SpaceX launches 4 amateurs on private Earth-circling trip

Elon's networth just rocketed up with this

Wish I had won the contest. I don't care how low the price gets, I doubt I will ever be able to afford it.

I remember David Attenborough being asked if he wanted to go into space.

He replied that he’s wasn’t because there’s nothing there.

I wouldn’t agree with him fully, but I’d prefer a trip to the ocean depths.

It's such a marvel that they're broadcasting so many live camera shots, including the engines, the return boosters, and inside the cockpit - that shows much confidence and greater transparency

Especially when some other governments would've been so secretive

And they're going into higher orbit than even the International Space Station. And with no true astronaut on board!

Now, they're the ones leading even the governments in rocket technology

Another round of the spoiled rich kids and their space toys begins !!..

As opposed to rich governments being the sole gatekeepers?

Eventually, these things become cheaper for everyone - remember when jet airline travels were for the rich too

“Yes, today you must have and be willing to part with a large amount of cash to buy yourself a trip to space,” said Explorers Club President Richard Garriott, a NASA astronaut’s son who paid the Russians for a space station trip more than a decade ago. “But this is the only way we can get the price down and expand access, just as it has been with other industries before it.

Only 1 of the 4 passengers is rich - he bought all 4 tickets. Then gave away 3 to other civilians - a data engineer, a community college educator, and a St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital physician assistant who was a cancer patient in that very same hospital when she was a kid (and now she's the youngest American to reach space). And the whole trip is also a fundraiser for the children's hospital

Benefits of space exploration are obvious to see.

Even from past history the counties who traveled and cross the Oceans are the ones who got the resources, land, benefitted the most.

The Dragon capsule’s two men and two women are looking to spend three days circling the world from an unusually high orbit — 100 miles (160 kilometers) higher than the International Space Station 

Wow

The G force trainer jet is Russian SU 30 or MiG 29? Doesn’t look like anything in US arsenal.

The other guy went cheap on the project milking the "New Glenn" and Vulcan engine program of millions. As for being passengers, when do es a airline passenger have to receive hundreds of hours of training to make a flight?

It is not space tourism but private space flights. It will bring down the cost of space flight and it is his money. Next Paul, you will eliminate all but mini homes and bicycles.

The G force trainer jet is Russian SU 30 or MiG 29? Doesn’t look like anything in US arsenal.

MiG-29. The more rounded wing root, nose gear door placement and tail are how you can tell.

https://i1.wp.com/en.aviation-report.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/02/DSC_3151.jpg

https://www.zastavki.com/pictures/originals/2013/Aviation_Russian_military_airplane_SU-30_MK046672.jpg

The G force trainer jet is Russian SU 30 or MiG 29? Doesn’t look like anything in US arsenal.

There are also lots and lots of MiG-29s from several former Warsaw Pack nations and Croatia in the US now where there are only two SU-27s (from the Ukraine, a little poke in the eye to the Russians for invading) and no SU-30s. Here's a SU-27 from the same aspect:

http://www.wallpapers4u.org/wp-content/uploads/su-27_flanker_aircraft_runway_sky_64428_1920x1080.jp

The US bought up Croatia's MiG-29s when it became apparent they were about to sell them to Iran.

The G force trainer jet is Russian SU 30 or MiG 29? Doesn’t look like anything in US arsenal.

It's a MiG-29 owned by Jared Isaacman, one of the passengers on this space flight.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37795/heres-who-bought-paul-allens-pristine-mig-29-fulcrum-fighter

This launch is:

not creating any space debris

not making Musk rich (his wealth is in Tesla stock, and funds from space tourism will go to the Starship project)

inconsequential as far as carbon emissions, compared to the huge volume of airline travel (eventually SpaceX will use carbon neutral methane derived from water and CO2 in the atmosphere, with electricity from solar)

In a decade there will be multiple commercial space stations in orbit, and many more people will be going to space. Starship will make space access much cheaper. You live in the 21st century -- get used to it.

Good show !

All the best and safe trip !

The Dragon capsule’s two men and two women are looking to spend three days circling the world from an unusually high orbit — 100 miles (160 kilometers) higher than the International Space Station 

Wow

At least they are going for a few days, not just up/down like the other guy.

3 days stuck in a tiny space with 3 other humans - not something I would want. Odd smells are just the beginning of the problems. Anyone who has been in a B-52 knows how those smells build and build and build.

These people are astronauts just like airline passengers are pilots - not.

After 150 others have gone into space with no accidents on extremely similar craft, only then would I consider going even if for free.

Hope they are all safe and have fun.

Space tourism is a horrific waste of natural resources and a major contributor to climate change. Governments cannot expect ordinary citizens to modify their behaviour to limit climate change, when billionaires are allowed to burn through tonnes of fuel on a jolly. Space tourism should be banned, at least until a zero carbon sustainable way of doing it can be engineered.