You should see how many people have signed up to go to space in the Branson/Rutan venture, and then there is this:
Bigelow Aerospace Soars with Private Space Station Deals
A private space company offering room on inflatable space habitats for research has found a robust international market, with eager clients signing up from space agencies, government departments and research groups....
http://www.space.com/9358-bigelow-aerospace-soars-private-space-station-deals.html
That’s nice. Can they turn a profit with that? Where’s the ride?
Bigelow had to lay people off recently because there is no rocket he can use.
Insurance! Who will insure these trips?
The government needs to foot the bill (it needs to focus on REAL work not all the bureaucracy it’s loaded itself down with that’s eating its lunch, nor the green direction it’s employing). There was (is) money but the powers that be want to kill manned space. Commercial can’t afford to fund such high risk projects — investors see too much risk.
These programs push technology and science (look how the space program has touched every aspect of our lives — almost minute by minute). If we turn our backs on pushing outward, America will fall back while other countries fill the vacuum (countries that do not like us or our form of government). Growing countries fund these programs because they’ve seen how it helps build their commercial, scientific and technology power.
Once a market is recognized (a profit to be made) then TRUE commercial companies scramble to join in on the effort.
This is more than a few billionaires buying a ride.....and what are they riding — where is their transport?