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Author
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Topic: [Discuss] SpaceX crewed circumlunar flight
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328KF
Member Posts: 1344
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-08-2017 12:23 PM
   
Great commentary from Jim Lovell on the insignificance of this flight, except for the two directly involved. Thanks for that interview Robert. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47828
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-08-2017 01:28 PM
While it may end up being historically insignificant, Lovell did say that it could provide a viable revenue stream for SpaceX, funding its other spaceflight and exploration projects. And as mentioned in the article, he is generally supportive of any effort that begins to normalize travel between the Earth and the moon. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1344
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-08-2017 01:41 PM
I was referring to his opinion that this is not anything remotely close to Apollo 8. Of course it provides a revenue stream to SpaceX, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it this way. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47828
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-10-2017 05:17 PM
Well, we can rule out two-time self-funded spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi as one of the passengers: Charles Simonyi, the billionaire software executive who’s flown to space twice, says he doesn’t know who’s on SpaceX’s passenger list for a flight beyond the moon and back. But he knows at least one potential customer who’s not on it: himself....Simonyi said he's not buying a round-the-moon ticket anytime soon, mostly due to the cost. And besides, he's got a family to think about: In 2008 he married Lisa Persdotter, the daughter of a Swedish millionaire, and they now have two daughters of their own. |
bunnkwio
Member Posts: 114
From: Naperville, IL USA
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 03-13-2017 01:04 PM
Billionaires or not, I'm happy that I may get to experience watching people circumnavigate the moon (technically, being born in '71, I did...but I don't have any recollection).They'll be the first lunar tourists or whatever label will be given. Historical? Not terribly. Revenue generating? Oh, I'm sure...one flawless flight and other billionaires will join the fray. And if I had the money, I'd be signing up! Selfishly, my hope is that the trip has 4k video cameras all over and SpaceX broadcasts the entire trip, from launch to splashdown. Want more revenue? Charge $50 pay-per-view for the continuous feed. I'm in. That's how much I badly I want to see video as good as Hasselblad photos from the Apollo era. Has anyone reached out to Steve Jurvetson? I know he's a viable candidate, on the SpaceX board, but recall reading that he wouldn't be on a first flight... |
328KF
Member Posts: 1344
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-13-2017 03:05 PM
This Washington Post article seems to indicate that the current higher-ups at NASA don't have much interest in this mission: "What does Elon want to do with this — is it just a one-off tourist flight?" said NASA's top official for human spaceflight, William Gerstenmaier, in an interview with The Washington Post. "I don't see it as advancing human presence in the solar system." Of course, maybe that's just Gerst's opinion. He has a new boss still to be named who may well see things differently. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1072
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-13-2017 03:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Behling:
He has customers willing to pay, so they have been already convinced.
Remember Sarah Brightman? I wonder if she got her USD$52M back yet. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47828
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-13-2017 03:58 PM
Brightman didn't lose her interest in flying; she would have gone if her personal situation hadn't changed.Regardless, her experience is not comparable to SpaceX's clients. They came to SpaceX to not just book the flight, but create the opportunity. They are the driving force behind the mission. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1072
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-13-2017 04:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
she would have gone if her personal situation hadn't changed.
I thought what changed was the blown up Antares a few months prior to her NOGO decision. The subsequent SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion and the failed Russian Progress resupply mission the following year might have reinforced that decision, given the fact she hasn't been rescheduled for another seat so far. Agree that the two kinds of missions have their differences. The underlying discussion though is customer confidence. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47828
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-13-2017 04:40 PM
My understanding is that her withdrawal was for reasons unrelated to safety concerns (officially "for personal family reasons"). She made her public announcement though, two weeks after the Progress launch failure — which is why many incorrectly, but understandably associated the two. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47828
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-27-2017 01:58 PM
SpaceNews' Jeff Foust offers a A short history of lunar space tourism: When Elon Musk announced plans last month that SpaceX wants to send two people on a commercial mission around the moon as soon as late 2018, it was a surprise, but also hardly unique... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47828
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-28-2017 08:23 AM
From Elon Musk on Twitter: Here is the latest SpaceX travel ad for the flight around the moon and into deep space. Maybe needs a few edits... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47828
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-03-2018 04:49 PM
This was all but stated at the maiden launch of the Falcon Heavy (when Elon Musk said that he did not expect to human-rate the rocket, favoring work on the BFR/BFS) but here is confirmation from SpaceX via the Wall Street Journal: SpaceX has indicated it won't launch a pair of space tourists to loop around the moon this year as previously announced, the latest sign that technical and production challenges are disrupting founder Elon Musk's ambitious plans for human exploration of the solar system.A new timetable for the flight — now postponed until at least mid-2019 and likely longer — hasn't been released by Space Exploration Technologies Corp., the formal name of the closely held company. Over the weekend, company spokesman James Gleeson confirmed the private moon launch has been postponed, without indicating when it might occur. "SpaceX is still planning to fly private individuals around the moon and there is growing interest from many customers," he said in an email. |
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