Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!crdgw1!gecrdvm1!gipp From: GIPP@gecrdvm1.crd.ge.com Newsgroups: sci.space Subject: Re: Japan's Space Industry (was Re: Humanity's Launch Window) Message-ID: <91037.142929GIPP@GECRDVM1.BITNET> Date: 6 Feb 91 18:29:29 GMT References: <197.27AE8D32@nss.FIDONET.ORG> <91037.075048GIPP@GECRDVM1.BITNET> Organization: General Electric Corporate Research & Development Lines: 40 In article , yamauchi@cs.rochester.edu (Brian Yamauchi) says: > > >True, but I'd still be interested in hearing about any large-scale >plans for commercial space development that are being considered by >American companies. I've already heard the plans for government-funded >bases on the moon and Mars, as well as near-term commercial plans such >as ET farms. >-- The only one that comes to mind immediately is the proposed venture by some company (great reference eh?) that tried to convince NASA to loan/rent/build them a shuttle to ferry approximately 100 people into space for a quick spin around the planet. I forget whether it required a new shuttle or whether this company had a pop in people carrier for an existing shuttle. I read it in ad astra some while back. I think the builders of Space hab have some kind of commercial plan to fly a commercial experiment package on a shuttle, IF they can convince NASA to go along. Memory is coming back now :-), I've thought of some more! Someone had a brilliant idea of orbiting cremated human remains, but couldn't get govt approval, and (I think) couldn't get their rocket to work. then there was Hummingbird Inc's plan to build their PHoenix launch vehicle to send up tourists into space. I believe they actually had paying customers/investors with cash on the dotted line, but then the challenger accident scared them off. then too, I'm sure AWS would be more than happy to tell you about this great space station/launcher package which is real cheap :-). It's an empty shell, so I'm sure that it would make a great space hotel! >______________________________________________________________________________ >_ > >Brian Yamauchi University of Rochester >yamauchi@cs.rochester.edu Department of Computer Science >______________________________________________________________________________ >_