Microlaunchers, pathway to widescale space exploration

[ckpooley]

<p>Microlaunchers ( http://www.microlaunchers.com/ ) is about a new approach to finding a way to develop wide access to space exploration.&nbsp; We are in the Mainframe Era of Space Exploration.&nbsp; The means, mainly the launch means, is so large in scale and so expensive few can become directly involved.&nbsp; This was the situation before the advent of the microcomputer.&nbsp; The mission of Microlaunchers is to bring about a process analogous to the advent of the small computers.</p><p>Recall how simple, limited they were.&nbsp; They did do three things:&nbsp; they drew together a population of motivated participants, they lowered the cost of entry, and they evolved into what I type this on.</p><p>Microlaunchers (you might google the word) and the new nonprofit Generation S ( http://generationspace.org/ ) is our way to truy to start and nucleate this community.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[qso1]

<p>This is a great idea for unmanned spacecraft and indeed, as your thread title implies. Space exploration would be widened considerably. At least unmanned space exploration.</p><p>Problem is, its not unmanned spaceflight thats costly. Its human spaceflight that gets the negative press due to costs. Ever see any major complaints about weathersats? Even probes to mars generate few complaints. Few enough to barely register concern on NASAs radar.</p><p>As for developing microlaunchers or even microsats, this course should continue. The more ideas the better. It would help in redundancy as well as providing a wider scope of missions to be accomplished.&nbsp;</p><p>Human spaceflight is the target of most critics complaints, and human spaceflight is the one that needs a cost effective solution for its continuance.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>