Isn't it about time space capable nations united?

reply to post by JadeStar


If noticed i said "putting orion to one side"

I was taliking about nuclear propulsion in genneral like NERVA or daedalus or like you said icaus.

My point is we have to go nuclear in someway if we want to go mars or beyond, chemical rockets just wont cut it for speed or fuel. Its just not a option.

crazyewok
reply to post by JadeStar

 

If noticed i said "putting orion to one side"

I was taliking about nuclear propulsion in genneral like NERVA or daedalus or like you said icaus.

My point is we have to go nuclear in someway if we want to go mars or beyond, chemical rockets just wont cut it for speed or fuel. Its just not a option.

Oh, I agree. I just think Nuclear Fusion rockets will probably be the way forward. It is much easier to use fusion as a rocket than as an energy source on earth so I wouldn't be shocked if we have a working Fusion rocket before a commercial fusion reactor.

reply to post by JadeStar


I have to admit the Fusion rockets look tantaliseng and would complety revolutionise space travel and the space industry.

The elephant in the room is that people just simply don't care. You ask someone about a galaxy and they will ask you what samsung device do you have. You bring up in a conversation saying to someone that both Voyagers have penetrated the heliosphere into galactic space they will get a glaze in their eyes and ask you if you are one of those conspiracy guys.

People just don't care.

Thing is. in the future China and/or Russia starts doing some impressive stuff people will start to care.

Maybe...

Pfft...


*apologies for being jaded

reply to post by Terminal1


It why our western govements need to ignore the ignorant masses on this.

To do otherwise is selling our futures out.

Maybe our goverments should make it clear there is vast wealth to be made out ther? Money money money that normaly gets even the most stupid going.

In any case, we need something like skylon, or falcon 9 reusable before we can really get far ahead at as far as space is concerned.

I like the COTS program by nasa... it's a good way to do things.

like the US Airmail service, it creates a market in which to compete in.
(there isn't much of a "Free Market" for space travel, and there probably won't ever be unless we find unobtanium or something on like the moon or an astroid, a maguffinite that solves some great problem and isn't available on earth)

in any case. You'd have to somehow come up with the funds and the programs that would firstly gain the political and economic capital to design a new generation of cost-efficient launch vehicles, or at least a series of price-competetive launch vehicles (compared to existant ones).

Overall you'd also need to somehow have a "International Launch Facility/interface standard" developed. so that you could have multiple rockets, from multiple manufacturers/countries use the same facilities and personell, and thus save on fixed costs.

reply to post by paranormal78


It may not be as you see it a common goal. Not at all. Each country has their own reasonings for doing it and spending the money. I know you and us, the general public, watch it all and go "OOO!!!"...but each and every country has their own agenda. Some obvious-space exploration...while others-nefarious-for political and military advantages.

So, its not as simple as "kum-ba-ya! We all gonna share a ship to Outer Space!!!". I believe at least half of these countries have less than honorable intentions. Its more about who can get up there 1st and fastest..and cheapest for a very wide variety of intents, and some not at all honorable. Some, nefarious.