Nova Scotia joins the Space Race

[Space Tycoon]

I love stories about space. I love stories about more private investment in space. And when you throw Canada into the mix, I'm so there.


Now maybe we'll get some answers about what really happened at Shag Harbour...



Cape Breton joins Space Race (http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/190079/Cape_Breton_joins_Space_Race)

A private manned space program for Canada is being planned. PlanetSpace is evaluating two launch sites in Cape Breton that should be completed in 2009.
Nova Scotia signed a private launch facility deal that will put Cape Breton into the space race by 2009.

Space station flights are planned by 2009. The project is on schedule. They plan to build a launch pad on the Island.

Canadians will not have far to go if they want to travel to outer space. PlanetSpace plans to make space tourism a reality within the next few years.

Nova Scotia has agreed to provide 300 acres of land and some funding for a huge orbital launch facility that could eventually be a rival of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. with NASA operations.

Story from last year. (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060816/cape_breton_space_060816/20060816?hub=TopStories)

Canadians who want to travel to outer space may not have to venture very far to a launch pad.

PlanetSpace, a company which hopes to make space tourism a reality within the next few years, is looking at building a launch pad on Cape Breton Island.

The company was created in response to NASA's request for bids to shuttle cargo and crew to the International Space Station. The space agency is expected to announce a shortlist of one or more bidders on Friday to develop technology capable of reaching the station.


One year later:

Company nearing decision on Cape Breton spaceport, chairman says (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2007/06/01/breton-spaceport.html)
The company that hopes to build a commercial spaceport in Nova Scotia has nearly completed a mockup of its rocket and is studying two potential sites in Cape Breton, chairman Chirinjeev Kathuria says.

PlanetSpace of Chicago previously announced it was talking to the Nova Scotia government about possible launch sites for its Silver Dart spacecraft, named after the first plane to fly in Canada.

Nova Scotia gave the company 120 hectares of land last year, judging the project "a credible opportunity," said Nova Scotia Business Inc. spokesman Paul Doucet.

Now the company must pick a launch site to fulfil requirements in an agreement with NASA, signed in February. Under that deal, NASA agreed to share information so the company can better understand NASA's needs for space station crew and cargo transportation launch vehicles.

While the PlanetSpace website refers to hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue and plans to fly 2,000 space tourists with fares starting at $250,000 US, NASA is interested in transporting cargo and crews to low-Earth orbital destinations.

The company is headed by Kathuria, who has a history of tech startups, and president Geoff Sheerin, who heads Canadian Arrow of London, Ont. That company is developing a cluster of 10 rocket engines to boost the Silver Dart into space.






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[Woodwraith]

This is interestiing news. It's quite possible that it won't be NASA that gets us into the Space Age. Maybe it'll be a Canadian that invents the 1st "warp nacelle". :popcorn:

[Nostromo]

May the tidal force be with us. N:)

[Space Tycoon]

I can see it now: rocket launches sponsored by Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale. :lol:







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[whitetemplar78]

you know, this just goes to show, that its gonna be the private sector that gets us into space fulltime, not governments, so the space shuttles of the future are gonna look like NASCAR racing.......lol, all covered in logos....

[Space Tycoon]

Yeah, I've been for more private sector involvement in space launches for years now.


I think we're on the brink of a revolution, personally.


Just give it time.









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[tstone]

No, it won't. Like ocean travel, it'll be a combo. The initial non-profitable, non-commercial efforts and frontier pushing, the government will play a major part.

Always has, always will.

Glad to see the private sector getting into the mix. The more players, the better. But to then turn around and begin indulging in the "bash government" reflex requires you to TOTALLY forget that it's government efforts that have gotten us to where we are.

So, it's rather small to then begin dogging on them.


you know, this just goes to show, that its gonna be the private sector that gets us into space fulltime, not governments, so the space shuttles of the future are gonna look like NASCAR racing.......lol, all covered in logos....

[UNCLEagent]

Space!!! You're so positioned!!!!

[Scotia]

Cape Breton joins Space Race
Very interesting news, Space. It's even more encouraging to hear that IMP Group out of Halifax and Pratt and Whitney have shown some interest. However, until ground is broken I have to remain a bit skeptical. The region has been economically dick-teased by government and private enterprise for half a century. Mostly resulting in huge taxpayer debts.

But, man, it would be so nice to see something of this calibre take root. More jobs for the Sydney area and infrastructure improvements that would likely benefit the entire Island. Not to mention the coolness factor! I can lift a Keiths to that :)

[Space Tycoon]

I have a feeling this will be a reality. The "giggle factor" surrounding space tourism as an industry has been lifted, due to the entry of serious players like Paul Allen, Richard Branson, and Jeff Bezos. It's now seen as a serious business opportunity among the investment class in general-- many of whom would have laughed it off ten or even three years ago.







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