Comments on: Brief updates

By: David Stever

David Stever — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 13:13:37 +0000

Ferris Valyn Said:
is there any reason you couldnâ€™t do it in one of the Great Lakes? What about the finger lakes? Or even something the size of Houghton Lake, in Michigan? What about something smaller? If you could put the capsule down in a target area that size, and still leave wide enough margins, then there wouldnâ€™t be a need for the sort of large fleet that was used with the early space program – instead, just a glorified heavy tugboat, and theyâ€™d be to shore in a very short time.

I hadn’t thought about that, but yes, think about the footprint of a capsule or craft coming down- look for a lake or body of water shaped like your orbital footprint, and aim for the lake. Smaller recovery fleet, easier pickup, smaller waves for the folks waiting for pick-up. I like this! Of course, I’d like them to come down in Lake Huron, close to Thunder Bay, so I could watch it from my family’s cottage south of Alpena (45 degrees north, easily reachable from most orbits).

By: Sam Dinkin

Sam Dinkin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:16:05 +0000

Bigelow has built a better mousetrap and has some years to drum up support for its vision of national space.

By: Jeff Foust

Jeff Foust — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:24:01 +0000

Peter: Bigelow Aerospace is privately owned by Robert Bigelow, and is not publicly traded.

By: Peter Shearer

Peter Shearer — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:17:02 +0000

I agree Ferris, I’d like to hear what “officials” say about that. By quote un quote “officials” I mean officials other then NaySay… People at these new space start ups that actually consider challenges to be possible.

To Jeff Foust or anyone else that can answer this question…

Q: Is Bigelow Aerospace publicly offered yet? If so… Nasdaq Symbol is what? If not yet, will it be??? Has anyone heard anything regarding this?

I don’t know about you guys (and girls)… but I’m going to be investing in Bigelow ASAP!

By: Ferris Valyn

Ferris Valyn — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:36:57 +0000

A couple things concerning Bigelow
First, I remember there being discussion that they had plans for taking revenue in before launch of their BA-330 modules. Now, I am pretty sure this was in the press, and not just rumor, but I didn’t see anything like that mentioned. So, am I mis-remembering something, or did they not address it?
Second, concerning the water landing – I have to admit, I understand where they are coming from. However, I’ve often wondered if their might not be ways around this. And part of it is my lack of knoweldge, but why assume it must be the ocean? Could it be done in something smaller? For example, is there any reason you couldn’t do it in one of the Great Lakes? What about the finger lakes? Or even something the size of Houghton Lake, in Michigna? What about something smaller? If you could put the capusle down in a target area that size, and still leave wide enough margins, then there wouldn’t be a need for the sort of large fleet that was used with the early space program – instead, just a glorified heavy tugboat, and they’d be to shore in a very short time.

Comment and thoughts?