| Revision as of 23:28, 24 January 2013 editGliderMaven (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users15,503 edits rv: these aren't "Private Space (tm)", they're private spaceflight all lowercase, and the usage predates the registration of the trademark; if you really think you have a strong case Misplaced Pages:Contact us, good luck← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:01, 25 January 2013 edit undo71.42.61.123 (talk) This is the second edit attempt to comply with US Trademark Registration Number:4208499 removing the unlawful hacker alteration of content of unpermitted use including Private Space forms without permission.Next edit → | ||
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| {{About|non-governmental spaceflight |
{{About|non-governmental spaceflight }} | ||
| ] holding a "For Sale" sign]] | |||
| '''Private spaceflight''' is flight above {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} Earth ] conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the ], the government ] of the ] and ] pioneered ] augmented by collaboration with affiliated ]s in the USSR and ] in the US. The ] was formed in 1975, largely following the same model of space technology development. Later on, large ]s began to develop and operate space ]s, derived from government rockets and commercial ]. Private spaceflight in Earth orbit includes ]s, ], ], ] and ] and orbital ]. Recently, entrepreneurs have begun designing and deploying ] space systems to the ]-] ]al systems<ref name=gm20120205> | |||
| {{cite news |last=Szondy|first=David |title=SpaceX Dragon's ultimate mission is Mars colonization |url=http://www.gizmag.com/date-set-for-spacex-dragon-launch/20810/ |accessdate=2012-02-13 |newspaper=Gizmag |date=2012-02-05 |quote=''For decades after that first launch, space flight was a government monopoly. Even when private companies started going into space in the 1990s, it was only as providers of launch services to send commercial and government satellites into orbit. Now, all that is changing as private enterprise takes over space exploration in a manner not seen since the early days of the Hudson's Bay Company.''}}</ref> | |||
| of the early decades of the space age.<ref name=ieee201201> | |||
| {{cite news |last=Oberg|first=James |title=Private Spaceflight: Up, Up, and Away |url=http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/aviation/private-spaceflight-up-up-and-away |accessdate=2011-12-31 |newspaper=IEEE Spectrum |date=January 2012 }}</ref> | |||
| Successes to date include flying ] ]s and launching lightweight ]al ]s. Planned private spaceflights beyond Earth orbit include personal spaceflights around the ].{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} | |||
| Two private ] prototypes are already in Earth orbit, with larger versions to follow.<ref>{{cite web|title=Special Announcement|url=http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/news/?Special_Announcement|publisher=bigelowaerospace.com|accessdate=2008-04-01}}</ref> Planned private spaceflights beyond Earth orbit include ]ing prototypes (]). | |||
| '''non-governmental spaceflight''' is flight above {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} Earth ] conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the ], the government ] of the ] and ] pioneered ] augmented by collaboration with affiliated ]s in the USSR and in the US. The ] was formed in 1975, largely following the same model of space technology development. Later on, large ]s began to develop and operate space ]s, derived from government rockets and commercial ]. non-governmental spaceflight in Earth orbit includes ]s, ], ], ] and ] and orbital ]. | |||
| == History of commercial space transportation == | |||
| ] | |||
| In a 2012 article in Bloomberg, author Michael Burgan asserted that there is a "grand tradition of private wealth furthering advances in rocketry and space exploration" dating back to the early rocketry experiments of ].<ref name=bb20120718>{{cite news|last=Burgan|first=Michael|title=Private Space Exploration a Long and Thriving Tradition|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-18/private-space-exploration-a-long-and-thriving-tradition.html|accessdate=2012-07-20|newspaper=Bllomberg|date=2012-07-18}}</ref> | |||
| Despite those earlier private undertakings, during the principal period of ] in the mid-twentieth century, only ]s developed and flew spacecraft above the ], the nominal boundary of space. Spaceflight was thus the ] province of a small group of national governments. | |||
| Both the ] and ] were operated using mainly military pilots as ]s. During this period, no commercial space launches were available to private operators, and no private organization was able to offer space launches. Eventually, private organizations were able to both offer and purchase space launches, thus beginning the period of private spaceflight. | |||
| The first phase of private space operation was the launch of the first commercial ]s. The U.S. ] opened the way to commercial consortia owning and operating their own satellites, although these were still launched on state-owned launch vehicles. | |||
| History of full private space transportation includes early efforts by ] ] company in the 20th century and numerous modern projects of orbital and suborbital launch systems in the 21st century. Last ones counts the manned programs also - most famous and important of them are suborbital flights of ] and orbital flights of ] and other ] participants. | |||
| Development of alternatives to government-provided space ] services began in earnest in the 2000s. Private interests began funding limited development programs, but the ] later sponsored a ] ] to incentivize and encourage private companies to begin offering both cargo, and later, crew ] services. | |||
| By 2012, a private company had begun transporting cargo to and from the ] (ISS), while a second private company was scheduled to begin making deliveries in 2013, ushering in a time of regular private space cargo delivery to and return from the government-owned space facility in ] (LEO).<ref name=wired20121227/> | |||
| In this new paradigm for LEO cargo transport, the government contracts for and pays for cargo services on substantially privately-developed ] rather than the government operating each of the cargo vehicles and ].<!-- logistics systems include the ground logistics infrastructure --> | |||
| {{asof|2013}}, there is a ] being used for the ISS, as the ] ] and ] vehicles, and the ] (ESA) ] (through 2014) and the ] ] (through 2014) remain in operation after the 2011 retirement of the US ]. | |||
| ] went so far as to say that 2012 was "the year of private space,"<ref name=wired20121227> | |||
| {{cite news |last=Mann|first=Adam |title=The Year’s Most Audacious Private Space Exploration Plans |url=http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/12/audacious-space-companies-2012/ |accessdate=2013-01-20 |newspaper=Wired |date=2012-12-27 }}</ref> recounting the success of ] in conducting two launches to the ISS, with progress toward emerging competition in that industry sector, while also highlighting the well-funded capital and experienced engineering teams behind the startup companies ]–asteroid mining–and ]–private human ] surface excursions.<ref name=wired20121227/> | |||
| === European state-sponsorship === | |||
| {{Main|Arianespace}} | |||
| On March 26, 1980, the ] created ], the world's first commercial{{cn|date=January 2013}}<!-- strong claims need strong citation support; this one needs a source for how a government agency "creating" a new organization makes that new organization "commercial" --> space transportation company. Arianespace produces, operates and markets the ] launcher family. By 1995 Arianespace lofted its 100th ] and by 1997 the Ariane rocket had its 100th launch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arianespace.com/site/about/milestones_sub_index.html |title=Milestones |work=Arianespace.com |accessdate=2008-02-14 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080113040347/http://www.arianespace.com/site/about/milestones_sub_index.html |archivedate=2008-01-13}}</ref> Arianespace's 23 ] represent scientific, technical, financial and political entities from 10 different ]an countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arianespace.com/site/about/shareholders_sub_index.html |title=Arianespace shareholders represent scientific, technical, financial and political entities from 10 different European countries |work=Arianespace.com |accessdate=2008-02-14 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080206075437/http://www.arianespace.com/site/about/shareholders_sub_index.html |archivedate=2008-02-06}}</ref> | |||
| === Private European === | |||
| {{Main|OTRAG}} | |||
| === American deregulation === | |||
| From the beginning of the Shuttle program until the ] disaster in 1986, it was the policy of the United States that NASA be the public-sector provider of U.S. launch capacity to the world market.<ref>{{cite web|title=Setting Space Transportation Policy for the 1990s|url=http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/59xx/doc5935/doc24c-Entire.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=cbo.gov|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> | |||
| On October 30, 1984, United States President ] signed into law the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement on Signing the Commercial Space Launch Act|url=http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/103084i.htm|publisher=reagan.utexas.edu|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> This enabled an American industry of private operators of ]s. Prior to the signing of this law, all commercial satellite launches in the United States were restricted by Federal regulation to NASA's ]. | |||
| On November 5, 1990, United States President ] signed into law the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=$ 2465d. Requirement of US Federal government to procure commercial launch services|url=http://www.space-frontier.org/commercialspace/lspalaw.txt|publisher=space-frontier.org|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> The Act, in a complete reversal of the earlier Space Shuttle monopoly, ordered NASA to purchase launch services for its primary payloads from commercial providers whenever such services are required in the course of its activities. | |||
| Commercial launches outnumbered government launches at the ] in 1997.<ref> | |||
| {{cite web | url = http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9790&page=1 | title = Streamlining Space Launch Range Safety - Executive Summary | publisher = ]|accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref> | |||
| === Russian privatization === | |||
| In 1992, Resurs-500 capsule containing gifts was launched from ] in what was a private spaceflight called ]. The flight was conceived by the Russian ] and ], a Russian rocket-building company, to increase trade between Russia and USA, and promote use of technology once reserved only for military forces. Money for the launch was raised from a collection of Russian companies. The capsule parachuted into the Pacific Ocean and was brought to Seattle by a Russian missile-tracking ship. | |||
| The Russian government sold part of its stake in ] to private investors in 1994. Energia together with Khrunichev constituted most of the Russian manned space program. In 1997, the Russian government sold off enough of its share to lose the majority position. | |||
| === American subsidization === | |||
| {{Main|Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle}} | |||
| In 1996 the United States government selected ] and ] to each develop ]s (EELV) to compete for launch contracts and provide assured access to space. The government's acquisition strategy relied on the strong commercial viability of both vehicles to lower unit costs. This anticipated market demand did not materialize, but both the ] and ] EELVs remain in active service. | |||
| === Launch alliances === | |||
| Since 1995 Khrunichev's ] is marketed through ] while the ] is marketed via ]. The ] project flies the Ukrainian ]. | |||
| In 2003 Arianespace joined with ] Launch Services and ] to create the ]. In 2005, continued weak commercial demand for EELV launches drove Lockheed Martin and Boeing to propose a joint venture called the ] to service the United States government launch market.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boeing, Lockheed Martin to Form Launch Services Joint Venture|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16790|publisher=spaceref.com|accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref> | |||
| === Human spaceflight privatization === | |||
| On February 1, 2010 United States President ] ] that NASA exit the business of flying astronauts from Earth to orbit. The proposal acted on the findings of the 2009 ] and built on the success of the ] that outsourced American cargo delivery to the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Calls for End to NASA’s Moon Program|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/science/space/02nasa.html|format=PDF|publisher=nytimes.com|accessdate=2010-02-01 | first=Kenneth | last=Chang | date=2010-02-02}}</ref> | |||
| == Private spaceflight companies == | |||
| {{Main|List of private spaceflight companies}} | |||
| Today many commercial space transportation companies offer launch services to satellite companies and government space organizations around the world. In 2005 there were 18 total commercial launches and 37 non-commercial launches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commercial Space Transportation: 2005 Year In Review|url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/2005_YIR_FAA_AST_0206.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=faa.gov|accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref> Russia flew 44% of commercial orbital launches, while Europe had 28% and the United States had 6%. | |||
| === Commercial launchers === | |||
| {{Main|Space transport}} | |||
| The space transport business serves primarily national government and large commercial customer segments. Launches of government ], including military, civilian and scientific satellites, is the largest market segment at nearly $100 billion a year. This segment is dominated by domestic favorites such as the ] for U.S. government payloads and ] for European satellites. The commercial payload segment, valued at under $3 billion a year, is dominated by ], with over 50% of the market segment,<ref>{{cite journal | authorlink = Andy Pasztor | title = Changing Trajectory: French Firms Vaults Ahead in Civilian Rocket Market | journal = The Wall Street Journal | volume = | pages = A1 | date = June 25, 2007 | publisher = Dow Jones & Company, Inc.}}</ref> followed by Russian launchers. See a complete list of ]. | |||
| ==== US government commercial cargo services ==== | |||
| ] berthing with the ISS during its ], on 25 May 2012.]] | |||
| {{Main|Commercial Orbital Transportation Services}} | |||
| The ] determined to begin a process to purchase ] services for cargo deliveries to the ] (ISS) beginning in the mid 2000s, rather than operate the launch and delivery services as they had with the ], which was to retire in less than half a decade, and ultimately did retire in 2011. On January 18, 2006 NASA announced an opportunity for US commercial providers to demonstrate orbital transportation services.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA Seeks Proposals for Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18791|publisher=spaceref.com|accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> As of 2008, NASA planned to spend $500 million through 2010 to finance development of ] capability to transport payloads to the ] (ISS).{{update after|2013|1|21}} This was considered more challenging than then-available commercial space transportation because it would require precision ], ] and possibly docking with another spacecraft. The commercial vendors competed in specific service areas.<ref>{{cite web|title=GUIDANCE_FOR_THE_PREPARATION_AND_SUBMISSION_OF_UNSOLICITED_PROPOSALS|url=http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/hq/library/unSol-Prop.html|publisher=nasa.gov|accessdate=2008-02-13}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> | |||
| In August 2006, NASA announced that two relatively young aerospace companies, ] and ], had been awarded $278m and $207m, respectively, under the COTS program.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA Invests in Private Sector Space Flight with SpaceX, Rocketplane-Kistler|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/news/COTS_selection.html|publisher=nasa.gov|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> In 2008, NASA anticipated that commercial ] the ISS would be necessary through at least 2015. The NASA Administrator suggested that space transportation services procurement may be expanded to orbital ] and ] deliveries should the first phase of COTS prove successful.<ref>{{cite web|title=Human_Space_Flight_Transition_Plan|url=http://spaceoperations.nasa.gov/tran_plan.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=nasa.gov|accessdate=2008-02-14 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080227051121/http://spaceoperations.nasa.gov/tran_plan.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-02-27}}</ref> | |||
| After it transpired that Rocketplane Kistler was failing to meet its contractual deadlines, NASA terminated their contract in August 2008, after only $32m had been spent. Several months later, in December 2008, NASA announced that they have awarded the remaining $170m to the ] to develop resupply services to the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA Awards Space Station Commercial Resupply Services Contracts|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_C08-069_ISS_Resupply.html|publisher=nasa.gov|accessdate=2008-12-24}}</ref> | |||
| === Commercial Space Station === | |||
| {{Main|Bigelow Commercial Space Station}} | |||
| ] is developing the ''Next-Generation Commercial Space Station'', a private ] ] complex. The ] will be constructed of both ] and ] expandable spacecraft modules as well as a central ], ], ], and attached ]. {{As of|July 2010}}, initial launch of space station components was planned for 2014, with portions of the station projected to be available for leased use as early as 2015.<ref name=baocc20100715> | |||
| , Bigelow Aerospace, accessed 2010-07-15.</ref> | |||
| === Lunar private ventures === | |||
| ====Robotic Lunar-surface missions==== | |||
| The following companies have made initial funded launch commitments for ]-related ] launches in 2014 or 2015: | |||
| * ]<ref name=aw20110208> | |||
| {{cite news |title=SpaceX Lands Contract To Fly To Moon |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/02/08/01.xml&headline=SpaceX%20Lands%20Contract%20To%20Fly%20To%20Moon |accessdate=2011-02-08 |newspaper=Aviation Week |date=2011-02-08 |quote=''Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off company, has signed a launch services contract with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) for a Falcon 9 rocket to deliver a lander, small rover and up to about 240 lb. of payload to the surface of the Moon''}}</ref> | |||
| * ]<ref name=wired20120809> | |||
| {{cite news |url=http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/08/china-x-prize-robot/ |title= China to Launch Spanish Team’s Lunar X PRIZE Robot |author= Jason Paur |date=2012-08-09 |accessdate= 2013-0-21 |publisher=] |quote=''after signing a contract with a Chinese company to launch its lunar robot to the moon in 2014.''}}</ref> | |||
| * ]<ref name=lat20110408a> | |||
| {{cite news|title=MoonEx aims to scour moon for rare materials |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-moon-venture-20110408,0,1715396.story |accessdate=2011-08-20 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2011-04-08 |quote=''The company is among several teams hoping to someday win the Google Lunar X Prize competition, a $30-million race to the moon in which a {{Sic|hide=y|privately|-}}funded team must successfully place a robot on the moon's surface and have it explore at least 1/3 of a mile. It also must transmit high definition video and images back to Earth before 2016. ... should be ready to land on the lunar surface by 2013''}}</ref> | |||
| ====Private Lunar-surface crewed expeditions==== | |||
| * ]<ref>, '']'', 6 Dec 2012, accessed 7 Dec 2012.</ref> | |||
| === Emerging personal spaceflight === | |||
| ] | |||
| {{Main|Space tourism}} | |||
| Before 2004 no privately operated manned spaceflight had ever occurred. The only private individuals to journey to space went as ] in the ] or on Russian ] flights to ] or the ]. | |||
| All private individuals who flew to space before ]'s self-financed International Space Station visit in 2001 had been sponsored by their home governments. Those trips include US Congressman ] January 1986 flight on the ] and Japanese television reporter ]'s 1990 flight to the ] Space Station. | |||
| The ] was intended to stimulate private investment in the development of spaceflight technologies. The June 21, 2004 test flight of ], a contender for the X PRIZE, was the first ] in a privately developed and operated vehicle. | |||
| On September 27, 2004, following the success of SpaceShipOne, ], owner of ] and ], SpaceShipOne's designer, announced that ] had licensed the craft's technology, and were planning commercial space flights in 2.5 to 3 years. A fleet of five craft (], launched from the ] carrier airplane) is to be constructed, and flights will be offered at around $200,000 each, although Branson has said he plans to use this money to make flights more affordable in the long term.{{Update after|2010|11|13}} | |||
| ] also plans to initiate a ] commercial spaceflight service with the ] in 2012 through a partnership with ]. First test flights are planned for 2010.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} | |||
| In December 2004, United States President ] signed in to law the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act.<ref>{{cite web|title=House Approves H.R. 3752, The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=13774|publisher=spaceref.com|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> The Act resolved the regulatory ambiguity surrounding private spaceflights and is designed to promote the development of the emerging U.S. commercial human space flight industry. | |||
| On July 12, 2006, ] launched the '']'', a subscale pathfinder of an orbital space station module. '']'' was launched on June 28, 2007, and there are plans for additional prototypes to be launched in preparation for the production model '']'' spacecraft.{{Update after|2010|11|13}} | |||
| On September 28, 2006, ], ] founder, announced he was founding ] with the intention of being first to market with the safest and lowest cost suborbital personal spaceflight launches, using the vertical takeoff and horizontal landing ] vehicle based on the NASA HL-20 Personnel Launch System vehicle.{{Update after|2010|11|13}} | |||
| In December 2012, the ] announced plans to privately transport space exploration participants to the surface of the ] and return, beginning as early as 2020, for US$750 million per passenger.<ref></ref> | |||
| == Failed spaceflight ventures == | |||
| After earlier first effort of ], in the 1990s the projection of a significant demand for ] launches attracted the development of a number of commercial space launch providers. The launch demand largely vanished when some of the largest satellite constellations, such as 288 satellite ] network, were never built. The historic tendency of NASA to compete against the private sector and the Department of Defense's preference for the traditional military industrial complex has discouraged many new space launch ventures.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} | |||
| === VentureStar === | |||
| {{Main|VentureStar}} | |||
| ] | |||
| In 1996 ] selected ] ] to build the X-33 ] prototype for a single stage to orbit (]) ]. In 1999, the subscale X-33 prototype's composite liquid hydrogen fuel tank failed during testing. At project termination on March 31, 2001, NASA had funded $912 million of this wedge shaped spacecraft while Lockheed Martin financed $357 million of it.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA Reaches Milestone in Space Launch Initiative Program|url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/x-33/01-31.htm|publisher=nasa.gov|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> The ] was to have been a full-scale commercial space transport operated by Lockheed Martin. | |||
| === Beal Aerospace === | |||
| {{Main|Beal Aerospace}} | |||
| In 1997 ] proposed the BA-2, a low-cost heavy-lift commercial launch vehicle. On March 4, 2000, the BA-2 project tested the largest ] engine built since the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Beal BA-2|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/bealba2.htm|publisher=astronautix.com|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> In October 2000, Beal Aerospace ceased operations citing a decision by ] and the ] to commit themselves to the development of the competing government-financed ] program.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher=spaceprojects.com | date=2000-03-23 | title=Beal Aerospace regrets to announce that it is ceasing all business operations effective October 23, 2000 | url=http://www.spaceprojects.com/Beal/ | accessdate=2007-06-21}}</ref> | |||
| === Rotary Rocket === | |||
| {{Main|Rotary Rocket}} | |||
| In 1998 ] proposed the Roton, a Single Stage to Orbit (]) piloted Vertical Take-off and Landing (]) space transport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roton|url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/roton.htm|publisher=astronautix.com|accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> A full scale Roton Atmospheric Test Vehicle flew three times in 1999. After spending tens of millions of dollars in development the Roton failed to secure launch contracts and Rotary Rocket ceased operations in 2001. | |||
| == Plans == | |||
| Many have speculated on where private spaceflight may go in the near future. Numerous projects of orbital and suborbital launch systems for satellites and manned flights exist. Some orbital manned missions would be state-sponsored like most COTS participants. (that develop their own launch systems). Another possibility is for paid suborbital tourism on craft like those from ], ], ], ], ], ]-], British ] or non-commercial like ]. Additionally, suborbital spacecraft have applications for faster intercontinental package delivery and passenger flight. | |||
| === Private orbital spaceflight, space stations === | |||
| {{Out of date|section|date=July 2010}} | |||
| ]'s ] rocket, first launched in 2010 with no passengers,<ref name=sfn20100604> | |||
| {{cite news|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/100604launch/index.html|title=Falcon 9 booster rockets into orbit on dramatic first launch|publisher=]|date=June 4, 2010|accessdate=June 4, 2010}}</ref> is designed to be subsequently ]. The ] is also a contender for being man-rated. | |||
| Plans and a full-scale prototype for the ], a manned capsule carrying up to 7 passengers, were announced on March 6, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Cowing|title=The SpaceX Dragon: America's First Privately Financed Manned Orbital Spacecraft?|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1095|publisher=SpaceRef.com|accessdate=2008-02-12|date=2006-03-06}}</ref>{{Update after|2010|11|13}} | |||
| In December 2010, SpaceX launched the second Falcon 9 and the first operational Dragon spacecraft. The mission was deemed fully successful, marking the first launch to space, atmospheric reentry and recovery of a rocket by a private company. Subsequent COTS missions include increasingly complex orbital tasks, culminating in Dragon docking to the ISS. | |||
| An early flight of the Falcon 9 is planned to carry ], the prototype expandable and habitable space module (based on the former NASA ] design) constructed by ]. Bigelow Aerospace expects modules like Sundancer and the larger ] to be used for activities like microgravity research, space manufacturing, and ] (with modules serving as orbital hotels). To promote private manned launch efforts, Bigelow offered the US$50 million ] for the first US-based privately funded team to launch a manned reusable spacecraft to orbit on or before January 10, 2010, though no company was able to meet this deadline. | |||
| ] plans to launch a modernized ] (for ] space station), for tourism and other uses. It will feature the largest window ever on a spacecraft. | |||
| The British Government has recently partnered with the ] to promote a possibly commercial ] ] concept called ].<ref></ref> This design was pioneered by the privately held ],<ref></ref><ref></ref> a company founded by ] after ] was canceled.<ref name="ReactionEngines1"></ref> | |||
| === On-orbit propellant depots === | |||
| {{Main|Propellant depot}} | |||
| In a presentation given November 15, 2005, to the 52nd Annual Conference of the ], NASA Administrator ] suggested that establishing an on-orbit propellant depot is, "Exactly the type of enterprise which should be left to industry and to the marketplace."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/138033main_griffin_aas1.pdf |format=PDF| title = NASA and the Business of Space | publisher = NASA|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> At the Space Technology and Applications International Forum in 2007, Dallas Bienhoff of ] made a presentation detailing the benefits of propellant depots.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/constellation/references/presentations/Potential_Impact_of_LEO_Propellant_on_NASA_ESAS_Architecture.pdf |format=PDF| title = The Potential Impact of a LEO Propellant Depot on the NASA ESAS Architecture | publisher = Boeing|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> | |||
| === Asteroid mining === | |||
| ] | |||
| {{Main|Asteroid mining}} | |||
| Some have speculated on the profitability of ] ] from ]. According to some estimates, a one kilometer-diameter asteroid would contain 30 million tons of nickel, 1.5 million tons of metal ] and 7,500 tons of ]; the platinum alone would have a value of more than $150 billion at current prices.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Asteroid Mining Will Work|url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/asteroid-mining1.htm|publisher=howstuffworks.com|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> | |||
| === Energy from space === | |||
| ] may use energy sources in space and on other planets. Examples include ] extraction from the Moon, and ] systems. See ] for more on extraterrestrial ]. | |||
| === Space elevators === | |||
| {{Main|Space elevator}} | |||
| A ] system is a possible launch system, currently under investigation by at least one private venture.<ref>{{cite web|title=The LiftPort Space Elevator|url=http://www.liftport.com/|publisher=liftport.com|accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> There are concerns over cost, general feasibility and some political issues. On the plus side the potential to scale the system to accommodate traffic would (in theory) be greater than some other alternatives. Some factions contend that a space elevator — if successful — would not supplant existing launch solutions but complement them. | |||
| == See also == | |||
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| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| {{colend}} | |||
| ===Manned Spacecraft=== | |||
| {{colbegin|2}} | |||
| * ] ] - Orbital Capsule | |||
| * ] ] - Orbital Capsule | |||
| * ] - Orbital Capsule | |||
| * ] ] - Orbital Spaceplane | |||
| * ] ] - Orbital Spaceplane | |||
| * ] ] - Single-Stage-To-Orbit Spaceplane | |||
| * ] ] - Suborbital Spaceplane | |||
| * ]/] ] - Suborbital Spaceplane | |||
| * ] ] - Suborbital Spaceplane | |||
| * ] Stabilo and ORIZONT - Suborbital Capsule and Spaceplane | |||
| * ] ] - Suborbital Capsule | |||
| * ] ] - Suborbital Capsule | |||
| * ] Black Armadillo - Suborbital Capsule | |||
| * ] Thunderbird and Thunderstar - Suborbital Capsule | |||
| * ] HEAT1X and Tycho Brahe - Suborbital Capsule | |||
| {{colend}} | |||
| ===Unmanned Spacecraft=== | |||
| {{colbegin}} | |||
| * ] ] - Orbital Capsule | |||
| * ] ] - Orbital Capsule | |||
| * ] ] - Single-Stage-To-Orbit Spaceplane | |||
| * ] - Orbital Rocket | |||
| {{colend}} | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| {{Refbegin}} | |||
| * Belfiore, Michael. ''Rocketeers: How a Visionary Band of Business Leaders, Engineers, and Pilots is Boldly Privatizing Space''. Harper Paperbacks, 2008. | |||
| * Bizony, Piers. ''How to Build Your Own Spaceship: The Science of Personal Space Travel''. Plume, 2009. | |||
| {{Refend}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * RLV News, February 2, 2006 | |||
| * Space Liberates Us!, March 20, 2007 | |||
| * Space Fellowship, May 29, 2008 | |||
| === Government === | |||
| * DOC OSC, 2002 | |||
| === Corporate ventures === | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * at the Space Frontier Foundation | |||
| * | |||
| === Media coverage === | |||
| * NASA union viewpoint on private spaceflight | |||
| * Space Frontier Foundation, February 14, 2005 | |||
| {{Space tourism}} | |||
| {{Spaceflight}} | |||
| {{Space exploration lists and timelines}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Private Spaceflight}} | |||
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Revision as of 18:01, 25 January 2013
This article is about non-governmental spaceflight. For other uses, see Private spaceflight (disambiguation).non-governmental spaceflight is flight above 100 km (62 mi) Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design bureaus in the USSR and in the US. The European Space Agency was formed in 1975, largely following the same model of space technology development. Later on, large defense contractors began to develop and operate space launch systems, derived from government rockets and commercial satellites. non-governmental spaceflight in Earth orbit includes communications satellites, satellite television, satellite radio, astronaut transport and sub-orbital and orbital space tourism.