InterPlanetary Ventures

November 13, 2008

Getting People Into Space, Permanently.
Getting To The Station

Rockets are the primary means of getting into low earth orbit. The first thing needed are rockets certified to carry people into space. LockMart and SpaceX are developing such rockets, and the Soyuz Launch Vehicle (SLV, the A-2) is already in use. The space shuttle (STS) is due to be retired soon, and is not available for private use.

SpaceX is developing a capsule to carry 4 to 6 passengers/astronauts, the Dragon. We need more capsules in developmet for the available launch vehicles. A British firm was working on a version of the Dragon for SpaceX, but was hampered by ITAR regulations. They could develop their capsule for the SLV, or for an ESA launch vehicle. A new US company could also be formed to develop a capsule, or a series of capsules. It is a niche that needs filling.

There are some working on spaceplanes, using the airplane configuration for takeoff and landing from any airfield. Why not develop a smaller version of the STS system, using an external tank and solid rocket boosters to get into orbit, leave the tank in orbit for station development, and fly down like the space shuttle for a runway landing? This is another niche that can be filled by more than one company.

There will be plenty of customers for these vehicles if they are built. Bigelow Aerospace is developing space stations for the private sector, and once they start putting them into orbit (in the next 2 years) there will be customers for the capsules and space planes to get people into orbit, step one in the expansion of people into space, permanently.