Briefs: SpaceX in Florida; A Mars transport plan; Commercial space trans conference

Florida Today adds two articles about SpaceX to its series on life after the Shuttles retire :
* After the shuttle: Filling the gap: Company's founder, whose rockets may be launched from Cape Canaveral, could hire part of the out-of-work shuttle staff
* The SpaceX factor is key : Startup company likely to have an impact in Brevard County
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Mr. X examines a study (pdf) by Spaceworks Engineering into using elements of NASA's Constellation program (i.e. Ares 1, Ares V, etc) to create a architecture capable of carrying out a three person mission to Mars in the 2030-2040 time frame : Marching to Mars - Chair Force Engineer - Nov.18.07
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The Office of FAA Commercial Space Transportation announces that the 11th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference "Roadmap to 2015", will take place on February 5-6, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel, Crystal City, Virginia. (Via Space Law Probe).

Posted 11/19/07 | 10:23:18 by TopSpacer | Filed under: General

Comments

From the first link

>SpaceX intends to launch from pad 40 at >Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and says >it might employ 1,000 workers at a time >when a few thousand ex-shuttle workers >will be looking for new jobs.

1000 workers on the pad? That does not
sound like a mammal. Even as a total
headcount for SpaceX it would be high.

Posted by nnn at 11/19/07 10:58:12

I have to agree with mr X on that mars mission Spaceworks put together but not for the same reasons.
It was pretty laughable and brain dead doesn't even make use of propulsion breakthroughs that have happened during the past 30 years.
To even consider an all chemical manned mars mission now days is just stupid "it's been stupid since the first nuclear thermo rockets were designed "given the options such as vasimr and how much faster and safer these options are.

Posted by Ruri at 11/20/07 10:13:11

Sadly, this isn't just a matter of technology. Do you want to get to Mars, or do you want to fight the fight that comes when nuclear (the other N-word, to some, in that reason and rationality dissappear when used) power is suggested?

You may not be able to do both. Even open-air testing of a new nuclear-thermal rocket will be a very tough sell...

Posted by Frank Glover at 11/20/07 15:07:30

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