Comments on: Oberstar strikes back

By: Charles Pooley

Charles Pooley — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 19:25:00 +0000

There may be another risk to hitching hopes for a viable free enterprise (non-NASA) space industry on this “space tourism”. It may economically fail so quickly, or become obvious that it will, that fighting for it may be energy lost.

John Jurist in today’s article in The Space Review mentioned an aspect of the passenger safety issue I hadn’t thought of: That those who can afford the ticket price may have life insurance or board of director prohibitions that cannot easily be waived.

By: TORO

TORO — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 23:49:24 +0000

I’m not against extreme skiing – I just don’t want to fund it with veterans bill or any other bill money. Same for sub orbital thrill seekers – ride at your own risk – and using your own money, including “seed” and “prize” money.

By: Sam Dinkin

Sam Dinkin — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 18:26:50 +0000

Oberstar’s name reminds me of the computer in Orson Scott Card’s _Call of Earth_ and _Earthborn_ that succeeds for generations in not letting anyone think of building a space ship.

By: Kevin Parkin

Kevin Parkin — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 16:19:16 +0000

Oberstar’s analogy with the laboratory experimentation is a very feeble one.

Suborbital rides are more akin to Nascar Racing, or skydiving.