EADS Astrium has hit back at critics who say that space tourism is just a gimmick for the mega-rich and famous and has no real value.
The company announced last week that it plans to build a space plane to carry people on sub-orbital rides from 2012, as long as they are prepared to pay up to e200,000 ($268,000).
European Commission vice-president Guenter Verheugen is reported by Reuters as saying this "very privileged type of tourism" was only for the super rich and deserved no support. But EADS Astrium says that the space tourism project would have huge benefits.
“We have been working on this technology for 40 years. This is a e1 billion project that will create jobs for at least 250 top engineers for four years and will be privately funded – what can be wrong with that?” says EADS Astrium’s Remi Roland.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for Europe at a time when our space budget is completely flat, while the US is rising at 6-7% a year and China’s is growing at 10%.
“The liquid methane and liquid oxygen rocket engine we will use is an innovative development that will be both cleaner and more environmentally friendly – the spin-offs for ESA’s other launchers are enormous.”
EADS Astrium says that the space plane could lead to quicker development of hypersonic long-distance travel for conventional aircraft.
Astrium president Francois Auque says the project will “shatter the cliché that established aerospace giants like EADS have lost their sense of daring”.
Its business jet-sized craft was unveiled at a special VIP event in Paris. It will take off from a conventional airport and give passengers three-to-five minutes of weightlessness when it achieves maximum altitude.
Normal jet engines will be used to take off and climb to 12km, before a rocket engine takes over, giving passengers a near-vertical wild ride, taking them beyond 60km in 80 seconds.
The company announced last week that it plans to build a space plane to carry people on sub-orbital rides from 2012, as long as they are prepared to pay up to e200,000 ($268,000).
European Commission vice-president Guenter Verheugen is reported by Reuters as saying this "very privileged type of tourism" was only for the super rich and deserved no support. But EADS Astrium says that the space tourism project would have huge benefits.
“We have been working on this technology for 40 years. This is a e1 billion project that will create jobs for at least 250 top engineers for four years and will be privately funded – what can be wrong with that?” says EADS Astrium’s Remi Roland.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for Europe at a time when our space budget is completely flat, while the US is rising at 6-7% a year and China’s is growing at 10%.
“The liquid methane and liquid oxygen rocket engine we will use is an innovative development that will be both cleaner and more environmentally friendly – the spin-offs for ESA’s other launchers are enormous.”
EADS Astrium says that the space plane could lead to quicker development of hypersonic long-distance travel for conventional aircraft.
Astrium president Francois Auque says the project will “shatter the cliché that established aerospace giants like EADS have lost their sense of daring”.
Its business jet-sized craft was unveiled at a special VIP event in Paris. It will take off from a conventional airport and give passengers three-to-five minutes of weightlessness when it achieves maximum altitude.
Normal jet engines will be used to take off and climb to 12km, before a rocket engine takes over, giving passengers a near-vertical wild ride, taking them beyond 60km in 80 seconds.
Source: Flight Daily News
