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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1. When will civilian
space travel be available?
Q2. What kind of space travel is available?
Q3. How long can you stay in space?
Q4. How far up is outer space?
Q5. Is the trip dangerous?
Q6. How much does it cost to go to space?
Q7. How much training is needed to go to space?
Q8. DoI have to be really fit to go to space?
Q9. What happens once I submit my paperwork and deposit to Xtraordinary
Adventures to get my queue on the Lynx?
Q10. What if I do not pass the medical or training program?
Q11. Are there a lot of companies offering civilian space travel?
Q12. Where are the spaceports?
Q13. What do you do when you are in space?
Q14. Will there be space hotels?
Q15. How do you eat/drink/go to the bathroom when in space?
Q16. Does NASA inspect the spaceships?
Q17. What government regulations cover space travel?
Q18. What are the views like?
Q19. Will it be uncomfortable, or scary?
Q20. Can I go to space with friends?
Q21. What are the main differences between Virgin's SpaceShipTwo,
RocketShip Tours Lynx and the Armadillo spacecraft by Space Adventures?
Q22. What about individuals with disabilities? Can they go to space?
Q23. What was the X-Prize?
Q24. Is space travel a good business proposition?
Q25. Are there enough wealthy people to provide an adequate amount
of business for the project to continue?
Q26. Isn’t space travel an anti-social activity?
Q27. How and where can I sign up to go to space?
Q28. What is the Lynx?
Q29. Why does the Lynx use liquid propellant rocket engines?
Q30. Is the Lynx safe?
Q31. Is Lynx Xcor’s first vehicle?
Q32. Where will the Lynx be flown and what ground support equipment
is needed?
Q33. Is there government involvement in the Lynx program?
Q34. Who will be flying the Lynx?
Q35. When will commercial service be available and how often will
the Lynx fly?
Q36. Are there any medical requirements and will there be training
and screening sessions?
Q37. Are there any insurance requirements?
Q38. How many people will the Lynx carry and what will the
experience be like?
Q39. What’s included for the $95,000 cost?
Q40. How is the order of participants who are picked to go to space,
determined?
Q1. When will civilian space travel be available?
It’s available now in Russia but for about $35M. Around 2012 space tourism will be available from the USA too. The LYNX from Xcor has plans to start commercial flights by early 2012 and Virgin Galactic also intends to begin its flights in early 2012. Armadillo Aerospace, represented by Space Adventures, has yet to announce any dates and probably won't be flying until mid 2013.
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Q2. What kind of space travel is available?
Orbital space tourism takes you around the Earth every 90 minute orbit.
At present this is available only from Russia, but the opportunities
are rare. Suborbital space tourism will be available from the USA,
taking passengers straight up over 20,000 feet providing a short period
of weightlessness, experiencing G-forces before returning them back
to the spaceport. Soon, thousands of civilians will be offered this
type of space travel.
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Q3. How long can you stay in space?
A typical suborbital flight will take from about thirty minutes
to an hour, with time above the atmosphere around ten minutes.
An orbital flight can remain almost indefinitely in space,
but in practice most orbital space tourism flights last about
two weeks before re-entry.
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Q4. How far up is outer space?
It’s rather close. There is no actual definite boundary to the Earth’s
atmosphere; it merely gets thinner with altitude. Exceeding over 100,000
feet enters the edge of space where the sky is black. To maintain
orbiting the Earth a minimum of 1,000,000 feet or a 200 mile distance
is required.
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Q5. Is the trip dangerous?
It is not without risk to go to space. As with the early days of aviation,
much has been learned about space travel and safety has improved dramatically.
Now that 50 years have passed since the dawn of the space age, knowledge
has made it safe enough to offer to the public. But, as with other
methods of travel such as commercial airline, or even ground travel,
it is never totally risk-free.
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Q6.How much does it cost to go to space?
The initial suborbital space tourism flights, from RocketShip Tours, will cost
$95,000 toinclude several days of training at the Mojave SpacePort leading up
to the actual space flight experience on the final day.
Although only a $20,000 deposit is required for a
booking, payments made in full through Xtraordinary Adverntures for
the Lynx will have an immediate queue number assigned. If you want
to be amongst the earliest adventurers to fly, book now while there
are still seats available within the first 100 before they are sold
out.
Virgin Galactic flights are currently priced at $200,000.
Space Adventures is charging $102,000 but future flight
dates have not yet been announced.
Orbital space tourism currently costs around $35M
for a two week experience, but the flight opportunities are rare (only
about 1 per year).
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Q7. How much training is needed to go to space?
Training for orbital space tourism flights currently takes at least 6 months and is conducted in Russia. Sub orbital
space flight training requires less than a week.
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Q8. Do I have to be really fit to go to space?
The fitness standards for space travel, especially for suborbital space flights,
are much less than for government astronauts. You don't have to be Superman,
however, there will be some medical screening to ensure that all selected tourists
will be able to enjoy their experience. RocketShip Tours conducts a four day
prequalification with medical screening, altitude chamber and actual aerobic
jet flight, enabling each applicant to experience preflight G's and how it
may feel before taking the actual flight on the Lynx.
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Q9. What happens once I submit my paperwork and deposit to Xtraordinary
Adventures to get my queue on the Lynx?
Immediately upon receipt of your paperwork and deposit, our flight surgeon will email you a Confidential Medical Questionnaire.
You will then be informed by Dr. Fored (our resident flight surgeon) that you are cleared for an invitation to our four day
training session.
Each training session will take place on the first Wednesday of every month starting early September. Dr. Fored
will then conduct a complete physical exam before we send you on an aerobatic flight. That will be followed by time in a
altitude chamber at ASU to measure for hypoxia. We'll also have you attend classroom briefings as part of the training program.
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Q10. What if I do not pass the physical or training program?
In the unlikely event that a participant fails to get through the training program, we will refund their deposit less our out-
of-pocket expenses estimated between $5-7,000 (depending on the time of the year). Rates at the Sanctuary Resort are
significantly higher during the high season (winter).
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Q11.Are there a lot of companies offering civilian space travel?
No. Currently there are 3 and only 2 with future travel dates confirmed
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Q12. Where are the spaceports?
The Russian orbital flights currently take place using the Soyuz launch vehicle from Baikonur in Kazahkstan, and may also
eventually take place from Kourou in French Guiana. Both RocketShip Tours Lynx and Virgin Galactic will fly their suborbital
trips initially from Mojave SpacePort, Mojave, California, and later Virgin will move to Spaceport America in New Mexico. Space
Adventures has not announced where its Armadillo spacecraft will fly from or when. Others are also considering launches from a
range of other countries, including Sweden and Australia. There are also many proposed spaceports across the USA, such as in
Oklahoma, that may develop as the space tourism industry emerges.
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Q13. What do you do when you are in space?
Suborbital flights provide an incredible experience visually and a physical experience of zero-G weightlessness. As you float
around the cabin, we recommend taking photographs of the curved horizon set against the blackness of space, or marvel at the
details of the Earth far below.
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Q14. Will there be space hotels?
Yes. In fact there are two prototype hotels in orbit being tested by Bigelow Aerospace of Nevada. Other companies, such as
Galactic Suites in Spain, are also proposing orbital space hotels. Meanwhile, all of the orbital space tourists to date have gone
to the government space station laboratories, such as Mir or ISS for their stay.
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Q15. How do you eat/drink/go to the bathroom when in space?
Only orbital space tourists will need to consider this due to their duration of space stay around 2 weeks. However, because of
the potential impact on fellow travelers, it is safe to say here that the answer to all three parts of this question is
“carefully”!
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Q16. Does NASA inspect the spaceships?
NASA has no involvement with design of space tourism vehicles. The Soyuz spacecraft used for orbital space flight was designed and built in Russia. The spacecrafts being developed for suborbital space tourism, such as the LYNX and the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo, have all been developed as commercial ventures. The US government department that does have oversight for regulation of this industry is the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation.
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Q17. What government regulations cover space
travel?
There are some international laws that govern use of outer airspace. In addition, at the US Federal level, the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (CSLAA) of 2004 sets out the regulatory framework for space tourism operations, including licenses and permits. The main focus of the US legislation is to protect the uninvolved public, and ensure that those who want to become space tourists are fully informed of the risks, and sign indemnification documents accordingly. The regulations also contain guidelines on crew training, and procedures to enable the flight testing to take place, etc.
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Q18. What are the views like?
From the top of the trajectory of a suborbital space flight, it is possible to see for hundreds of miles in all directions. You look down on cloud tops that are miles below, with the Earth itself beneath. The horizon is curved. The sky is black, even at midday. You can see just how relatively thin the region occupied by the Earth’s atmosphere is. The precise views, of course, will depend on the geographic location of the launching SpacePort, from Mojave California, where the LYNX flies, it is possible to see the coastline of California and the Grand Canyon depending upon the kind of cloud cover at the time of flight. From orbit at 200 miles, you can see to a range of 1,200 miles, and can eventually look down from this moving vantage point on all the features and cities of the globe through time on a succession of orbits, both by day and by night.
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Q19. Will it be uncomfortable, or scary?
Is it uncomfortable or scary to go on a big roller coaster?
Some would say yes, and that is a big part of their reason for going! Soyuz
orbital flights provide very crammed accommodations until the passengers reach
their orbital destination of the space station or hotel, where they can stretch
out. All space flights involve periods of high G-forces during launch and landing,
and zero-G once in space. The actual amounts of these G-forces, and their duration,
vary with the specific spacecraft, with the most benign experiences being associated
with the suborbital craft. In the LYNX you will fly in the cockpit as co-pilot
giving you "the Right Stuff" experience. You will be dressed in a
self contained flight suit within a pressurized cabin, breathing oxygen. There
is no way to describe how amazing you will feel until you are really there!
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Q20. Can I go up with friends?
At present, only one space tourist can be flown at a time on Lynx.
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Q21. What are the main differences between Virgin's SpaceShipTwo, RocketShip Tours LYNX and the Armadillo spacecraft being represented by Space Adventures?
All the suborbital vehicles will carry its passengers into the edge of space to experience G-Force gravity. SpaceshipTwo takes off horizontally the Enterprise spacecraft that is attached, is dropped at 50,000 feet and rockets to over 60 miles above the Earth. Then is glides back and lands horizontally. The LYNX takes off horizontally like a jet but rockets straight up to 138,000 feet and then coasts to its apogee of 200,000 feet. It glides back to Earth and lands horizontally. The Armadillo space vehicle however, takes off and lands in a vertical position. When it will fly and what spaceport it will use has not yet been announced.
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Q22. What about individuals with disabilities?
Weightlessness is a benign environment for amputees. The famous British physicist Steven Hawking, who has the debilitating condition of motor neuron disease, happily undertook several Zero-G flights in a training aircraft and hopes to go into space when space travel begins for civilians. As long as medical clearance is obtained, disabled individuals will be eligible. Presently, individuals weighing over 250 lbs or taller than 6'4, WILL NOT be eligible.
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Q23. What was the X-Prize?
In 2004 a contest began on who could build the first spacecraft without government
funding, capable of going into space twice within a two week period, carrying
a pilot and the equivalent of 2 passengers. The $10M Ansari X-Prize was won
by Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne, flown out of Mojave, California. This became
the model for developing suborbital space travel. Where is SpaceShipOne now?
It is in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC alongside other
famous spacecrafts like Apollo 11.
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Q24. Is space travel a good business proposition?
Some very credible surveys and forecasting has established an existant desire to go to space, even at the current cost. (See the Futron/Zogby study report and The Adventures' Survey)
It is estimated that space tourism will be a billion dollar industry by 2020.
Predictions are, that up to 15,000 tourists a year will each pay approximately
$100,000 for a suborbital space flight experience. But why wait, the LYNX is
at $95,000 and there is still an opportunity to get in the queue with a number
under one hundred. There is no need to spend $200,000 when you can have the
'right stuff' experience in the LYNX at half the cost. Travel just as safe,
close to the same speed, and experience G-forces, great views for only $105,000.
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Q25. Are there enough wealthy people to provide an adequate amount of business for the project to continue?
Clearly, only multi-millionaires can afford the current price of a ticket for orbital space flight. There are currently 1,000 billionaires in the world. A potential suborbital tourist needs much less assets in order to be able to afford to undertake the trip. There are 8 million millionaires in the world today. Over 100,000 inquiries have poured in over the last several years from individuals interested in going to space, and be part of history as the first civilian space tourists.
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Q26. Isn’t space travel an anti-social activity?
Space tourism is the very essence of what it is to be an American, in that
it is designed for “the pursuit of Happiness”. It involves taking risks and
pushing back boundaries. There are two other worthwhile social transformations
that derive from this industry. First is the profound revelation of all who
see the Earth from space. They report that the space experience, like no other,
produces an awareness of the fragility or planet Earth, and the need to conserve
its resources. Only 500 people went into space in the first half-century of
the space age. Civilian space travel makes it possible for thousands, possibly
millions to enjoy that experience each year. Secondly, space tourism provides
the need for rapid turnaround of space vehicles. New vehicles are being developed
to convert the process of going to space into an airline-like operation. In
time, the cost to go to space will be more affordable for the average person.
Likewise, the reliability will have improved, and the industry could maintain
a profitable part of our nation's economy.
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Q27. How and where can I sign up to go to space?
To REGISTER ,
you must go through a certified or direct authorized agent of RocketShip Tours,
such as XTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES in Boca Raton, Fl. If you have any questions
regarding booking please send us an EMAIL Or REGISTER FOR The LYNXOr CALL (800)-358-0655 to talk to a Space Tourism Specialist.
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Q28. What is the Lynx?
The Lynx, XCOR Aerospace’s entry into the suborbital space transportation
market, is a suborbital winged vehicle powered by reusable rocket engines burning
liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene.
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Q29. Why does the Lynx use liguid propellant rocket engines?
Liquid propellant rocket engines can be fully reusable and are safer and more
reliable than solid fuel or hybrid rocket engines. After thousands of test-firings,
XCOR’s engines have proven to be durable, long lasting, and environmentally
friendly.
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Q30. Is the Lynx safe?
Lynx incorporates many safety features. The liquid propellant rocket engines
can be shut off in an emergency, or restarted, if necessary. In the event of
an emergency, it can land just like an airplane. Like commercial jet transports,
Lynx covers its engines with containment rings to protect the vehicle and crew.
Most rockets do not use this sort of safety system. Finally, the simplicity
of the Lynx’s design provides additional safety features that to prevent
something from going wrong.
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Q31. Is Lynx XCOR’s first vehicle?
No. Lynx is XCOR’s third rocket powered vehicle. The EZ-Rocket made 26 flights and set a point-to-point distance record for rocket powered aircrafts. The second aircraft has a more powerful and advanced rocket engine that uses XCOR’s proprietary technology. It’s the first private sector rocket powered, manned aircraft to use a pump-fed fuel system. The Lynx, XCOR’s
third vehicle, is another technological advancement that will lead to the construction
of more cost effective, fully orbital spaceships.
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Q32. Where will the Lynx be flown and what ground support equipment is needed?
All test flights and initial operational flights will be from FAA-licensed Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Later flights and subsequent vehicles
could be flown from any runway over 2,400 meters long at other FAA-licensed spaceports. A maintenance hangar, non-toxic propellant loading equipment, an
airplane tug and basic hand tools for maintenance are all that are needed to support routine flights. This means a small ground crew can support the Lynx
light.
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Q33. Is there government involvement in the Lynx program?
Lynx is primarily a privately funded program, however, some of the technology used on the Lynx was developed under contracts with the U.S. Government. XCOR
has developed propulsion, structures, and subsystem technology with assistance from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NASA and USAF.
The vehicle’s fuel and LOX pumps, for example, are commercialized versions of test hardware built under a DARPA contract. Recently, XCOR was awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract from the US Air Force to quantify and demonstrate the operability of Lynx.
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Q34. Who will be flying the Lynx?
The chief test pilot for XCOR is former astronaut and shuttle commander Col.Rick Searfoss, who will be responsible for the test flight phase of Lynx and
who is currently scheduled to pilot the first Participant flights during the first phase of commercial operations. Col. Searfoss will also train other qualified
pilots as required.
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Q35. When will commercial flights begin and how often will they occur?
The present schedule calls for service to begin sometime in early 2012 with eight flights every week for the first year. Departures are anticipated to
increase for the second and third year of operation.
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Q36. Are there any medical requirements and will there be training and screening requirements?
A qualified aerospace physician will conduct a complete evaluation of all participants and share with RocketShip Tours the results of those evaluations. RocketShip
Tours will then have the sole right at its discretion to accept or reject any participant. Medical evaluation by the aerospace physician and screening
by RocketShip Tours and/or their representatives is compulsory.
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Q37. Are there insurance requirements?
RocketShip Tours has arranged for a standard cancellation insurance policy
that will cover the participant’s inability to take the Lynx flight.
This compulsory insurance will be included in the total cost of the flight.
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Q38. How many people will the Lynx carry and what will that experience be like?
The Lynx is designed for a pilot and one participant who will sit in the co-pilot
seat. You take off from a runway, accelerate quickly and climb for about three
minutes. You continue gliding upwards at high speed until you hit the apogee
where you see the inky blackness of space and experience weightlessness. You’ll see the curvature of the earth and the thin blue mantle of the atmosphere. If flying from Mojave you’ll be able to see the Grand Canyon, Baja California and the sun glistening on the Pacific Ocean. It promises to be the greatest ride off Earth, and you’ll
have a front row seat!
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Q39. What’s included in the $95,000
cost to go to space?
The total cost of the Lynx flight experience is $95,000 ($20,000 deposit and $75,000 final payment) and includes the flight, the standard insurance policy, basic medical evaluation, six nights at a deluxe hotel in the greater Phoenix area, orientation, training, evaluation, plus an additional evaluation and briefing just before the flight. It also includes mementos of the flight experience, including a personalized high definition DVD recorded by onboard cameras.
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Q40. How is the order of participants who are picked to go to space determined?
Once participants have successfully completed the qualification program and made their final payment, they will be assigned a flight slot number which ensures their place in the queue. Participants who are eager to move up in the launch sequence will have the option of paying in full early.
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Kindly send us an email at indicating your interest, and we will be glad to set things in motion for you.
More questions? Get the answers, Call Mitchell J Schultz at (800) 358-0655
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