Posted on 12/16/2017 3:29:54 PM PST by BenLurkin
The company's ultimate goal is to become part of the space tourism industry, which most science fiction from the last century assumed we'd have going by now. Blue Origin isn't planning to actually send tourists into space until 2019, but the fact that Mannequin Skywalker returned safely is a great sign. Had it returned in multiple pieces, that 2019 window probably wouldn't be doable anymore.
The enormous windows on the capsule are a reflection of Blue Origin's rather unique goal. Unlike SpaceX, which wants to send astronauts to Mars for a possible colony, or Boeing, which is mostly content helping NASA on their rockets, Blue Origin is interested in sending civilians to the edge of our atmosphere, to spend a few minutes in zero-gravity as they look down at the blue planet. Presumably very wealthy civilians, until the novelty wears off and prices drop.
(Excerpt) Read more at outerplaces.com ...
Of possible interest
Pretty close to Space. Within 3,000 feet.
I would rather ride down on the booster.
Since he flew alone, shouldn’t they have called him Man(nequin) Solo?
Thanks BenLurkin. I'd seen the story, and when I went to bed at a decent hour watched the video as I drifted off, then when I woke for pee break #1 thought, I wonder if that's been posted on FR? :^) Jeff "Doctor Evil" Bezos has now done a second suborbital mission with the same hardware, woo. The big contract, whichi is where Blue Origin lives or dies, is development of the mauch larger scaled-up methane burning engine for ULA.
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