Sizing up the space hotel

red pill junkie, Mexico city — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:09:43 GMT

Who will win the space-hotel race: Bigelow or Galactic Suite?

Answer: The one who figures out how to get their guests to have pleasant SEX on zero-g ;-)

PS: Has anyone an idea of how many guests per trip these guys of Galactic Suite are aiming for? 3? 4?

And how many crew members?

Sizing up the space hotel

Nick , Boston, MA — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:22:25 GMT

Galactic Suite is clearly bogus. Bigelow already has two test modules in orbit, a sophisticated mission control center, and large antennas to communicate with their spacecraft in multiple locations. These GS people, as far as anyone knows, have nothing but a press release and a viewgraph drawing of a station with no apparent power source, no radiators, absurdly large and impractically designed windows, and a spacecraft docked to them that doesn't exist and that nobody else has announced plans to develop. Even if they have the money, I doubt they have the competence to apply it properly. This will at best be a spectacular trainwreck of DeLorean proportions, but most likely just some vaporware fantasy. The kooks always begin with a grandiose press release, while serious folks tend to be tight-lipped until there's something to talk about.

Sizing up the space hotel

mathew adair — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:28:05 GMT

It is my opinion that the "giggle factor" is the same that most advances in technology saw. Although there will be some problems with initial trips, in both the hotel, and future colonization efforts, they arise because of the approach being before the solutions to the problems have been solved. At some point they will be, so why not now? (And I agree with red pill junkie about the sex in space lol)

Sizing up the space hotel

steve smyth lynn ma — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:00:01 GMT

look for Galactic Suite to use Gaia Two as its transport vehicle, as well as for the hotel itself...originally designed with Branson's operation in mind...(he started out with Hotel Galactica, by the way)...the entire inflatable hotel can be returned safely with guests intact...etc...you've all seen the rest of my pitch...let's see what happens, eh?

Sizing up the space hotel

Johnny B, Fort Collins, CO — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:30:12 GMT

I think part of the giggle factor lies not only in the unproven technology, but in the massive failure of NASA to inspire the general population in matters of space exploration. This is due to the fact that in recent times, with the exception of a few very notably successful and popular unmanned missions, there has been very little progress or excitement generated.

In all fairness, it's not entirely NASA's fault. The general public does not appreciate the huge benefits of space exploration, or technological advancement in general as a means of improving the human condition and helping to assure our survival in the future.

My hope lies almost solely in the private sector. Real progress will be lead by private individuals who have the dreams and the will to make them a reality. If the people at GS have the right stuff, then good for them. It's easy to be overly optimistic at this point in the game, and they may not achieve their goals on schedule. But they shouldn't give up their dreams, even if Bigelow gets there first.

It seems certain to me that SOMEONE is going to get this party started -- and soon. There will be setbacks for sure -- but I hope that we will have the fortitude to use failure as an inspiration to do better, and not as an excuse to give up.

We are lucky to live in such an exciting time, where change will be rapid and dramatic.

Sizing up the space hotel

JC, Fairbanks, AK — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:36:25 GMT

There's already an hotel in orbit... It's called the International Space Station, and it (and it's support) gobble up over one-third of NASA's entire budget.

Johnny B.: the reason NASA can't inspire people with it's 'manned' program is that there's little exciting about endlessly wearing out low earth orbit . . .

Sizing up the space hotel

kevin marsh,Tyrone, pennsylvania — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:56:37 GMT

I agree that someone will do these things, and soon. Good for them, I dont care who it is, but I will admit, my money is on Bigalow. He has the experience, what little there is, and the hardware already proven. But I hope a dozen others will jump in soon, Nasa is an Old-Boys -club of military and government corps who have long term contracts. I wish they were better than they are with all the money they spend, but they arent. Maybe if all their contracts had some teeth, like deadlines with technological improvements on time, or drop the contract and aply fines..but then that would be too much like a profitable business for a government organization.

Sizing up the space hotel

Frank Glover, rochester, NY — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:13:57 GMT

I agree, these guys have the right spirit, but I believe they're at least 10, maybe 15 years ahead of themselves, espically in terms of access to their station.

But this is the sort of thing one *ultimately* wants to see, yes...

Sizing up the space hotel

Jimbo, Houston, Texas — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:57:29 GMT

Bigelow with his last two Genesis vehicles flew cockroaches as 'life systems'...neither survived (the first vehicle per Bigelow himself...wanted these critters flown even though it was not a pressurized payload....they would be exposed to space vacuum for at least two hours) the second vehicle Genesis II had a 'pressurized' payload with cockroaches and scorpions...lasted maybe a week(There was a whole story posted on Bigelow's website about how and why the cockroaches were being flown as a payload...it has all been taken down). So you think Bigelow in just a few years is going to build a human habitation in space??? I hope those vistors to Bigelow's space hotel have some really long duration space suits to keep them alive.

Sizing up the space hotel

Mike Puckett, Webster Springs, WV — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:18:47 GMT

Yes Jimbo, Bigelow plans to put a human rated life support system on its modules intended for human use.

Testing structural integrity and comms were the primary goals of the genesis program. I think Bigelow did not feel developing a human capible life support system for a test module was not a cost effective expenditure