WASHINGTON -- Closely following on the heels of Dennis Tito's flight, several things are quietly in play that could help pave the road to space tourism.
You might keep an eye on these people, groups, and ideas:
MirCorp: Group that tried to commercialize Russia's Mir space station before its downfall is still at work. "While Mir suffered a fatality, MirCorp is still alive," says Walt Anderson, Vice Chairman of MirCorp.
MirCorp's partner, Russia's RSC Energia, has the only commercial space transportation system in the world for putting people into space -- the Soyuz. "Even though we lost the Mir, we haven't lost the vision," Anderson explains.
MirCorp is reportedly making progress on a "mini-Mir," as well as flying a space tether and other commercial experiments. Group is engaged in talk with Mark Burnett regarding a space-based "Survivor" TV show.
"Tito was our first customer. He didn't go to Mirhe went to the International Space Station. But now we have an opportunity to send other customers (into space), not only tourists, but commercial activities too. We're ready to take the next steps," Anderson told SPACE.com.
SpaceHab: Wants to attach commercial module to the International Space Station (ISS) called Enterprise. New interior design of the module shows it can be outfitted with galley, toilet, window, life support gear. This cozy "bed and breakfast" module is ideal for stopover tourists, keeping visitors distant from primary crews as they operate the station.
SpaceHab is working with Russia's Energia on the concept. Enterprise module comes complete with docking port and attached Soyuz. "I'm hopeful we'll come to an accommodation with NASA," says Shelley Harrison, SpaceHab's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Three astronauts can be supported via the Enterprise, used as interim facility to boost overall crew size onboard station, or used to house tourists, he told SPACE.com. "It's a nice accommodation in both ways," he said.
Congress has shown interest in Enterprise to produce commercial revenue that helps offset billions of dollars in station cost-overruns.
Bigelow Aerospace: Working to further the design and development of new technologies supporting future space-based habitats.
Las Vegas-based real estate property owner and hotel mogul Robert Bigelow is fabricating inflatable habitat modules. His pop-up space segments will offer nearly three times the habitable volume size of modules used in the ISS.
"We'll be validating what we're trying to do works," Bigelow explains. Company has filed paperwork with space arm of the Federal Aviation Administration for approval to fly inflatable structures. Group is also eyeing sales to foreign countries and non-U.S. space agencies.
Astrium: European aerospace consortium has procured Soyuz seats on behalf of German TV game show, Brainpool.
Astriums Space Infrastructure Division in Bremen, Germany, has concluded together with Russia's Energia a contract for a total of seven space flights with Russian Soyuz rockets over the period from 2002 until 2008.
Despite this contractual situation, clear access rules for "non- professional" astronauts/cosmonauts to ISS are a precondition for further flights of this type, and required confirmation from the Russian Space Agency. Draft guidelines for space flight by non-professionals, and the requisite training criteria, have been completed. Final OK of the guidelines may occur next month.
"Astrium welcomes the intensive discussion about the subject 'space tourism' between the Space Station Partners within the framework of commercialization of the ISS. It is quite important for the international space industry that the conditions of access to the ISS are transparent, easy and affordable," said Astrium's Siegfried Monser.
"As commercialization of the ISS utilization is a primary goal for all parties involved, it is now time to establish procedures in this regard. At present, no clear policy exists stating whether and how the space agencies will provide commercial companies assured access to ISS and its transportation systems, Monser told SPACE.com.
Space Adventures: Helped seal the deal to get Dennis Tito airborne. Soon to announce private spaceport that trains prospective space travelers. Facility sited in Oklahoma, Virginia, California, Florida or in Texas, says Eric Anderson, chief executive officer of the space tourism group.
"A facility here in the United States can begin to do a lot of the things that we now do overseas," Anderson told SPACE.com. Training site would allow individuals to take microgravity plane rides, take sky-high supersonic jet flights, and to be strapped into space simulator hardware, he said.
Space Adventures also working with Russian Space Agency and others to package medical and flight training tests to pre-qualify and certify individuals ready for out-of-this-world travel.
advertisement
