Ticket Sales and Target Window for First Commercial Launch

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the announcement of ticket sales and the target launch window for the first commercial spaceflight by AERA Corp. Participants explore various aspects of the proposed flight, including technical details, personal opinions on safety, and the overall experience of space travel.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the safety and reliability of commercial space travel, suggesting they would prefer to wait for further developments before participating.
  • Others highlight the excitement and unique experience of space travel, indicating a willingness to pay the ticket price if the flight is well-managed.
  • Technical details about the flight experience are discussed, including acceleration forces (3.5 to 4 g's), altitude, and communication with mission control during the flight.
  • Concerns are raised about the physical demands of experiencing high g-forces, with some participants noting the need for good physical condition.
  • There is speculation about the nature of pilot training for the flight, with questions about whether it will be automated or require human pilots.
  • One participant shares a personal experience of experiencing 4 g's in a different context, suggesting that such experiences are worth the investment.
  • References to military aviation and dog-fighting training are made, with suggestions for further reading on the subject.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a mix of excitement and skepticism regarding the safety and feasibility of commercial space travel, with no clear consensus on the overall viability of the venture.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include varying assumptions about safety, the management of the flight experience, and the physical requirements for passengers, which remain unresolved.

Ivan Seeking
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AERA Announces Ticket Sales and Target Window for First Commercial Launch December 2006

Temecula CA (SPX) May 13, 2005
Following the release of the animated presentation of the Altairis Rocket and agreements with the United States Air Force, Florida Space Authority and Cape Canaveral, AERA Corp. announced Thursday a target date has been chosen for the first flight of a civilian crew into space and that it has begun ticket sales for future flights.

Altairis will lift off from Cape Canaveral beginning in December 2006. Tickets go on sale this morning. [continued]
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-05p.html
 
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This is not the kind of thing I would want to be first in line for. I think I'll let them work the kinks out first.
 
Once again, another example in today's society of how business weenies are trying to mandate technical innovation. That will fail miseably. The real question is is will anyone get killed...
 
As the spaceship climbs, the Passenger Astronauts will be pressed increasingly into their couches as Altairis accelerates towards space, reaching 3.5 (g's) and a speed of more than 2,800 miles per hour.

They flight is supposed to reach an altitude of 80 miles (they say 30 miles above the atmosphere), and still suborbital.

The curvature of the Earth is markedly visible with the transparent blue atmosphere below. From the altitude of over 80 miles, the breadth of the view of Earth covers vast distances. The black sky is ablaze with stars, of both subtle and vibrant colors not fully perceived from the Earth's surface. From this remarkable viewpoint, the Sun brilliantly shines in a sea of blackness and the Moon drifts suspended as if you could seemingly reach out and touch it.

Throughout this time, each Passenger Astronaut will be in voice communication with the Mission Commander, the other fellow Passenger Astronauts, and their selected guests at the Launch Control Center on the ground.

While Altairis arcs through apogee the vehicle will be configured for reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. The reaction control thrusters will orientate and hold the vehicle to a predetermined attitude and the aerodynamic control system is deployed. The spacecraft will begin to decelerate as it encounters the denser atmosphere at lower altitudes, eventually becoming supersonic.

During this period the Passenger Astronauts will experience varying decelerations, briefly approaching 4 g's. Once subsonic, Altairis will deploy its main Para foil and begin a gentle, computer controlled and horizontal glide back to the spaceport. Altairis will briefly enter a holding pattern above the spaceport as it continues to descend for landing.

All for only a mere $250K. :rolleyes:

http://aeraspacetours.com/brochure/AST_Brochure.html
 
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All for only a mere $250K
...and I'll bet you don't even get lunch!

Honestly, assuming that all appears to be reasonably well managed, I would probably go if I had the money. If I had a real chance to experience space flight, here and now, I don't think I could pass it up. Or more to the point, it is much more likely that I would board the rocket than it is that I would have and extra 250K.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
...and I'll bet you don't even get lunch!

Honestly, assuming that all appears to be reasonably well managed, I would probably go if I had the money. If I had a real chance to experience space flight, here and now, I don't think I could pass it up. Or more to the point, it is much more likely that I would board the rocket than it is that I would have and extra 250K.
I would recommend having lunch after the trip. :smile:

Ivan, you could sign up as steward, unless you want to get you spacepilot license and certification.

I wonder what they will do for pilot training - or will it be automated - control from the ground? :biggrin:

One has to be in pretty good shape to deal with 3.5 to 4 g.
 
I pulled 4 g's while pulling out of a dive, while doing this.

Real Player
http://xgen.vitalstream.com/mcrm.smi?media=1912406&package=1839022
http://www.aircombat.com

IMO, more than worth the money!
 
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Ivan, regarding dog-fighting, check out the book - "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War" by Robert Coram. Very profound.

Boyd was the 'best' dog-fighter the US ever had. He was undefeated. The military would not allow him in combat because he was too valuable to lose. Instead, he ended up training US pilots - basically his program was a precursor to 'Top Gun' and similar programs in the other branches.
 
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Interesting, I'll definitely pick that up.

You can't do Air Combat without getting totally hooked on the subject. But I do wish that I had read about dog fighting and practiced on a video game before going up. There are many basics that are easily learned, that can be practiced ahead of time by using games.
 

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