Commercial Spaceflight

http://www.space.com/19086-private-space-travel-leaps-2013.html

My question is, what's going to happen when the average Joe can go to space and see the round Earth? What kind of conspiracy do you think that will be, involving thousands of normal citizens?

Realistically, I think this is going to be a very small niche industry even after it starts and for years following. I'll be a good while before even hundreds of commercial passengers travel in privately-operated spacecraft, let alone thousands. It will happen, and may become routine, but I'm not going to make specific predictions about the timeline because this is a very expensive, complex, and still dangerous endeavor, most likely with setbacks along the way.

I hope I'm wrong, though!

If it ever happens it will be an elaborate simulator.  The paying customers will never notice the difference, and further spread the RE gospel.

It's a win win for globularism.  More revenue and enhanced credibility.

Ever been on StarTours at Disneyland?  Like that but a thousand times more elaborate and believable.

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?
How many people have been at real high altitude?

I have a strange feeling that these flights will take place at night time and the so called space plane will have a few vertical viewing port hole windows for the gullible fools to look up into space, making them believe they actually are.

A fool and their money are easily parted.

OR.
An actor and their pay day, are easily manipulated into telling a space story for the ever gullible public.
They still haven't solved the problem of high altitude flight and the effects on planes.

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It's about looking into your own mind and grabbing that part of it that has the sticker on it saying "common sense and logic" then pushing back the part that is stamped "gullible."

If it ever happens it will be an elaborate simulator.  The paying customers will never notice the difference, and further spread the RE gospel.

It's a win win for globularism.  More revenue and enhanced credibility.

Ever been on StarTours at Disneyland?  Like that but a thousand times more elaborate and believable.

I thought you were an RE'er?

He's taking the piss.

Quote from: macrohard on September 19, 2014, 04:48:19 PM

If it ever happens it will be an elaborate simulator.  The paying customers will never notice the difference, and further spread the RE gospel.

It's a win win for globularism.  More revenue and enhanced credibility.

Ever been on StarTours at Disneyland?  Like that but a thousand times more elaborate and believable.

I thought you were an RE'er?

I don't necessarily believe everything I say.

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?

Too easy.  Anybody with an iPhone can tell.   GPS receivers can determine altitude by trilateration with four or more satellites, and to within 100 metres.

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 20, 2014, 03:40:37 AM

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?

Too easy.  Anybody with an iPhone can tell.   GPS receivers can determine altitude by trilateration with four or more satellites, and to within 100 metres.

I'm sure you would know, Geoffrey.

Quote from: ausGeoff on September 22, 2014, 08:21:51 AM

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 20, 2014, 03:40:37 AM

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?

Too easy.  Anybody with an iPhone can tell.   GPS receivers can determine altitude by trilateration with four or more satellites, and to within 100 metres.

I'm sure you would know, Geoffrey.

Do you agree?

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 22, 2014, 08:31:21 AM

Quote from: ausGeoff on September 22, 2014, 08:21:51 AM

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 20, 2014, 03:40:37 AM

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?

Too easy.  Anybody with an iPhone can tell.   GPS receivers can determine altitude by trilateration with four or more satellites, and to within 100 metres.

I'm sure you would know, Geoffrey.

Do you agree?

Did you really need to ask that question knowing how I think? 

I'm sure you would know, Geoffrey.

Thank you sceptimatic.  I do..... and you obviously don't.

I rest my case m'lud.   

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 22, 2014, 08:31:21 AM

I'm sure you would know, Geoffrey.

Thank you sceptimatic.  I do..... and you obviously don't.

I rest my case m'lud.   

Yep; you've done everything else on your planet, Geoffrey, so it's hardly surprising. 

Quote from: inquisitive on September 22, 2014, 08:42:19 AM

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 22, 2014, 08:31:21 AM

Quote from: ausGeoff on September 22, 2014, 08:21:51 AM

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 20, 2014, 03:40:37 AM

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?

Too easy.  Anybody with an iPhone can tell.   GPS receivers can determine altitude by trilateration with four or more satellites, and to within 100 metres.

I'm sure you would know, Geoffrey.

Do you agree?

Did you really need to ask that question knowing how I think? 

You seem to have a problem explaining or understanding how some things work.

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 22, 2014, 08:53:26 AM

Quote from: inquisitive on September 22, 2014, 08:42:19 AM

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 22, 2014, 08:31:21 AM

Quote from: ausGeoff on September 22, 2014, 08:21:51 AM

Quote from: sceptimatic on September 20, 2014, 03:40:37 AM

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?

Too easy.  Anybody with an iPhone can tell.   GPS receivers can determine altitude by trilateration with four or more satellites, and to within 100 metres.

I'm sure you would know, Geoffrey.

Do you agree?

Did you really need to ask that question knowing how I think? 

You seem to have a problem explaining or understanding how some things work.

Well don't you worry yourself about it, I'm not.

Taking gullible people high up into the atmosphere, they can be told they are on the edge of space and would simply have to accept it, when all they are is at high altitude. Let's face it, how would anyone know?
How many people have been at real high altitude?

I have a strange feeling that these flights will take place at night time and the so called space plane will have a few vertical viewing port hole windows for the gullible fools to look up into space, making them believe they actually are.

A fool and their money are easily parted.

OR.
An actor and their pay day, are easily manipulated into telling a space story for the ever gullible public.
They still haven't solved the problem of high altitude flight and the effects on planes.

" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

It's about looking into your own mind and grabbing that part of it that has the sticker on it saying "common sense and logic" then pushing back the part that is stamped "gullible."

I wrote a lengthy response to this, but I got logged out and it was lost. It was pretty good too.

I'll repost it tomorrow.

Space tourism has been promised to happen any day now since the 1950s.  So far, it is just a pipe dream.  Maybe you can use this against the FET when/if it ever happens, but until then, it is just a 'what if' scenario. 

Space tourism has been promised to happen any day now since the 1950s.  So far, it is just a pipe dream.  Maybe you can use this against the FET when/if it ever happens, but until then, it is just a 'what if' scenario. 

Well, maybe it's been a topic in science fiction since the '50s and even before. NASA had been actively discouraging tourism until well into the future, and it wasn't until the Russian space program needed money badly that it was even considered by them, and finally happened. These were the only entities that had the capability to make it happen at all until really recently. So, no, it hasn't been "promised to happen any day now since the 1950s" by anyone who could possibly make it happen.

It's not needed to debunk the notion of a flat earth, and probably wouldn't be effective anyway since the reality filters would simply be increased a notch should anyone who believed in a flat earth find himself aboard a spacecraft. We've seen it here already when the idea was even mentioned: "the portholes will be too small", "elaborate simulation", "only fly at night", etc.  So much for "open minds."

Space tourism has been promised to happen any day now since the 1950s.  So far, it is just a pipe dream.  Maybe you can use this against the FET when/if it ever happens, but until then, it is just a 'what if' scenario.

Yeah, it'll never happen.  Except for the 8 times that it already happened, that is. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism#List_of_flown_space_tourists

Yeah, it'll never happen.  Except for the 8 times that it already happened, that is. 

My question is, what's going to happen when the average Joe can go to space and see the round Earth?

Maybe you should actually read threads, markjo? 

I thought you responded quite nicely to Jroa's contention that :

Space tourism has been promised to happen any day now since the 1950s.  So far, it is just a pipe dream.   

Quote from: markjo on September 23, 2014, 08:01:40 AM

Yeah, it'll never happen.  Except for the 8 times that it already happened, that is. 

Quote from: The Ellimist on September 19, 2014, 03:49:40 PM

My question is, what's going to happen when the average Joe can go to space and see the round Earth?

Maybe you should actually read threads, markjo?

Yea, but he's referencing this quote

Space tourism has been promised to happen any day now since the 1950s.  So far, it is just a pipe dream.  Maybe you can use this against the FET when/if it ever happens, but until then, it is just a 'what if' scenario.

Which claims it hasn't happened, when it has, albeit at a small scale

Quote from: markjo on September 23, 2014, 08:01:40 AM

Yeah, it'll never happen.  Except for the 8 times that it already happened, that is. 

Quote from: The Ellimist on September 19, 2014, 03:49:40 PM

My question is, what's going to happen when the average Joe can go to space and see the round Earth?

Maybe you should actually read threads, markjo?

As with many very dangerous and very technically challenging endeavors, space travel leading to space tourism begins with massive government investment, followed by a few wealthy dilettantes before it finally becomes available to "the average Joe".  In fact, I would consider the offerings of VG and others to still be in the wealthy dilettante price range.  My guess is that average Joe priced space flights are still many years away.

In fact, I would consider the offerings of VG and others to still be in the wealthy dilettante price range.  My guess is that average Joe priced space flights are still many years away.

I'd agree.  And Virgin Galactic is currently quoting US$250,000 for a seat.  And they've—in all seriousness—posted a booking form on their site LOL.  Wishful thinking maybe on their part?

Quote from: markjo on September 23, 2014, 07:29:25 PM

In fact, I would consider the offerings of VG and others to still be in the wealthy dilettante price range.  My guess is that average Joe priced space flights are still many years away.

I'd agree.  And Virgin Galactic is currently quoting US$250,000 for a seat.  And they've—in all seriousness—posted a booking form on their site LOL.  Wishful thinking maybe on their part?

Bah!  $250k is chump change compared to the $150 million that these guys are asking for a trip to the moon and back.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSE-Alpha

These guys are talking about $95000 for a sub orbital flight. I could just about shout one of these bullshitting nutters a trip.

http://xcor.com/lynx/

The OP asked what would happen when the average Joe could go to space and see what the shape of the Earth is.  I responded that it is a hypothetical situation, and now I am being attacked.  I thought I was talking to adults here. 

The OP asked what would happen when the average Joe could go to space and see what the shape of the Earth is.  I responded that it is a hypothetical situation, and now I am being attacked.  I thought I was talking to adults here.

Everyone else has gotten over you.  You should do the same.

The OP asked what would happen when the average Joe could go to space and see what the shape of the Earth is.  I responded that it is a hypothetical situation, and now I am being attacked.  I thought I was talking to adults here.

And I merely pointed out that several average Joe multi-millionaires have already been to space and have seen the shape of the earth themselves.  I thought that I was talking to someone who could get a point.

Quote from: jroa on September 24, 2014, 06:04:37 AM

The OP asked what would happen when the average Joe could go to space and see what the shape of the Earth is.  I responded that it is a hypothetical situation, and now I am being attacked.  I thought I was talking to adults here.

And I merely pointed out that several average Joe multi-millionaires have already been to space and have seen the shape of the earth themselves.  I thought that I was talking to someone who could get a point.

I am sorry, but how could an average Joe be a multimillionaire?  Is that not an oxymoron?