Previously unknown company to offer flights in 2006

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wvbraun

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From RLV-News:<br /><br /><i>The news release -<br /><br /> AERA Corporation to Become First Commercial Space Travel Provider - Company Unveils New Interactive Website; First Flight Scheduled for 2006 - Feb.15.05.<br /><br />says the company has "completed the design of the safest space flight system ever created and is now working on details and logistics for its first flight scheduled for 2006." They say they have " institutional capital" and the Altairis spacecraft will "become the first space travel provider [...] two years ahead of the competition."<br /><br />The Altaris will rollout at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. There are no images of the Altairis yet on the website. The gallery only includes some promotional items. The FAQ says the "vertically launched spacecraft" will carry "six passengers and one Mission Commander".<br /><br />One might guess that it will look similar to the Spirt of Liberty described in the X PRIZE team data sheet, which also was specified as a seven passenger, vertically launched vehicle. The booster and crew cabin separate and return via parafoils.<br /><br />They may become an America's Space Prize contender as well: "In a few short years, AERA will follow on its success in spaceflight to offer three-day orbital vacations."<br /><br />This news comes via X PRIZE Space Race News.</i><br /><br /><br />AERA Corporation
 
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wvbraun

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<i>AERA CORPORATION TO BECOME FIRST COMMERCIAL SPACE TRAVEL PROVIDER<br />Company Unveils New Interactive Website; First Flight Scheduled for 2006<br /><br />February 15, 2005 - AERA Corporation announced today that in the rapidly emerging commercial space travel industry, it will be the first provider to launch passengers into space. Based on 30 years of proven technology, the Company has completed the design of the safest space flight system ever created and is now working on details and logistics for its first flight scheduled for 2006.<br /><br />"Passengers can expect the ultimate luxury space travel adventure with a full service package that begins with astronaut training and culminates with a sub-orbital journey," said the founder, Bill M. Sprague, chairman and chief executive officer of AERA. "We employed 30 years of proven technology and improved upon it with modern capabilities to develop Altairis, our first generation spacecraft. AERA's commitment to the space travel experience is surpassed only by its commitment to safety."<br /><br />AERA is also introducing its new interactive website, located at www.aeraspace.com. Visitors can access information including a company overview, management profiles, frequently asked questions, as well as join the mailing list. In addition, there are dedicated areas for media and investors to download press kits, images and other valuable information.<br /><br />"AERA is leading the luxury space travel industry," said Lewis Reynolds, president and chief operating officer of AERA Corporation. "We have a highly capable management team with experience in vital areas from launching individuals into space to strategically managing and positioning multi-billion dollar companies. With the completed design of our Altairis spacecraft, institutional capital and the first flight scheduled for 2006, we are not only positioned to become the first space travel provider, but are two years ahea</i>
 
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robotical

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Sounds cool, I didn't see any indication that they are planning a dry run. Do they have one scheduled? It would be very foolish indeed to launch people without a thorough test first. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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wvbraun

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Canadian Arrow, daVinci Project and Starchaser all intend to continue with their projects. They just need more time.
 
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tap_sa

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CA seems to do fine, big facility with their name on the wall etc.<br /><br />DaVinci has turned into a puppetshow for the sponsoring casino, highly doubtfull that it will actually make anything but the big helium balloon.<br /><br />Armadillo turned into some sort of personal tinkering nevernever-land for Carmack. If you try to look at the <i>goals</i> of the company you only get list of personel.<br /><br />Starchaser is a bit of stranger to me. The Churchill Mk III engine looks like a simplified V-2, very large throat and small expansion ratio. Not very big Isp expectations there, but it looks easy to manufacture and may suit suborbital operations just fine.
 
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larper

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Geez, doesn't this just reek of "scam"? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Vote </font><font color="#3366ff">Libertarian</font></strong></p> </div>
 
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robotical

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I guess we'll find out in March. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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shuttle_rtf

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I hope this isn't a scam, but I can understand people saying things like that. Sometimes - and by no means am I saying this one is doing so - make big statements (that can later be announced as unviable after all) to raise stock prices of any associated investor or company. <br /><br />Just can raise that eyebrow when it's out of the blue - as such. Again, I hope it's not and there's no evidence to suggest this one is anything but legit.
 
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wvbraun

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The guy who runs RLV-News obviously thinks it's legit and he is very knowledgeable on the subject.
 
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wvbraun

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"DaVinci has turned into a puppetshow for the sponsoring casino, highly doubtfull that it will actually make anything but the big helium balloon."<br /><br />How do you know that?<br /><br /><br />"Armadillo turned into some sort of personal tinkering nevernever-land for Carmack. If you try to look at the goals of the company you only get list of personel."<br /><br />Maybe so. I still like what they're doing.
 
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tap_sa

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<font color="yellow">"How do you know that?"</font><br /><br />Looked their site lately? Last time I checked it a few months ago the biggest news was them carrying a mock-up around marketplaces with scantly clad Miss Canada-something riding it. Now it's just the balloon thing and technical data on the rocket is even more scarce than before. The gallery is somehow broken etc.<br /><br />Of course it may be that the team is just so busy finishing up the rocket that no time to put data on the site...<br /><br /><font color="yellow">"I still like what they're doing."</font><br /><br />Yes, who knows maybe they produce some useful H202 tech for future RCS or something. At least Armadillo works with real hardware.
 
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spacester

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Pretty exciting news, unless it's a scam. It reads like Science Fiction, very slick, very mysterious. This kind of thing surfaces from time to time and nothing happens; seems like it's about due to come around again, so . . . plus it simply sounds too good to be true . . . and you know what they say about that . . .<br /><br />and yet<br /><br />and yet<br /><br />it's what I predicted a while back here (uh, Space Business . . . forum: how soon for space tourism) - someone would come along and get the jump on everybody else simply by getting started early, keeping quiet and then coming "out of nowhere".<br /><br />So obviously I'm hoping it's not a scam. It would break my heart to go check them out enough to try a good guess and find them wanting, so I'll depend on y'all to let me know what you think.<br /><br />As far as Armadillo goes, it's my understanding . . . not having visited their site in months . . . that his plan is to build an elevator into space. Go up, get to orbital altitude, second stage takes care of the orbital velocity part, booster comes home and does it again. Or maybe I'm reading too much into a scrap of information I saw. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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no_way

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"in other words, I don't see them solving any big problems"<br /><br />Um .. what are the "big problems" of suborbital spaceflight ? The only one i can currently think of is lack of a company that would build the craft on a serial production line so that supply could meet the demand.<br />The other one is perhaps the cost, and Armadillo has been keen on solving that one.
 
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