Hawaii Contemplates Space Tourism |
| Written by spacetravel.org | |||
| Monday, 13 July 2009 15:03 | |||
The state of Hawaii has passed a law authorizing it to spend $50,000 on a spaceport license from the US government. Planners say that for a cost of $200,000, space tourists would receive a weeklong package which would include spaceflight training. The voyage would end with a flight 62 miles above the earth. Jim Crisafulli, the director of aerospace development for Hawaii, is sure that people would be willing to spend that sum of money for the opportunity to fly in space. Using runways that can already be found on Oahu and the Big Island, a rocket plan that resembles a midsize business jet could take tourists could travel from island to island. Within ten years, tourists would be able to island hop to Japan in less than an hour. The rocket plane is currently being designed. Construction, which will take place in Burns Flat, Oklahoma, should begin in a year and a half. As part of the licensing process, the effect of the rocket plane on the environment will have to be studied, according to Marsha Wienert, Hawaii's state tourism liaison. Chuck Lauer, Oklahoma City-based Rocketplane Global's vice president of business development, says the rocket plane would be powered by synthetic jet fuel and liquid oxygen. Therefore, it would not damage the environment John Strom, Enterprise Honolulu's vice president of business development, says that Rocketplane is one of several space tourism companies that would be interested in moving to Hawaii once a spaceport is built. It is uncertain whether Linda Lingle, Hawaii's governor will release the money for the spaceport. Hawaii is currently experiencing budget problems and may have to lay off some government employees.
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