Posted on 12/26/2002 4:49:04 PM PST by Brett66
Transorbital Announces Successful Moon Test Launch
Now Ready for Routine Moon Travel in October 2003
SAN DIEGO -TransOrbital, Inc and International Space company (ICS)Kosmotras today announced a "perfect launch" of TransOrbital's "Trailblazer" satellite at 8pm Russian time. The launch represents a major milestone in TransOrbitals much -anticipated routine lunar delivery service.
Today's launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan of the "Trailblazer" into low Earth orbit was pronounced a total success by TransOrbital president Dennis Laurie. The mission was designed to test rocket separation, downlink telemetry, spacecraft orientation and mass properties in preparation for the formal lunar launch.
Vladimir A Andreev, Director General of ICS Kosmotras said "We are excited about teaming with TransOrbital's first commercial development of the Moon. ICS Kosmotras Dnepr LV SS-18 ICBM provides a proven cost effective technology for lunar launches.
TransOrbital is on target to begin routine Moon travel starting in October 2003. Laurie stated "Significant commercial demand exists for high definition (HD) video, lunar mapping, data storage, scientific research, communications, and data archiving. Many corporate marketers see their products associated with the first commercial missions to the Moon".
"Additionally, there is worldwide demand from private citizens to send personal items such as photographs, legal documents, business cards, burial ashes, and jewelry to the Moon"
TransOrbital is the first and onnly commercial company licensed by the U.S. Department of State, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) for private sector flights to the Moon.
Sir Arthur C. Clarke noted visionary and renowned writer praised todays mission and commented "all good wishes on TransOrbital's successful TrailBlazer launch"
Support for the Trailblazer program has been provided by a number of companies including Lunar Enterprise Corporation and Space Age Publishing
TransOrbital, Inc. is a privately owned supplier of aerospace design, analysis and launch services. Established in 1998, TransOrbital is the first company of its kind authorized by the U. S. government to photograph, explore and land on the lunar surface. The 2003 Trailblazer spacecraft's primary mission is to return HDTV video and other multimedia content from lunar orbit to market as commercial products, as well as the delivery of both personal and commercial cargo to the moon.
About International Space Company (ICS) Kosmotras (www.kosmotras.com/ru) ICS Kosmotras is a private supplier of launch vehicles. ICS Kosmotras provides launch vehicles for many companies and countries around the world.
ICS Kosmotras activities under the Dnepr program are covered by special decrees by both the Russian and Ukrainian governments. The Dnepr LV is the worlds most powerful SS-18 ICBM. Unique for a light class launch vehicle, the Dnepr is able to deliver 3,500 - 4000 kg of payload into low earth orbit.
And the authority for this in the Constitution where?
Implies that the US either owns the moon, or the company is launching from or based in the US. Did they launch from the US? Are they based in the US? Either that or the US owns the moon.
Oh great: lunar chatchkis!
It's for real. They aren't allowed to do any mining on the moon at this point, but they are licensed for the other activities.
The onerous 1967 UN Treaty on Outer Space precludes commercial development of that nature. You can take your own gear there and bring it back. You can collect data. You can build a lunar hotel for tourists out of your own materials. You might be able to collect moon rocks for analysis. But you can't use celestial materials to build things, not asteroid mining, not Martian water, nothing like that.
Self-avowed Libertarians (who claim that possession of child pornography is perfectly Constitutional) should know that the moon belongs to whichever property owner it is passing over at any particular moment.
Noone has really achieved a satisfactory answer to that question yet. The Outer Space Treaty, of which we are a signator (sp?), seems to imply that governments can't claim property in space while individuals and private companies can. I believe this is the only current guidepost that we're going by. I think that once we develop real economic interests on the moon and other places that this treaty can be tossed aside as easily as the ABM treaty. Though this treaty isn't really a hinderance to business in space as it now stands.
The US is one of the three primary sponsors. The US ought to exercise the withdrawal clause, give the one-year notice, and dump it. Since no other country is even close to developing a space industry involving celestial bodies, the treaty limits only companies based within the US.
FR gets down to issues right away. The 1967 UN Treaty on Outer Space is the issue. Private property rights, ownership, is the obstacle; technology is moving right along.
LOL!
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