space tourism

[scomil39]

Space Tourism.<br /><br />Now that the moon is back in the fore front of our national conscience, Iv'e been pondering the ageless question of why and what exactly could we do that might make it profitable. Thats when the not so new idea of space tourism came to mind. We already know there are people with the means and desire to fly in Earth orbit. Why not take it one step farther and go all the way to the Moon. A ten day trip similar to the Apollo missions with about two days on the surface would allow space travelers the time to experience all manner of moon adventures. For example, the ultimate low gravity experience, moon roving, rock hunting! how about lunar golf?<br />A 1,000 yard drive!<br /><br />This kind of lunar adventure would of course be limited to extreamly deep pockets at first but if it became common for them, then perhaps the cost might drop to just within the reach of your “average” filthy rich man. More important, if someone could turn a small profit off one of these trips then venture capital might get involved and a small industry might develop. With that and some technological innovation we might be able to duplicate the air travel industry in another fifty years.<br /><br />Why not?<br /><br />Is there any technical or other reason we couldn’t make this a reality in twenty years time.<br /><br />Your thoughts????????<br />

 

[spacester]

Dang it!<br /><br />You snuck into my corporate vault and stole our Lunar Tourism plans! Curses, foiled again! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Hehehe sorry, sometimes it's hard to get a reaction to these things here, but this is a nice post and a great topic.<br /><br />You beat me to the punch on this, I was waiting for Bigelow to have initial success, then I was going to start talking up Lunar Tourism around here. You have to bring these people along slowly sometimes, lol.<br /><br />I once posted the math on a golf shot for a space-suited golfer. If the suit is good enough to make a decent full swing, you nailed the distance, I just grabbed it from my archives and the number I have is 972 yards for a 12 deg lofted club. But a 45 deg lofted driver with a low handicapper's clubhead speed would go 2387 yards!!!!!<br /><br /><font color="yellow">Is there any technical or other reason we couldn’t make this a reality in twenty years time? </font><br />My answer is no. BTW I have this plan for a lunar dome . . . <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

hehehe this post is dedicated to the dedicated and wise Yevaud. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br />***<br />I've lost the date of original posting, I'm thinking 2002 or so:<br />*<br />Golfing on the moon<br /><br />jshoe, please consider this as a promotion for your Lunar Vacations<br /><br />OK, I just had to know how far you could hit a golf ball on the moon. <br /><br />One reference says a pro gets a ball speed of about 160 mile per hour, an amateur about 130 mile per hour. Let's assume, all things considered, in your space suit, you can get 133 mph.<br /><br />But note that golf balls fly further in air than in a vacuum! It's the whole dimple thing. Don't ask me where they found a vacuum chamber big enough, but the same reference says a 160 yard shot in a vacuum goes 230 yards in air. (on Earth <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> )<br /><br />But the gravity is a lot less on the Moon, so let's see:<br /><br />From conservation of energy and equations of motion:<br />t = Vr / g<br />D = Vs * T<br />Where<br />D = Distance traveled<br />t = Time to highest point of trajectory<br />T = time aloft = 2*t<br />Vr = Velocity, radial (Vertical velocity)<br />Vs = Velocity, surface (Horizontal velocity)<br />g = Local Gravity<br />g for the Moon = .165 g for the Earth = (.165)*(32.17) ft/s^2<br />g = 5.308 ft/s^2<br />Trigonometry gives:<br />Vr = V sin(theta)<br />Vs = V cos(theta)<br />where<br />V = Velocity at impact<br />theta = initial angle of trajectory<br />Let's see, I believe we can use the club's loft angle for theta. We want as much loft as we can get with a long shaft for clubhead speed.<br />Let's assume a 12 degree loft, so:<br />Vr = (133 mile/hr)*(sin(12)) = 27.65 mile/hr<br />Vs = (133 mile/hr)*(cos(12)) = 130.1 mile/hr<br />t = (27.65 mile/hr)*(5280 ft/mile) / [(5.308 ft/s^2)*(3600 s/hr)]<br />t = 7.64 s<br />T = time aloft = 2*t<br />T = 15.28 s<br />D = (130.1 mile/hr)*(15.28 s)*(5280 ft/mile) / (3600 s/hr) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[webtaz99]

If golf becomes the key to Lunar development, I will set myself on fire to protest. I could not live in such a world. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

Ouch.<br /><br />So what can we do for fun up there that you approve of? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[laddybug3]

Sounds cool! I want to go to the moon and back just to say I went there. I do not think NASA would like that idea, because no one would go and think that a mission is cool. Well on the other hand maybe NASA could make money of the idea by sending tourist to the moon. That would be so cool.

 

[scomil39]

I suppose what started this train of thought is that supposedly there are more millionairs and billionairs today than ever. If true, then these folk need some kind of adventure that is worthy of thier economic where withall. We are now on the verge of suborbital flight for the ultra rich. The next thing is suborbital for upper middle class etc etc and on to the moon!

 

[webtaz99]

As much as I hate golf, I don't mind if people play it on the Moon, I just can't stand the idea of GOLF being the only reason people go there. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[scomil39]

I envision golf as being only one of a variety of experiences enjoyed during a vacation on the moon. And I'm sure, given the restraints of a typical space suite like the one Alan Sheppard wore during Apollo 14, that any kind of golf on the moon would bear little resemblance to what we do here on Earth. But, I imagine that would be of little concern to the wealthy adventurers if such a trip could someday be made technically feasible. Can you imagine the bragging rights if you could claim victory at the first annual Lunar open! <br /><br />LOL !!!

 

[scomil39]

I would like to thank spacester for his extensive and in depth mathmatical analysis of the potetial possibilities<br />involved in Lunar golfing.<br /><br />If there is a reward or certificate for excellence in this area I recomend that spacester be considered for this honour <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[scomil39]

laddybug3,<br /><br />Maybe NASA will have a lottery someday and we can all play for the chance to win a free trip !<br /><br />

 

[scomil39]

"If it gets popular with celebrities then your train has arrived."<br /><br />All you need is some movie camaras and they're there!

 

[scomil39]

Let us dream on !!!!!!!!!

 

[scomil39]

Of course as we all know, a lunar golf cart has already been designed and tested, albiet it wasn't actually called a lunar golf cart at the time.

 

[webtaz99]

Enough about golf already!!!!!!!!! <img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

How about volleyball? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

Beach volleyball. Plenty of sand available. Folks on earth would gladly pay to watch gals in bikinis spike a ball over a 30' net.

 

[spacefire]

low gravity would make every jiggle a slow-motion one <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[scomil39]

it should be possible to build an inflatable dome that shielded the radiation so you could play beach vollyball in a bikini in a low gravity environment. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[ajm200]

Hi<br /><br />I was wondering what peoples views were on the future of space tourism?

 

[MannyPim]

Greetings ajm. Welcome to SDC !<br />A very good choice for your first post, by the way.<br /><br />Space Tourism will soon become a primary economic driver for space commerce. <br />Although there are some space advocates who sort of look down on tourism or dismiss it as a sort of trivialization of Space travel, I for one think it is the MOST EXCITING aspect of Space Exploration.<br /><br />First of all, it has great economic potential. There are millions of people who would go to space if there was a safe , reliable and affordable way to do it.<br />I myself would love a chance to visit the Moon one day.<br /><br />The second thing is that Space Tourism on a large scale is on the verge of reality as far as suborbital flights.<br />The demand for suborbital flights will increase over time and prices will decrease (there are already anumber of companies that plan to compete in that market).<br />Suborbital flight will become the entry level Space Tourism experience. It will create a growing market over the years but it will also begin to create a market or demand for the "next thing" which will be orbital flight.<br /><br />Ultimately, Lunar Trourism will become the major market and potentially the biggest segment of Cis-Lunar commerce.<br /><br />People will be able to book vacations on the Moon for a week or two. This of course requires a large scale permanent settlement - Malapert Mons, near the Lunar south pole - seems to be an ideal location for that first large scale colony.<br />You could have about 100 people per week arriving on the Moon as the previous group of 100 dpearts. This means that 5,000 people per year could be visting the Moon. If the price of a Lunar vacation is let's say $5 Million per person, that's a $25 Billion dollar a year enterprise.<br /><br />Tourism is big. It's big on Earth and it will be big in Space.<br />Just think about Las Vegas. A Huge city built in a harsh / challenging location where we have created a totally artificial environment (artifical <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>The only way to know what is possible is to attempt the impossible.</em></font> </div>

 

[zeldun]

Hi,<br /><br />How long then, would you estimate that it will take before a regular person can visit the moon? Will it happen in the life time of those who are 20-30 years old right now?

 

[MannyPim]

Absolutely !<br /><br />There is no technological reason why we couldn't have a 300 to 500 person permanent habitat on the Moon now. It's merely a matter of economics.<br />But, as you have been noticing, the level of interest on the Moon is growing rapidly. China, India, Japan, Europe, Russia and the US, all have plans for the Moon.<br />I personally believe the US shoudl be much more agressive and work hard to maintain our significant lead on Lunar Exploration.<br />I am afraid our politicians and the public don;t really see the big picture yet and that we will begin to lag behind those other countries.<br /><br />But there are also many exciting things going on in the private sector (the business people) and I beleive that American Enterprise will win the day.<br /><br />I believe the first tourists will begin to visit the surface of the Moon by 2020. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="2" color="#0000ff"><em>The only way to know what is possible is to attempt the impossible.</em></font> </div>

 

[zeldun]

Hi,<br /><br />It's nice to read som optimistic words about this subject. As I have understood it, NASA will not even have landet on the moon by that year. Hopefully, the private sector will be quicker about it. For me it doesn't really matters which country gets the job done first, as long as it's done to benifit humanity as a whole.

 

[symbolite]

One of my biggest dreams would be to take a trip to the moon. For an affordable price of course, im no millionaire.<br /><br />Currently it looks like alot of countries will be shooting for the moon around 2020 so we might see alot come from that but my bet is the private sector beats everyone to the moon. At least in the sense of getting tourists there on a large scale. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>