Space Travelers Wanted

[Sensei]

Do you think its worth the cost?

"Even before cosmic capitalist Dennis Tito bankrolled his way into Earth orbit, several space tourists -- and space-tourism ventures -- were lining up in the wings for a flight to the International Space Station (news - web sites) (ISS).

Cash-strapped Russian space officials now realize that strapping customers into Soyuz taxi flights to the ISS is a moneymaker, and Space Adventures, which helped broker the deal for Tito's private flight of fancy, is eyeing another Soyuz taxi flight in October to fly a paying customer.

Cab fare is $20 million.

Third seat vacant

"We are actively seeking a person with $20 million, as well as the interest and time to spend six months in training to go to space," said Larry Ortega, Space Adventures' vice president of marketing and sales.

Ortega told SPACE.com that the firm already has one person in Europe and another in the Far East interested in laying down cash for a trip up into space.

"It's a lot of work . . . a lot of training. You have to learn Russian. But people can do it. Tito did it," Ortega said."

--Is it worth it???

[YaRness]

hell yes. contribute to a space program AND get to go into space? i'd do it if i had the cash.

[Siskmarek]

I think I concur. If I had the money, yes.

But I'll just sit and wait for that X-Prize to get over with. BTW, has anyone heard anything about that lately? Seems awfully quiet...

~ Siskie

[Bowtie]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.............the possibilities. I have a better scenario. The linux community pitches in collectively $20 million and Bill Gates gets an anonymous letter with the invitation and ticket to the space training. Gates goes through training and launch day comes. Upon lifting off, a message appears on the console:

Where do you want to go today?
How much faith do YOU actually have in Windows? This spacecraft is powered by Microsoft Windows ME. :eek:

Funny, the shuttle never gets to the space station and is never heard from again. Coincidence? :D

Hmmm........if only. ;)


Johnny

[tnordloh]

No way. If I had 20 million dollars, I'd have to buy a new pc.

[Lorithar]

*hmmmmmm*


Lesseee ... I can afford that ... in about 100 Years... (*grin*) ... Yup ... signing up ...

*HECK YES* ... its worth it...

[Paul Weaver]

Yes. If it wasnt from certain officials in the U.S. government and NASA being against Tito, I'm sure that the media would have made a much bigger fuss.

In my opinion, Tito's name should be uttered in the same breath as Gagarin and Armstrong. No longer is space confined to the millitry, but to anyone that can afford it. Space has finally become a capitalist arena.

Oh, and if I had $20,000,000 I'd be first in the line to learn russian (even though I suck at languages - human ones) and be blasted in to space.

Once the price gets down to a year's sallary, I'll be there with my cheque book!

Just think what the earth space program could do with doing a weekly trip for whoever - an extra billion dollars a year would be very handy.

Oh, and if a rocket ran WinME, it wouldnt get off the pad. If you get a lucky install with the right hardware configuration, dont install anything else, it might ignite and blow up...

[vvx]

If I had a spare 20 mill I'd do it in a heartbeat! I say spare as I wouldn't want to have to go broke doing it..

[TaeShadow]

Originally posted by tnordloh:
<STRONG>No way. If I had 20 million dollars, I'd have to buy a new pc.</STRONG>

Ok, and then what would you do with the $20 million you'd have left over? :)

[Bradmont2]

Originally posted by TaeShadow:
<STRONG>Ok, and then what would you do with the $20 million you'd have left over? :)</STRONG>

Buy 20 of these (http://www.geek.com/htbc/glanin.htm).

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by Sensei:
<STRONG>Do you think its worth the cost?

Cab fare is $20 million.


--Is it worth it???</STRONG>


yes, if i was an internet millionaire, sell off enough shares (well, i guess i would have had to do it a few months back), it would be so :cool:

i fully understand paying that much

[TaeShadow]

Originally posted by Bradmont:
<STRONG>Buy 20 of these (http://www.geek.com/htbc/glanin.htm).</STRONG>

Ok, I want one of those. Badly.

[Two_five_zero_one]

2 mil is quite a bit of coin. If I had that just sittin round collecting dust, I might. The thing is, there's nowhere to go out there. Now if there were other "heavenly bodies" colonized and there were a destination involved, that's another story alltogether. Besides, you can check out the curvature of the earth by poping down a lot less then 2 mil for a ride in a Mig29. At least I think it was a lot less. I dunno, can't member.


2501


&lt;edit&gt;Sorry, I read that wrong....20mil, in that case HELL NO!&lt;/edit&gt;

[ 13 May 2001: Message edited by: Two_five_zero_one ]

[knowledgepeacewi]

Originally posted by TaeShadow:
<STRONG>Ok, I want one of those. Badly.</STRONG>

uh huh. &lt;drool spills on to the floor and the wimper won't stop for days.&gt;