Thread: Live Launch! at 1:15 Pacific Daylight Time, Today.

@MK27:
That's exactly why Sea Launch waited 24 hours before their last launch. It was originally scheduled for Friday, but they were under (roughly), the path of the falling satellite, and couldn't take the risk of any collisions. For political purposes, they don't broadcast why they delayed the launch one day, since they want to maintain good relations with every country.

Originally Posted by Mario F.

You couldn't find me in more agreement. Unfortunately I don't think that's the time yet. Not when the private sector doesn't seem much interested in exploration and knowledge in this sector, but simply launching more comms into space.

The private sector space companies are VERY interested in every kind of space exploration. Clearly, very significant finances must be in place for something like a journey to Mars, or the Moon.

NASA has already awarded the contract for the next two rockets they'll need. A slender "toothpick" for low orbit deliveries to the ISS, etc., and a huge rocket for the trip to the Moon, Mars, etc. The big one will use the same solid rocket boosters on it's side, as the shuttle rocket had (no big external tanks, though).

This is a pic of the big STS, (larger and much more powerful than any other rocket, to date):

Originally Posted by Adak

The private sector space companies are VERY interested in every kind of space exploration. Clearly, very significant finances must be in place for something like a journey to Mars, or the Moon.

Hmm, no.

There may be ad-lib donations done from the goodness of their philanthropic hearts. This has been the extent of the private sector presence in this field. Well, that and of course all the subcontracting that goes when when NASA or ESA need things done that aren't already being covered -- or can't be covered -- by universities. The whole space exploration thing has been vastly publicly funded. The private sector donates and then gets some of that back (or more) from its contracts.

Meanwhile there's also the problem of international agreements that simply just don't allow a company to directly benefit from, say an exploration to Mars. Until we decide how to divide planets and moons, there's no Property of Mars or the Moon. If you know what I mean.

So, why I'm not very receptive to privately owned launch platforms and stuff. Sure I have nothing against them (but if we are to start making commercials around here I want to talk about my products. I own a very interesting Rapid Data Entry framework I'd like to be publicized on CBoard if you don't mind).

What needs to change is the regulations in place that will allow for the private sector to explore the riches out there. But for that to happen we need space exploration to really take off. But for that to happen, we need funding. And since public funding is today a shadow of the glorious days of old, I'd rather see private companies invest in their own future by actually donating substantially to space exploration and then lobbying for regulations that could benefit them.

So, a platform launching company? Meh.