in the heat exchange. All main problems seem to be resolved and currently a prototype is being tested and working.
The new atmosphere breathing rocket engine can reduce the fuel payload for the oxidizer, which will only be required for the vacuum of space. The liquid hydrogen will still be required but allows longer run times and is quite clean and cheap to run, also it is reusable for space travel.
Most of the funding for the skylon project is supplied by private investment, which suggests that the commercial sector will be able to provide cheap and affordable global travel. Flight times across the world would be reduced to 4 hours, also this type of vehicle can make space tourism a real possibility. Imagine that a craft can fly over 200 miles in orbit to a space station using liquid hydrogen and oxygen. The cost of orbiting to space will be reduced to a fraction of the current price from current technologies. The future of space might be the exploration of other planets. But the technology to fly to low orbit has just become a reachable low cost achievement.

Sex in space, Newtonian physics at its kinkyest

Human depravity will have no bounds, I am considering all the crazy scenarios of how male and female in the act of coitus. Space tourism will no doubt bring the fairly wealthy to experience the joys of space, fulfilling the  childhood dreams of anyone since apollo 11. But still these are early days for another moon visit and the infrastructure of a space port and hotel 230 miles in orbit hasn't quite been established yet. Until then there are only flights leaving New mexico via space port America to fly to a safe height and then ignite a solid booster rocket to 50,000 ft (9.4 miles) high. Just on the out skirts of planet earth the passengers will get to experience zero G and dare repeat all the goofy experiments of floating and flying small carryon items in the passenger quarters. The duration is yet to be determined but for most people over an hour in zero G will probably get a bit stale.

US and Russian astronauts have had sex in space for separate research programmes on how human beings might survive years in orbit, according to a book published yesterday. Pierre Kohler, a respected French scientific writer, says in The Final Mission: Mir, The Human Adventure that the subject is taboo both at Nasa and at mission control in Moscow, but that cosmic couplings have taken place. "The issue of sex in space is a serious one," he says. "The experiments carried out so far relate to missions planned for married couples on the future International Space Station, the successor to Mir. Scientists need to know how far sexual relations are possible without gravity." He cites a confidential Nasa report on a space shuttle mission in 1996. A project code-named STS-XX was to explore sexual positions possible in a weightless atmosphere. Twenty positions were tested by computer simulation to obtain the best 10, he says. "Two guinea pigs then tested them in real zero-gravity conditions. The results were videotaped but are considered so sensitive that even Nasa was only given a censored version." Only four positions were found possible without "mechanical assistance". The other six needed a special elastic belt and inflatable tunnel, like an open-ended sleeping bag.
Mr Kohler says: "One of the principal findings was that the classic so-called missionary position, which is so easy on earth when gravity pushes one downwards, is simply not possible."

Mary Roach an American author researching for her book debunked the idea of sex in space. Her book Unpacking for Mars has claimed the idea that Astronauts have looked into the positions or physics in an zero G environment is fraudulent. But weather it is a myth or a secret history the reality is that all the forces at play during coitus can not be the same as within a gravitational field. In space, the first problem is one that would certainly stop things in their tracks, and that is with the regulation of blood flow. The lack of proper gravity means that gravity does not flow throughout the body in the same way that it does on Earth, so it will be much more difficult (perhaps impossible in some cases) for males to achieve an erection.
It is possible that NASA has data on this, but it seems no one is talking. The second problem is that of sweat. When astronauts exercise in space their sweat tends to buildup in layers around their entire body, making them sticky and wet all over. This may make intimate moments more uncomfortable. Then there are, of course, plumbing issues. Since blood obviously doesn't flow the same way in micro-gravity it is not a reach to assume that the flow of other vital sexual fluids would be inhibited as well. Though this may only be important if the goal were conception. The third and most interesting problem is the actual act of sex. In a micro-gravity environment the slightest push or pull will send an object hurtling across the craft. This makes activities where two individuals are actively engaged physically quite difficult.

Safety is also an issue as anyone in zero G will sooner find that relative speeds can quickly become lethal when lost in the throws of passion. Any wall surface can hit hard against the human body and probably cause bruising. The possibility of safety straps or a way to anchor one or more subjects for the task ahead, plus body fluids is an issue. The whole idea of sex in space would probably need a rethink when looking at the current status of space travel it self. Even with future promises of hotels in space or the ISS (international space station) turning into a weekend getaway, no amount of pillows or viagra will help to conceive a child in this unnatural environment. It is however possible to give birth in a zero G environment as there is no docking procedure or traction difficulties. The idea to pioneer human function in space would seem attractive and be the first couple to have sex, or indeed give birth to a child with a positive outcome. However better time is spent dwelling on the current achievement with Mars rover "Curiosity".
The whole idea of living in space becomes important with every advancement. Looking ahead to space tourism will no doubt bring opportunity for those people who would rise above the challenges.

Space, the health issue

Like it or not people out there think the next big thing is space travel or exploration, I mentioned this about how they are building a space port for potential space tourists. Its already decided and that people are making this happen, it stands to reason that we kind of need the full facts of exposure to space. I like the fact when you go from an environment with gravity enriched with oxygen and nitrogen mix. You need technology to allow you to exist in the extreme environment of space.

Potentially the success space tourism will allow pave the way to factories in space and mining colonies on other worlds. Soviet Union is already investigating space manufacturing with its Soyuz space-lab station. The unique environment of space could potentially provide excellent conditions of a hard vacuum and micro gravity. Growth of crystals, improved semiconductor wafers and micro encapsulation are considered early candidates. Though most electronics and pharmaceutical companies, don't have a space program. It is likely that the commercial space program will attract investors who might have links with manufactures seeking to expand.

The effect of space on the human body comes immediately, human beings are equipped  various mechanisms to oppose gravity to maintain sufficient blood flow to the brain. In a micro gravity environment, the distribution of body fluid alters since it is free from gravitational effects. This fluid shift symptoms are stuffy nose and headaches.

Bones are systems that are involved in the maintaining posture. The adult body has 1 kilo to 1.2 kilos of calcium and 400 to 500 of phosphorus. however once gravitational stress is removed, the  body excessively excretes bone calcium and phosphorus through urine and faeces. It seems that 3.2% of average bone loss occurred after nearly 10 days of weightlessness. To countermeasure this massive bone loss it is recommended that regular exercise with the treadmill and ergo meter.

The effects of space on muscle can rapidly deteriorate or cause muscle atrophy, due to lack of use in a gravity free environment. Simple maneuvers, such as walking across the room can be easily executed by pushing  a wall and floating by the area you want.
Significantly alteration in the hematologic system in micro gravity is the transformation of red blood cells, the main component of blood. Blood cells change shape from a bioconcave discoid shape, to a spherical shape. however it can be reversed even after long term space missions once returned to the Earth.

Radiation commonly exist in a space environment. On Earth we are protected by a magnetic field and a thick atmosphere. Due to the absence of this shielding in a space environment, astronauts are exposed to large amounts of cosmic rays and any stray particles (mostly protons). Nasa have ideas to shield low to medium energy rays using hydrogen rich plastics. Also water could be another material to shield astronauts, in extreme space conditions or solar wind activity.
Contradictory to the harmful effects of space exposure to muscle and cardiovascular systems, Dr Nathaniel Szewczyk at the University of Nottingham found that microscopic worms left out in the International space station for over 9 years after returning to earth have lived longer then the control group who stayed in the labs. He has found microgravity lowered buildup of toxic proteins in aging muscles, also genes related to controlling metabolic rates a have been lowered. It is said that the worms have adapted to the change in its environment and can be seen as space-flight slows the process of aging.

With positive and negative points of long term exposure to space-flight I am incline to believe that space tourism might be a flight of fancy. And that more research is needed to find the health factors in long term missions. Though if longevity can be sustained in humans it might be an answer for people who are rich enough to have a health care hospital orbiting the Earth. My own thoughts are that space will bring a future that will broadly change the industry through manufacturing and mining for new materials. I have a suspicion that Tourism will help build a infrastructure of industry and that it will spawn new factories in space for the electronics and pharmaceutical companies. But I also think the heath issues of space travel needs to be addressed with proper shielding. Without this there is a high risk of ration sickness or cancer, such exposure might call for hazard pay.

Space Tourism, for rich Star-Trek fans

Space seems like a flight of fancy and probably is with NASA closing its shuttle program in 2011 leaving other countries to progress in their missions. When the first shuttle launched its jet like form boosted by two solid fuel propellers like fire works to a paper dart. The complications and faults that followed resulted in a explosion in the sky with challenger killing 7 astronauts. The main problem of O ring seals in the solid fuel rockets failing to keep hold of the hot gases within the rocket may have ignited the external tank.
Despite warnings from engineers the shuttle did launch 0n January 28 1986. There seemed a lot riding on this mission as Christa McAuliffe the first member for teachers in space program was on board.

The president Ronald Reagan had a clear mission to inspire students and Honor teachers in the field of science and space exploration. A few years earlier President Reagan spoke of research into a defense program, his speech in 1982 spoke of a strategic defense initiative.
The ground and space based systems would ultimately knock Ballistic missiles out of their trajectory path, thus avoiding nuclear detonation at their intended target in the U.S. It was highly ambitious and was widely criticized as being unrealistic and unscientific. Often remarked as controversial topic as it threaten to destabilize and reignite an arms race. But under Bill Clinton's administration the media named Star wars initiative was rename further to Ballistic missile defense organization. This paved a way into anti ballistic missiles. Though current ABM's are for short range missiles and not suited or intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Looking into the shuttle program spurred on by a president who had ambitious plans for the exploration of space. This was a plan that didn't continue, plagued with faulty equipment and later a crippling debt, which reduced NASA to a shadow of its former self. NASA has now gone into meetings with the Federal Aviation Association to discuss plans for a commercial space travel. The ambitious plan would hopefully launch in 2017. Space travel talks have been planed and may refer space obit and the International space station for leisure purposes.
Backed by the Obama administration NASA and FAA have signed a memorandum to regulate a safe stable framework for commercial space travel. NASA will be ensuring crew and mission safety while the FAA will be in charge of licensing private sectors and providing a crew for the flights. Safety has been highlighted for this venture, with NASA providing valuable experience from lessons in the past.

Meanwhile virgin galactic had a successful flight on their white knight mother ship transporters. Already they have announced plans to build a space port in New Mexico. It might be possible that future space exploration is funded by commercial space tourism.

The Obama administration has backed this in hope that it will create new jobs and other opportunities. Personally I think will add to the pollution and possible target for terror strike. But funding might help in producing commercial factories, as space is a unique environment to improve the quality of silicon wafers in the electronics industry. I have a suspicion that this knock on effect will create new opportunity. Whether it leads us to a future where we colonize the moon or something is up to the success of space tourism. But considering exposure to harsh radiation in space, possible danger in the flight out there and tickets costing at $200,000 a seat. I think I might sit this space adventure out,  so I can have a decent cheap holiday at the local beach.