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Civilian space travel.....tomorrow's commonplace?
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:43 pm    Post subject: Civilian space travel.....tomorrow's commonplace? Reply with quote

Gentlemen:

After watching the all-out insane sequel to 1980's "AIRPLANE", which focuses on the first lunar passenger shuttle, one cannot help but wonder if such a mode of transport will ever become a reality?

One only need to remember how far-fetched the very idea of space travel was, especially in the later 19th century, and for the first half of the last century.

The legendary science fiction writer, the great Jules Verne, envisioned a passenger-carrying, coal-burning(!!) "rocket train" that was to travel between the Earth and the Moon (an illustration of this fanciful conveyance was shown in Mr. Verne's classic "From The Earth To The Moon"!)

The 1930's was the heyday for both Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, the popular celluloid interplanetary heroes of the day; rocket ships, of course, featured prominently in these now-classic weekly "cliffhangers".

So, if the landing of men on the Moon, as well as space exploration in general, was once considered "science fiction" (or, even lunacy!), and had now become quite commonplace by the 1960's, who is to say that the the idea of passenger travel to the Moon (or, perhaps beyond) is but a mere fanciful fantasy?

As in "AIRPLANE II-THE SEQUEL", it really is not all that difficult to imagine a "civilian" version of the Shuttle, making round trips between our planet Earth and the Moon.

One can only imagine what the future might hold, for future generations.......

"NYO"

"To Boldly Go Where No Other Man Has Gone Before" (at least, not in a CIVILIAN spacecraft!) Shocked


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sun Jul 12, 2020 2:29 am; edited 5 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not so very long ago, we all marveled at how "The Shuttle" could return to Earth and land on a runway, like an ordinary airliner (recall the exciting days of hearing the exclamations of "SPLASHDOWN!" from news reporters, covering the Apollo and Gemini space missions of so long ago?)

It was, I believe, the Shuttle that truly made the idea of space travel at some future date (for civilians) a glimmer of a possibility, for some future time......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sun Jul 12, 2020 2:30 am; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The "DISCOVERY"........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Discovery
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The "COLUMBIA".........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia

(The tragic end of the "COLUMBIA", back in 2003, still haunts us today. May her brave crew RIP)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The "CHALLENGER"; another horrific tragedy; like the "COLUMBIA", may her crew never be forgotten.......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"ATLANTIS"......the end of an era.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Atlantis
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"ENDEAVOUR".........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The "orbiter" was the "spaceplane" component of the Shuttles*......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_orbiter

*very interesting page!
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

List of Shuttle missions......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Space_Shuttle_missions
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mention must be made of the "BURAN" ("Reusable Soviet Spaceplane").........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_programme
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is an excellent page (with a number of outstanding photos!) on the Soviet "BURAN".......

https://everydayastronaut.com/buran-30-years

(courtesy: Everyday Astronaut)
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Space tourism.......imagine the possibilities (First Class? Business Class? Economy/Tourist?) Wink

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"VIRGIN GALACTIC" (FedEx, ZANTOP, SLICK, FLYING TIGERS to the stars.....and beyond?) Shocked Shocked

All kidding aside, this is a most interesting page, with some great photos......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Galactic
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Commercial Astronaut" (who knows what the future job market might hold for such individuals?)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_astronaut
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also of interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NewSpace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_spaceflight
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