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?
“Insurance! Who will insure these trips?”
The passengers will agree to liquidated or limited damages, so that is capped. The heirs will have to agree too. The crew will have life insurance and contractually limited claims by heirs. All standard stuff.
The issue that I am curious about is the inability of the company to limit its liability for damage and loss to third parties by falling debris. They could theoretically have almost unlimited liability should one of their large objects land on a sports stadium full of people. In this they have the same problem as commercial operators of nuclear power plants, except government passed a law to assume umbrella coverage for them.