Google co-founder aims for space

steve smyth — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:52:36 GMT

C'mon Al, nobody will ever again approach the bogosity of Rotary Rocket...that said, I offer you, once again, the solution to this entire mess...space travel* without rockets or burn in...alternative fuel solutions galore...and a perspective that will brighten your outlook towards everything, because you won't be relying on others to form your opinions for you...
sound good?
click the name below...continue to click through for the full experience...
space travel...not a ride in some tin can ( aramid fibre can if you will ) presented by Tin Men, to apogee and back...while peering through some tiny porthole...
ready when you are, Folks!

Google co-founder aims for space

Ventana del Sol, Corona — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:09:35 GMT

Now that Hollywood trailer trash serves as behavior model for our "culture"...we may now enjoy the ongoing pollution of space by the uber-rich playboys. Does anyone remember Icarus?

Google co-founder aims for space

MeThree — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:36:04 GMT

Don`t come back!!!

Google co-founder aims for space

Bob, Farmington, CT — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:52:56 GMT

Nice to see Sergei blowing millions of dollars for a personal joyride rather than investing into worthy charities right here on earth. He sets a great example by choosing "look at me" over philanthropy.

Google co-founder aims for space

Peter Davey, Bournemouth, Dorset, Great Britain — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:03:47 GMT

Those people who point to the cost and exclusive nature of "space tourism" should be reminded that ordinary tourism started in much the same way.

A couple of centuries ago, you had to be someone along the lines of Lord Byron to go on "The Grand Tour", spending months moving slowly across Europe, visiting historical sites and cities, such as Venice, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, etc, perhaps buying the odd group of statuary to enhance your country estate.

It was only such things as the invention of railways and the telegraph; the cutting of the Suez and Panama Canals, and so on, making travel easier, together with an increase in literacy, making people more aware of the wider world, that made tourism as popular as it is today.

We can hope to see the same cycle repeating itself, with an even wider scope in which to do so.

I understand that the first European explorers to visit the Grand Canyon stated, on their return, that their's would probably the only expedition to visit such a desolate, out of the way location.

The Valles Marineris canyon complex on Mars is not only longer than the Grand Canyon in absolute terms, but in comparative terms as well, Mars being smaller than Earth.

I wonder how long that will remain "out of the way?"

Google co-founder aims for space

Terry, Memphis, TN. — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:01:41 GMT

All expansions in to the future have started as adventures for the rich and famous. The poor stay at home to continue the work needed to make the rich and famous more rich and famous.

Google co-founder aims for space

Mike, NY, NY — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:27:31 GMT

Brin's money will NOT buy him a flight. He was born in Russia and he speaks Russian. I bet he will not be approved for the flight for religious and political reasons. He is rich but naive.
You can take the boy out of Russia, but will not take "Russia" out of the boy.

Google co-founder aims for space

Pete McKnight, Charlotte, NC — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:27:39 GMT

It would only be worth all that money if he took Hillary Clinton with him and dropped her in perpetual earth orbit. Me? I would just spend the money on booze and Elliot Spitzer type enertainment.

Google co-founder aims for space

Wayne in Kansas City, MO — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:30:52 GMT

Oh please people, the comments on here are by a bunch of jealous and small people who just can't stand the thought of somebody who has millions to blow it on the chance of a lifetime.

No person of his means gives all of his money to charity, so get off yourselves and grow up! This is no different than if he chose to spend HIS money on a massive estate and a bunch of other toys. Suggesting that he not be entitled to spend his money how he chooses is communist style thinking if I ever heard it!

Google co-founder aims for space

Jason, Chicago, IL — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:32:06 GMT

It's a shame our money is going to the russian government to support these flights. When will NASA wake up and realize not just government engineers want, and deserve, to go into space? I understand the cost and the risks, which is why at the moment it is reserved only for those who can afford it. Some day it'll be more inclusive, but for now, NASA could use the extra dough.

Google co-founder aims for space

g.r.r, highlands ranch, CO — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:09:36 GMT

By that time, Spacex may actually be sending 7 ppl into space for the same price that these guys send 1.

Google co-founder aims for space

Rita, L.A CA — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:13:36 GMT

Sounds amazing and it seems like the new agreement would allow for passengers, a strange line of business but why not actually

Google co-founder aims for space

Vivian, Johannesburg, South Africa — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:28:04 GMT

This is the adventure of a lifetime. For those people who can afford it, you would be crazy not to go. In relative terms it actually is not that expensive, I mean they could charge 10 times the amount and there would still be people willing to go! Someone might pay $10000 to take a drive in a Formula 1 car, then people will also say 'your crazy', so it's all relative.

Google co-founder aims for space

Todd, Billerica, MA — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:10:19 GMT

The biggest problem with open forums like these are you get more comments from people who like to hear themselves talk than you get comments from people who want to discuss the topic. Oh well.

I am one person who is hoping SpaceX will be in the ballgame at around the same time this Soyuz flight with 2 paid passengers takes off. Then a true cost alaysis of both options can be tabulated.

Google co-founder aims for space

disgruntled naive investor — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:39:08 GMT

Alan I am curious why you still insist in granting instant credibility to PlanetSpace by grouping them with other legitimate companies, I too once held out a lot of (misplaced) faith in the capability of this group.

You are much to generous to included them in the group of "Virgin Galactic competitors"

Blue Origin, Bigelow Aerospace, Armadillo Aerospace, SpaceX all of which have actually delivered on promises

and milestones.

Months have gone by without a word about them. And then presto their name appears again in the media without any reference to anything new.

Now I realize they are a private company and they are not obligated to inform the public of anything. But I do have to questions why they get this level of endorsement when you have organizations like ARCA who barely have 2 cents to rub together and yet they seem to deliver what they promise. They get vitualy no coverage in the media.

Then there is Planetspace headed by Kathuria and his assistant Sheerin, these two have made countless public proclamations

of grand plans and unsubstantiated claims of achievement. The rest of the "Virgin Galactic competitors" have actually gotten real hardware off the ground.

But It has been how many years since Canadian Arrow was absorbed into Planetspace, and what have these guys done. Sure I read a lot about what they are going to do.

Why have you not taken Planetspace to task and force them to substantiate their claims. They certainly won't show anything to anyone else, has anyone actually ever seen any real Planetspace hardware, a factory, an employee, anything other than these two. I mean they could be the only two individuals working there surrounded by cardboard cutouts of other workers.

Use your journalistic skills and do some real digging instead of taking them a face value.

Ask them just what happened to all the various launch dates, the big "partnerships" and "deals", the so called Silver Dart, Canadian Arrow Rocket, the Launch Pad in Nova Scotia, the Unfunded COTS milestones, and the "partnership" with Lockheed ATK to launch an Athena 3 rocket, Just to name a few.

Oh and one other thing Alan as you are the only one who can seem to track these guys down, if you get a chance ask them to update their founding stake holders (the little guys) with an always promised-never- delivered share holder meeting. That is if they are not too busy making the Big Pitch to new naive investors.

It is a shame what happend to this group, or should I say what has NOT happend

Google co-founder aims for space

Alan Boyle — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:46:19 GMT

Dear Disgruntled: I included PlanetSpace because it's a venture that is headed by a billionaire or a millionaire (Chirinjeev Kathuria). The list would definitely be different if I were to focus on companies that have actually flown hardware (for example, it would include XCOR Aerospace but not PlanetSpace, which has done some development work and testing but hasn't launched anything).

Google co-founder aims for space

steve smyth — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:43:20 GMT

Alan...disgruntled...et al,
I'm walking a tightrope here, because Alan and I have agreed that if I behave somewhat within the confines of civility, he will allow my comments on any topic.
As some of you may know, the above named Billionaire Rocketeers are actually all in a race to catch me.
If not for their work in the bureaucratic trenches, while building the foundation with their billions...( for which I do not have the means )...nobody'd go anywhere...
All the testing is necessary for existing criteria to be met.
I ignore existing criteria, letting the
"Billionaire Adventurers Club" members scramble amongst theirselfs.
The point of this missive is to inform you Folks of something that Alan told me before Cosmic Log came online.
He is a reporter...objective to the core.
You report clearly and accurately on something which doesn't really even exist.
Try being one of the most knowledgeable individuals RE The New Space Race, yet never favoring your fave via CosmicLog.
Kathuria has been a player since shortly after day one...I think he's totally bogus, but Alan tells 'em as he gets 'em.
Be thanful for the chance to read such unbiased news.
There's no place else with less agenda.
Kinda like a Scientist/Journalist...rather than just a Science Journalist...Journalism with the pragmatism of pure 'prove it' Science.
While this reads like buttering up, it's the 100% real skinny from here...of course being extra nice so that the above Gaia Two hype is out there may play into it just a wee bit.
Thanks, Al...

Google co-founder aims for space

disgruntled naive investor — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:18:13 GMT

Alan thanks for responding to my comment.
I would like to clarify a few things though.
First while Chirinjeev may in fact be a millionaire it would seem to be evident that no large sums of money have been invested into this venture to further the development of its technology, contrary to what mr.Sheerin indicated in a public press event in London Ontario in May 2005 the grand opening of the now closed Canadian Arrow Space Centre. Mr.Sheerin announced "we have found our Paul Allen" A reference to indicate to the press, local government and investors that Canadian Arrow had finally received its much needed financing.

Second, Planetspace has not done any development of any sort other than PowerPoint graphics and paper tigers since the dissolving of Canadian Arrow.
All the propulsion development and alike was done prior to the formation of Planetspace in May 2005.
Now as I am just an investor in this venture, and I of course do not receive any communication with them (silly me)
For all I know They could in fact be putting the finishing touches on a flying Dart ready to roll down the runway.
So this is just my personal opinion.
And you do not have to believe me. But all this information can in fact be found on the internet…Easy research.
I challenge any journalist to see what these guys claim to have. My guess, nothing more than mock-ups and lots of talk.
I just hope the rest of the space industry is not like this.

Google co-founder aims for space

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:29:23 GMT

"Nice to see Sergei blowing millions of dollars for a personal joyride rather than investing into worthy charities right here on earth. He sets a great example by choosing "look at me" over philanthropy."

So at what point, and in what way *does* a man get to spend his money on a legal activity for his own pleasure?

Remember, the reason we make money at all, is to increase the range of needs and wants we can we can meet. And as there will always be someone who makes more than someone else, there will be products and services that someone can afford that someone else can't.

*After* paying taxes to a government that allegedly is seeing to the needs of its citizens, how little does one have to make, before someone else no longer says how charitable they should be? My income? Yours? The guy living on the street corner?

And always remember, high-end products and services *employ* people with less than high-end incomes...

Google co-founder aims for space

Warangal, CA — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:16:30 GMT

Google has a few random pages hidden that well take a look for yourself below.
http://www.googleeastereggs.com/