Singer Sarah Brightman Outbids NASA for Space Tourist's Seat ($51 Million Dollars)

ABC News ^ | By GINA SUNSERI

[patriot08]

You’re showing everyone your mental capabilities.
I’m done.

[Moonman62]

Other than killing astronauts, the Shuttle created work for the ISS, and the ISS created work for the Shuttle. After all, it was a government operation. People should be glad that the Shuttle is finally retired. Now if we could finally find a way to retire the ISS money pit.

[visualops]

You think it’s foolish, but people paying for space travel keeps interest up. Many are fascinated by space travel and obviously would pay dearly for something so incredible.
For the record, she is praised for her charitable activities, the most recent being The Brightman STEM Scholarship program (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) launched with Virgin Galactic.

[Moonman62]

NASA says a year in space has great medical research benefits. Astronauts spending just six months on the space station in the past have suffered from radiation exposure, muscle mass loss, decreased bone density, and vision problems.

Why do they need to do more research when the solution is obvious? Send humans on shorter missions until spacecraft with better shielding and capable of rotating to create artificial gravity become economical. Until then machines should be used on the longer missions.

The real value of human space travel is inspiration. It contributes very little to science or anything else. The best way to use it for inspiration is to send up more people at a cheaper cost, rather than sending government employees on longer missions.

[Aussiebabe]

Thanks for post and good information.

[Aussiebabe]

I just noticed that your are a college student. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you, as it is great that you are that young and already a member of FR. At your age, when I was in university, I was much more liberal than you. As you grow older, with more experience, you will realize that people shouldn’t be telling you what to do with your money...or take it away in taxes. Cheers.

[NonZeroSum]

Obama killed the Space Shuttle and now we are at mercy of the Soviets.

a) The decision to end the Shuttle program was made by George Bush in 2004 and b) the Soviet Union fell over two decades ago. We are purchasing rides from the Russians, because Mike Griffin decided to build rockets that NASA didn't need instead of accelerating alternatives to Soyuz.