<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LondonElite:
I would like to buy a few space shuttles when they scrap that programme (and it won't be long).
The space shuttle promised much but delivered very little. It is expensive to operate and cannot hop in and out of space the way that was hoped. It is also hopelessly out of date technologically.
Please let me know when the referendum will be so that I can let my American friend put in a bid for me. (after all, it was his tax money)</font>
Allow me to simplify:
Can a company/individual in the UK / US currently purchase military/spacecraft and fly the average joe around on them? i.e a decomissoned apollo spacecraft, or SR71 blackbird or a stealth fighter, or even the AVRO Arrow?
A: NO
Can a company/individual in the UK / US currently purchase civilian aircraft and fly people around on them? i.e a 747, 707, 737
A: YES--Fedex /UPS and certain charter airlines do it all the time.
The Concorde is a PASSENGER AIRCRAFT, NOT A MILITARY AIRCRAFT / SPACECRAFT. i.e. I could at one point have showed up to an airport where it was flying, NOT requiring a Pilot's license, or military clearance, bought a ticket, and flew on it, like any other airline's 747, 707, etc.
see also this post of mine, but substitute "space shuttle" for "apollo", and "branson" for "gates".
Originally posted by crazy canuck:
Once Apollo missions allow the layman to purchase tickets on routine flights (without military training/clearance)LIKE CONCORDE, AND they certify it as a passenger air/spacecraft LIKE CONCORDE, AND Bill Gates (LIKE BRANSON) offers to buy it to keep it flying after NASA has been doing so for 30 years LIKE CONCORDE, AND Nasa refuses - your argument will be a sound one, and I will be behind you 100%
Shall I elaborate further, my friend ?