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24th National Space Symposium Unfolding in Colorado
Springs April 7-10
(SCN Boca Raton, March 26th, 2008)
This years focus is “Our
Expanding Universe – 50 Years of Space Exploration.”
According to the Space Foundation (www.spacefoundation.org) “more
than 7,500 registrants, guests, speakers, exhibitors, and media from
across the United States and many foreign countries are expected to attend
the 24th National Space Symposium. Participants, who represent both the
history and future of this $220 billion industry, include senior executive
leadership from NASA, NOAA, and other civil space and government agencies;
the commercial space and satellite broadcasting industry; the Department
of Defense and military space commands; space entrepreneurs; universities
and academia; and senior representatives from the global space industry.”
Space Cruise News plans to be there
and will report of its experience. This is a great opportunity for all
space enthusiasts to preview the phenomenal current growth and meet some
of the responsible groups that make it all possible. Both government
and private sectors are well represented.
Prominent speakers include Dr Neil deGrasse
Tyson, Space Technology Hall of Fame, Dr George C Nield, Acting Associate
Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (FAA), Dean Cheng,
China Specialist, Professor Hajime Inoue, Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency, Col Eileen M Collins, USAF (Retired), Lt. Gen. William L Shelton,
USAF, Gen. C Robert Kehler, USAF, Hon Michael W Wynne, Secretary
of the Air Force, Lt Gen Michael A Hamel, USAF, Lt Gen Kevin T Campbell,
Space and Missle Defense Command, US Army, Gen Victor E Renuart, Jr,
USAF, Lt Gen Frank G Klotz, USAF, James F Albaugh of Boeing, Eliot
G Pulham, CEO of Space Foundation, Hon Wayne Allard and Mark Udall of
the US Senate, Heather Wilson of the US House of Representatives and
others as yet unannounced. This is an excellent opportunity to interact,
make new contacts and network with others in the industry. The event
will take place at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs April 7th
through April 10th.
Many noted space authors, like James Oberg who
wrote “The
New Race For Space” over 20 years ago was way ahead of his time.
There will also be an opportunity to meet Anousheh Ansari, the world's
first women astronaut and first female private space explorer, who experienced
over a week at the International Space Station and flew on the Russian
Soyuz TMA Spacecraft in September 2006. In her words“By reaching
this dream I’ve had since childhood, I hope to tangibly demonstrate
to young people all over the world that there is no limit to what they
can accomplish.”
Contact: Mitchell J Schultz, Editor
Space Cruise News
MJS@SpaceCruiseNews.com
TRUMP SPACE HOTELS-A Trip Worth Every Dollar!
(SCN Boca Raton, March 11th, 2008)
Exclusive First from Space Cruse News>>>
Are
Trump and Bigalow making a deal?........It may be TRUMP Space Hotels
opening in early 2012. It is rumored that two more billionaires, Robert
Bigalow, head of Bigalow Aerospace, developers of the world's first space
habitat and Donald J Trump, Real Estate impresario, are close to a deal
that will put the TRUMP name on Bigalow's Genesis I and II and perhaps
III and more that will host the weary space traveler for the night. Bigalow
launched two inflatable space habitats, the last one on June 28th, 2007,
that are floating in orbit. With space Bingo and other unearthly things
to do while aboard this human habitat, guests can observe the universe,
dine, take a leak and play games at around $25,000 per night from upwards
of 150 miles orbiting around the Earth. They can probably even spot some
floating space debris from their window.
The deal, as we understand, would have Trump license Bigalow for an undisclosed
amount of cash plus a percentage based on annual revenue. All travelers would
indemnify Trump accepting all risks. Lots of details to be worked out but it
sound pretty spacey to us!
As space tourism plans are taking root with companies like Virgin Galactic, Benson
Aerospace, RocketPlane, Blue Origin, Space Adventures, Space Access, PlanetSpace
and others, where else would you feel comfortable and in style other than at
a TRUMP Space Hotel. We're sure Hilton and maybe Holiday Inn or maybe Space INNS
will soon be competing. What else is the 'DONALD' up to next? Maybe He'll soon
plan to build on the moon? Where ever his name is the value of this real estate
will surely go up!
We are told that Mr Trump has been a space enthusiast and supporter for quite
some time and even plans to visit his space hotel and take his family along for
a real out of this world vacation. At least the guy has guts, I guess if he goes
so goes the world of adventure space travelers. With Richard Branson taking his
family on Virgin Galactic, it won't be long before they all meet up at Trumps
Space Hotel for dinner and a pow wow! Would you go into space, if you could afford
a ticket, probably at a $1,000,000 per person or more? Orbital flights currently
go for $30M with Space Adventures through the Russians and they are sold out
at least until 2010. Only the space Shuttle could make the trip but NASA isn't
up for charter. By 2012 several others as mentioned above should be able to make
the flight to the hotel. |
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(March 3, 2008 - Boca Raton, Fl)
| SPACE CRUISE PLANNED IN APRIL 2009... XTRAORDINARY
ADVENTURES is bringing a few famous astronauts aboard the
yacht Sea
Dream to select several passengers for a future sub-orbital
spaceflight. Participants will experience weightlessness on a
Zero-G flight from the Kennedy Space Center and G forces during
space training. |
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A Florida company is bringing several U S Hall of Fame
Astronauts on the luxury yacht Sea Dream to select future sub-orbital
space participants during their 'Space Cruise' week event in April 2009.
According to Mitchell J Schultz, it's Director, “ninety-six possible
participants from around the globe are expected to register and become
a part of space history.”
As the opportunity for commercial human spaceflight approaches, XTRAORDINARY
ADVENTURES will enable a number of their participants to be selected
and take part in this newest advent of excitement and exploration for
man......by becoming a passenger on a future sub-orbital spaceflight.
Schultz further elaborates “with chances no greater than one out
of sixteen and with a week full of stimulating space related events,
participants will thrill to the experience of a lifetime as they schmooze
with others of similar interests and mingle with U S Hall of Fame Astronauts
that are all part of the festivities.”
In addition, XTRAORDINARY
ADVENTURES will bring participants to Kennedy
Space Center for a variety of special events including a chartered Zero-G
flight, where each person will receive a personalized flight suit
along with photos and a DVD of their experience. Participants will also
receive a special two day space training program at NASTAR,
near Philadelphia, where NASA has trained several Astronauts.
Ever since the dawn of early human spaceflight in the 1960's, mans desire
to experience the awe of space, weightlessness and feel the power of rockets
and G forces has excited many to wonder if and when will this opportunity
be within reach. Now, it appears that the time is almost at hand with
the successful flight of SpaceShipOne in October 2004 and entering the
world into a commercial sub-orbital space race.
With costs ranging from $98,000 to $250,000 for a seat, XTRAORDINARY
ADVENTURES has put together a program for $35,000 that Schultz claims “will
allow all our participants an opportunity to not only taste the flavors
of a space trip, with their space training and weightless flight experience,
but will also send up to six lucky participants on a future sub-orbital
spaceflight with an authorized FAA licensed carrier or provide for a
payment of $150,000 to each of the six if there are no scheduled flights
or departures by April 30, 2012.”
Mitchell J Schultz is an experienced adventurer, world
traveler and avid space enthusiast. Traveling for over 40 years, he has
visited over 50 countries and has founded XTRAORDINARY
ADVENTURES, LLC to market the making of 'Dreams to Reality' for the
true space adventurer. Discriminating travelers with the inclination
and the budget to take the space cruise will participate in the world's
most exhilarating week of space related events and activities culminating
with sending participants on a future sub-orbital spaceflight that will
forever become one of their most memorable experiences.
For more information visit www.XtraOrdinaryAdventures.com
Contact: Mitchell J Schultz, Director
Tel: (561)455-4594
Fax:(561)455-4596
Email:
\n MJS@XtraOrdinaryAdventures.com
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript
enabled to view it
A number of highly enthusiastic
supporters of Space Access attended their 'SpaceGateway
Experience' event in Key Largo Florida which opened on January
6th, 2008 at the exclusive Ocean Reef Club community.
Space Cruise News was there and was
enlightened on Space Access' patented Ejector
Ramjet technology, which they stated, has the ability to power
their 'Skyhopper' reusable launch vehicles
into space.
Steve Wurst, CEO reiterated that Space
Access will carry passengers safely into sub orbital
space and back for no more costly than taking an Ocean Cruise.” |
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Further, he said, they plan on accomplishing this by
2011 from their own Spaceport contained within a future economically-friendly
'Space City' community' located on 25,000 acres by the Kennedy
Ranch in Eastern Texas.
Space Cruise News will follow the progress of Space
Access as it
progresses towards fulfilling its optimistic objectives. Although Space Access has
quality experience and talent, can it secure the necessary resources
to meet its deadlines and satisfy its goals? Watch for further updates
on this story. For additional information on Space Access visit
their site at www.spaceaccess.com and
check out the following news reports:
Space
Access: not just a space tourism company
http://www.personalspaceflight.info/category/business/space-access-llc/
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-
bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-20-2007/0004726261&EDATE= |
Updated: Dec 23, 2007 12:48 AM
Space Access Plans Out-of-This-World Theme Community
A company from Indiana plans to offer what it calls
an "experience of a lifetime" vacation package that includes
a bird's eye view of North America from space.
Space Access founder Steve Wurst said he worked with President Bush
when he was governor and with and Gov. Rick Perry to make the dream
of a space community a reality in Texas.
Wurst has been in talks with the Kennedy Memorial Foundation for about
a decade to build a space port and city of the future on Kennedy Ranch.
Sate of the art developers would build an economically-friendly community
on roughly 25,000 acres of land there something similar to Disney's
celebration in Central Florida."But instead of amusement related
to animated characters," Wurst said, "the main draw would
be the space tourism theme."
Wurst said the community would help support a space port on Kennedy
Ranch, where up to 15 sub-orbital flights would be offered daily starting
in 2011.
Space tourists would board what is being called a hypersonic vehicle,
built with wings and ejector ram jet, to fly you 600,000 feet over
the Gulf Coast at a speed seven times the speed of sound. As the craft
enters the atmosphere travelers experience weightlessness.
"You'd be able to look back on Central America," Wurst said, "and
back toward the Rockies behind you, the mountains. And the East Coast
and toward the Caribbean-- all during one flight."
Eight minutes of space travel later, Wurst said, travelers would fly
over South Florida coast where Space Access looks to build another
space port.
The company plans to offer one-way or round-trip packages back to Corpus
Christi at a cost comparable to an ocean cruise. The space port project
on Kennedy Ranch is being unveiled during an expo in Key Largo, Fla.,
on Jan. 6.
Organizers want the public's input on the project.
Logon to http://www.spaceaccess.com to
book a trip.
________________________________________________________________
Q- Who will start commercial passenger sub-orbital flights and when?
A- Although there are a number of companies developing
their vehicles, our pick is Scaled Composite's new SpaceShipTwo Cruiser
known as “ENTERPRISE” to begin the experience in late 2009.
RocketPlane Global's RocketPlane XP has yet to prove it's concept and
make the trip as well as XCOR's Xerus, PlanetSpace's Silver Dart, SpaceX's
Flacon, Blue Origin's Goddard (from the New Shepard Program), SpaceDev's
Dream Chaser, Starchaser's Thunderstar, or the Russian's Explorer from
Space Adventures. It looks as if there are quite a few vying to capture
the new sub orbital space adventure frontier!
Q- What will it cost?
A- Space Adventures has been offering the experience for $102,000, however,
with whom? It's unproven Explorer? RocketPlane XP which has not yet flown
and demonstrated its proof of concept, through Incredible Adventures
or Space Travellers is accepting 50 founder reservations at $250,000
each. Hopefully flying in 2010. Abercrombie and Kent (A & K Travel)
had also been accepting bookings at similar costs but their deal has
melted! Planet Space's Silver Dart, also untested, will soon be accepting
reservations for $250,000. Virgin Galactic's $200,000 fare has received
hundreds of reservations. Soon Xtraordinary Adventures will offer a $35,000
space experience package with some lucky picks going into sub orbital
space! What next?
Q- Am I safe?
A- This is a risky business. Each carrier will have to
demonstrate, over time, its ability to transport passengers, safely and
bring them through an experience worth the risks and costs. Currently
there is no insurance available until some history is established.
Q- Who is most likely to consider doing the experience?
A- Expect an experienced male entrepreneur over 55, probably married
with children, in ok physical shape to be your most typical passenger
although women should make up about 28% of the travelers. They will come
worldwide but majority from the USA.
Q- I am interested in more information and options,
where do I go?
A- There are lots of sources to get up to the minute information. Here
is a selection of recommended resources:
Bigalow Aerodynamics (www.hobbyspace.com)
Blue Origin (www.blueorigin.com)
Incredible Adventures (www.incredible-adventures.com)
PlanetSpace (www.planetspace.org)
RocketPlane Global (www.RocketPlane.com)
Space Adventures (www.spaceadventures.com)
SpaceDev (www.SpaceDev.com)
Space Exploration Technologies (www.spacex.com)
Space Travellers (www.spacex.com)
Starchaser (www.starchaser.co.uk)
Virgin Galactic (www.virgingalactic.com)
Xcor Aerospace (www.xcor.com)
Each week SPACE CRUISE NEWS will attempt to answer your questions andclarify
what is happening in the sub orbital space tourist market. As the interest
of future adventurers continue to grow, what was science fiction a few
decades ago now becomes almost a common place experience within the reach
of millions.
If you have a question or want to learn more about
a sub orbital space experience kindly email your requests to: SPACE
CRUISE NEWS at request@SpaceCruiseNews.com and join our list of growing
space enthusiasts and receive a FREE copy of The Weekly SPACE CRUISE
NEWS Report.
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PRESS RELEASE
Date Released: Thursday, January 3, 2008
Source: Purdue University
Purdue wind tunnel key for 'hypersonic vehicles,'
future space planes
By using the only wind tunnel capable of running quietly at "hypersonic" speeds,
Purdue University engineeve conducted experiments to yield critical
data for designing an advanced aircraft called the X-51A, powered
by engines called scramjets.
The X-51A test vehicle is expected to evolve into missiles capable
of flying at Mach 6 - or six times the speed of sound - enabling
them to hit mobile "time-critical" targets.
Scramjets also may propel future military and civilian space planes.
The quiet wind tunnel operation is critical for collecting data to
show precisely how air flows over a vehicle's surface in flight.
No other wind tunnel runs quietly while conducting experiments in
airstreams traveling at Mach 6, said Steven Schneider, an aerospace
engineer and professor in Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
"A quiet wind tunnel yields more accurate data because it more
closely simulates flight," he said.
Specifically, engineers need detailed information about how airflow
changes from "laminar," or smooth, to turbulent as it speeds
over an aircraft's surfaces. The information is essential to properly
design vehicles that fly at hypersonic speeds, or faster than Mach
5, nearly 4,000 mph, Schneider said.
The X-51 project is led by the Air Force Research Laboratory and
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the vehicle is
being built by Pratt & Whitney and the Boeing Co. Purdue engineers
are part of a national team of researchers from government, academia
and industry handling different aspects of the vehicle.
The Purdue research focuses on the forebody, or front portion of
the craft, using a foot-long model for wind-tunnel testing. Research
findings are providing information in two vital areas: maintaining
the turbulent flow of air into the engine's combustor to keep the
scramjet running properly, and increasing the amount of smooth airflow
over the vehicle's upper surface to reduce friction and heat that
could damage or destroy the vehicle. The higher the Mach number,
the greater the friction and heat generated in flight.
Findings are detailed in a research paper to be presented on Jan.
8 during the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics'
46th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit in Reno, Nev. The paper
was written by Schneider and graduate research assistant Matthew
P. Borg.
The X-51A is a wedge-shaped vehicle with a scooplike cowl on its
underbelly, where air rushes into the inlet of the engine's combustor.
It is critical for air entering the inlet to be turbulent at hypersonic
speeds, or the engine could "unstart," causing it to crash,
Schneider said.
For this reason, air has to be converted to a turbulent flow before
entering the inlet. This conversion is accomplished using a raised
strip of metal placed near the inlet to "trip" the air
from smooth to turbulent. Wind tunnel tests are helping engineers
better understand this "roughness-induced transition."
The research findings will enable engineers to determine precisely
where to place the trips and how far they should be raised from the
aircraft's skin, Schneider said.
Experiments under quiet conditions yielded more accurate findings
compared with experiments under noisy conditions. The quiet data
indicated the trips should be raised about twice as high.
At the same time, air flowing over the top of the vehicle should
be as smooth as possible to reduce friction and heating, which increases
drag and necessitates a heavier thermal protection system for the
vehicle's thin metal skin. Data from the experiments will be used
to assess the performance of that portion of the vehicle.
"Laminar airflows can have eight times less heating than turbulent
ones," Schneider said.
The researchers used a temperature-sensitive paint to measure how
hot the skin of the model gets during testing. The paint was coated
on a nylon strip inserted into the model. Shining a blue light onto
the strip during testing generates a temperature-dependent red light
from the paint. The intensity of the red light shows how hot the
surface is.
"The results of our work can be used to help determine the heating
and the skin friction of the vehicle, which is important for the
design of the X-51A," Schneider said.
The vehicle is scheduled to fly in a series of tests by 2009. The
project is part of an effort to build future missiles six times faster
than today's cruise missiles. Scramjets, or supersonic combustion
ramjets, could lead to the design of space planes that are far less
expensive to operate than the current space shuttles, making it more
affordable to haul payloads into orbit. The space planes would use
a combination of scramjets and rockets. Because scramjets use air
from the atmosphere as the "oxidizer" to combust fuel,
they do not require the liquid oxygen needed for rockets. That means
vehicles equipped with scramjets would carry less liquid oxygen
only enough needed to operate rockets at high altitude.
"And if you don't have to carry as much oxidizer, you can make
the vehicle a lot lighter, or you could make the structure heavier
and more robust," Schneider said.
The researchers are able to switch the wind tunnel back and forth
from quiet to high-noise airflow, which allows them to compare the
quality of data in the two modes.
To measure the airflow velocity and turbulence, the researchers use
a heated wire about one-tenth the diameter of a human hair. The higher
the speed of the airflow, the more the wire is cooled and the greater
the electrical current needed to maintain the wire's hot temperature.
Monitoring the changing current needed to maintain the wire's temperature
reveals the changing air speed at fluctuations of up to 250,000 times
per second.
"This enables us to see how it goes from laminar to turbulent," Schneider
said.
The research paper details the first major findings from the quiet
wind tunnel after about 18 years of research to perfect the facility,
which will be used to analyze the performance of hypersonic vehicles.
"Purdue, the Air Force and private industry have invested about
$1 million in this tunnel over that time, and it's finally working
and getting results that are affecting the design of these vehicles," Schneider
said. Scramjet vehicles could be in use by 2015.
To obtain quiet flow, the throat of the Mach 6 nozzle must be polished
to a near-perfect mirror finish, eliminating roughness that will
trip the flow near the wall from laminar to turbulent. Then, for
the wind tunnel to remain quiet, it must be entirely free of particles.
Even a single speck of sand could cause turbulence inside the wind
tunnel, damaging the finish and ruining the quiet effect.
The wind tunnel is not the first of its kind. The National Aeronautics
and Space Administration previously operated a wind tunnel capable
of similar performance, but that wind tunnel is not currently in
operation.
Purdue's wind tunnel, which has been funded by the Air Force Office
of Scientific Research, NASA, Sandia National Laboratories, the Ballistic
Missile Defense Organization and the Boeing Co., is named the Boeing/AFOSR
Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue doctoral student Matthew P. Borg holds a model of an advanced
aircraft called the X-51A, which will be powered by engines called
scramjets and capable of flying at Mach 6, or six times the speed
of sound. Purdue engineers, using the only wind tunnel capable
of running quietly at "hypersonic" speeds, have conducted
experiments to yield data critical for the vehicle's design. The
researchers, led by Steven Schneider, are reporting the first major
findings from the quiet wind tunnel after about 18 years of research
to perfect the facility, which will be used to analyze the performance
of hypersonic vehicles. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)
A publication-quality photograph is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2007/borg-windtunnel.jpg
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