Comments on: Spaceport angst

By: David Davenport

David Davenport — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:53:15 +0000

Are they going to build a new sports arena next to the spaceport?

New Mexico needs a NHL franchise for vibrant economic development.

By: Bill White

Bill White — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 03:25:40 +0000

Allen forgot the engraved certificates and medallians to confirm the customer as a genuine astronaut. That and a brazillion photos to plaster one’s office with.

By: Allen Thomson

Allen Thomson — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 03:10:35 +0000

It is worth noting that, for the moment, what is being offered (reports differ a little, but not much) is three days of training on the ground followed a 2.5-3 hour airplane-like flight which features a rocket-boosted zoom to >= 100 km, 5-6 minutes of tethered (extensible seat belts, apparently) weightlessness, and a great view.

One supposes that the circumstances during training will be made enjoyable.

By: Bill White

Bill White — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 20:00:25 +0000

My understanding is that 38,000 people filled out a postcard or clicked a web form to say they were interested. In any event, there IS money to be made selling tickets. And there is MORE money to be made selling marketing space to Volvo, creating brand value and catering to spectators. If my siblings and I purchased a ticket for my father's retirement, there would be one person flying and maybe 12 or 15 people (children, spouses and grandchildren) headed to New Mexico to watch and share the experience. Giving those people a better experience than standing on gravel eating box lunches is the key to selling suborbital to the masses.

By: Aaron Oesterle

Aaron Oesterle — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 17:21:31 +0000

For anyone one who doesnt’ believe there isn’t serious money to be made
1. 100 full price tickets have been sold – thats 20 million right there
2. Recent market studies, by Zogby, found that there was significant money to be made – Go to hobbyspace.com to find out – or look for the futron coorporation
3. This one I admit is a huge pill to swallow, but if its true, it will be the nail in the coffin to the idea that no money to be made in sub-orbital tourism – Branson has reported that he has recieved a downpayment from 38,000 people – and the required downpayment is $20,000 – Now I admit thats seems increadible, and I’d like to see a little proof, but, I know it was reported by a couple of news outlets, and if thats true, he has already made close to a billion dollars.

“There gold in them thar space ships”

By: Bill White

Bill White — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 05:20:44 +0000

Donald writes:

At least in the early stages of these projects, every penny not spent sending human-related payloads to the destination, at the lowest up front cost possible, is a penny wasted. We should worry about long-term costs when we have something to show for the money already spent on launch vehicles and ground infrastructure.

There is huge profit to be made catering to spectators and having a snazzy media image and you need a world class facility to do that. Sir Richard Branson knows perfectly well he will make more money from the Volvo ads and offering trips as frequent flier awards for his airline than he will selling tickets.

Unless the destination has the trappings of “glamour” he will make far less money than he intends to make. Every baseball stadium needs parking revenues and beer sales and souvenir programs to turn a decent profit.

Sub-orbital tourism will be no different.

By: Mike Puckett

Mike Puckett — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 04:39:21 +0000

“And yes, people generally think that spending is good and taxes are bad. Taxation is theft; spending is our due.”

I will bet that New Mexico spaceport employs far more people than HST does.

By: Phil Smith

Phil Smith — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 03:38:31 +0000

“Taxes are theft”?

What a ridiculous statement. Taxes are necessary if a government is to operate on behalf of the people. One can easily debate the merits or fairness of particular types of taxes and how they are applied, but to compare them to a crime is stupid.

By: Donald F. Robertson

Donald F. Robertson — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 23:57:52 +0000

David’s last comment is probably the only thing we agree on, but I emphatically agree with him on that. At least in the early stages of these projects, every penny not spent sending human-related payloads to the destination, at the lowest up front cost possible, is a penny wasted. We should worry about long-term costs when we have something to show for the money already spent on launch vehicles and ground infrastructure.

— Donald

By: David Davenport

David Davenport — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 22:23:22 +0000

Let me again remind everyone that, regardless of who pays, money spent on elaborate ground facilities is money that will not be availible to spend on actual spacecraft.