Richard Garriott's Space Mission : Q + A

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FUTURE SPACE

Hello Mr. Garriott. I'm writing not expecting a response, but I figured, I might as well just go for it. I stumbled upon the New York Times article about you today chronicling your space collection as well as your upcoming space travel. I was delighted reading about your programming the Ultima series as I played Ultima V when I was younger. Anyway, I'm currently in a class whose mission is figure out how NASA can better inform the public about it's missions and get people excited about space travel once again. From interviewing some folks, the perception seems that space travel/exploration/experimentation isn't relevant today and that monies spent on such endeavors could be better spent on social programs. So, I wondered if you might have some thoughts on the subject. Thanks very much, Christopher

Now that people are taking you seriously to become a space participant on the ISS, are you thinking ahead to a circumlunar trip to the moon?

There have been recent reports of plans to build a permanent moon station dedicated to research and further space exploration. What roles do you feel government, private industry, and the academic community will play in this project?

Richard - congratulations for your ongoing interest in space activities. Your decision to visit outer space is, I know, the fulfillment of an older dream of yours. I understand that it will cost you about 30 millions. Now - the question is - wouldn't it be easier, and cheaper, if all the would-be space tourists, instead of paying a third party, would instead put their money together and develop a private orbital space programme?

Dear Richard, generally, the orbit is only an intermediate point on the way to other sky bodies like Moon, Mars etc. Would you take a part in such expedition ?

Dear Richard: Do you feel it is possible for many of those who can should put their money together to help expedite a mission to Mars? There has always seemed to be a great drive in the past of many generous benefactors to finance those items representing their scientific interest for the betterment of man. It would seem to me that the next fronter for those who wonder about the future of man and our solarsystem would combine their talents and resources to bring this journey to Mars to fruition.

Definitely this mission will be an experience that will change your life. Do you think you can change your view of the Humankind in the World when you see our blue planet?

I believe that "botanic gardens" could be a good model for future gardens during missions to other planets and for the survival and sustainable development of colonies on Mars, Moon, etc. What do you think about it? I wish you to make/choose any experiment with plants during your upcoming space mission!

Hello Richard, you've been my idol for over a decade. My question to you is - When humanity has gotten a good taste of visiting surrounding planets and perhaps even temporarily inhabiting bases on the moon for example, how long do you think it will take before a permanent voyage in search of a far off planet to teraform is planned? There are many who argue that we will exhaust earth's ability to sustain our growing population, eventually someone will need to leave earth in the name of exploration. Though I don't expect it to be in my lifetime the thought of being born on a space station far from earth on it's journey to a new world does sound intriguing. I'm excited that we're on the verge, have you thought about this topic at all? (condense question as you see fit)

HI Richard, hope your space mission goes well, I'm watching the countdown. I was wondering whether you can ever increase air pressure in space so you have normal gravity- So you can do more than just float everywhere?

Do you think one day space/planetary travel will be as simple as crossing a *warp Gate* as seen on Tabula Rasa?, Its a fascinating thought. Great work on the game, by the way, love it.

I've always been interested in space travel. Could share with me your feelings as I am only twelve and Space Adventures is constructing a spaceport here in my hometown and I intend to enroll in their space camp and in the future become an astronaut or like you fund my own space mission so I hope you can share with me your experience as Singaporeans are just not in that space thing yet.

	Christopher from Rancho Cucamonga, CA asks: Hello Mr. Garriott. I'm writing not expecting a response, but I figured, I might as well just go for it. I stumbled upon the New York Times article about you today chronicling your space collection as well as your upcoming space travel. I was delighted reading about your programming the Ultima series as I played Ultima V when I was younger. Anyway, I'm currently in a class whose mission is figure out how NASA can better inform the public about it's missions and get people excited about space travel once again. From interviewing some folks, the perception seems that space travel/exploration/experimentation isn't relevant today and that monies spent on such endeavors could be better spent on social programs. So, I wondered if you might have some thoughts on the subject. Thanks very much, Christopher
	This is actually a subject I’ve been giving a lot of thought to especially when I was down training in Johnson Center in Houston. I agree with the problem and believe it does need some effort; as you may know NASA spends a great deal of money on this goal. There is NASA TV, they produce shows that show in three or four collection of information for educators, public, students that are online, and on iTunes you can find things like the other NASA sites that are running space probes for other planets or operating telescopes to regular blogs that are available to general public. As much of a space enthusiast as I am, I never see these in a general glance around in life; I never go directly to NASA TV. When I look for information or entertainment, I go to the local newspaper, popular magazines, and swing through a number of television channels. If I were to make a recommendation now, I would say instead of just producing content for NASA TV, they need to be providing content and inserting it into the mainstream sources that people are already using. iTunes is good because it’s a public venue, but I think they should be producing shows for say Discovery or National Geographic or anything else of mainstream media. The goal of how to really reach people and inspire them about their long term mission I still think is allusive.

	Joe from Houston asks: Now that people are taking you seriously to become a space participant on the ISS, are you thinking ahead to a circumlunar trip to the moon?
	Well, of course! In addition to be a Space Adventures’ client, I am one of the principle investor and board members of Space Adventures, so thinking ahead, absolutely yes, thinking I would like to go personal, absolutely yes, thinking I will be able to go personal, unfortunately very likely not. I’ve just barely been able to afford the opportunity to traveling to space myself and I am thrilled been able to do that and it’s what I’ve been investing for decades. While I do hope to get into space again and I believe I can do it commercially in the sense I can build enough activities to subsidize the cost of a space trip, but I don’t believe that will be enough to cover the cost of a circumlunar trip.

	Rebecca from Cuyahoga Falls, OH asks: There have been recent reports of plans to build a permanent moon station dedicated to research and further space exploration. What roles do you feel government, private industry, and the academic community will play in this project?
	question cont'd: For example, it would be great to spend a semester on the moon studying enviromentally sustainable engineering practices. Yet, who would decide which schools get a "Moon Research" campus? How would the moon's "real estate" be divided between the three entities mentioned above? Would everyone benefit from the research done on the moon, or a few key players who can fund this type of research? Answer: My belief is that the government’s primary role in the exploration of space is to tackle the biggest, boldest and riskiest projects. And whether that’s placing a permanent habitation on the moon or putting people for the first time on Mars, I think those kinds of firsts, will remain within the exclusive purview of governments, just due to their size and complexity of these endeavors. However, to justify returning to space or staying in space or staying on the moon...those projects have to prove themselves to be economically rewarding. And so ultimately I believe private industry and private individuals must play a role or else I think it’s reasonable to question why we are there in the first place. As an example, if you look at the satellite industry, which was started by government agencies like NASA, it’s almost entirely now privately funded by a highly competitive suite of corporations. I believe the same thing will now occur as we continue to explore low earth orbit and space stations and ultimately this will occur as we reach and travel more to the moon. I just think that government has to chart a course there first and it will take private industry another decade or two to follow along behind it. Along those same lines, when the government is the primary sponsor of space exploration as it typically is to begin with, and thus it’s taxpayer money being spent, the benefits by necessity go to the populace at large. And the results of that scientific research belong to the taxpayers at large. But after 10 to 20 years when we begin to see private funds being spent to further those developments, then I would think those technologies, those advancements and those tools can become privately owned. That of course has the side benefit again of driving down costs and driving up the variety of technologies that are available. How will all this involve the academic community? Well, just like the teacher in space activities that were done on the space shuttle over the last decade or so it’s a process that evolves over time. The first people to head to the moon will be NASA scientists and engineers, but soon you’ll begin to see pressure for educators to participate. You’ll begin to see that take within several years. But the first steps will be so risky and complicated they will demand that travel to the moon remains fairly engineering focused. But in the long run, I think education will play an equal role.

	Virgiliu from Romania asks: Richard - congratulations for your ongoing interest in space activities. Your decision to visit outer space is, I know, the fulfillment of an older dream of yours. I understand that it will cost you about 30 millions. Now - the question is - wouldn't it be easier, and cheaper, if all the would-be space tourists, instead of paying a third party, would instead put their money together and develop a private orbital space programme?
	Good to hear from you! I hope your recent space book has been selling well. I have bought a couple copies myself. I have been working on the suborbital front too now for many years. I do believe those craft will soon exist and be much more affordable. Yet these first craft will not reach the space station, nor stay in space for more than a couple of minutes. If that was all I could do I would do it and be very happy, but orbital spaceflight is really the goal, and for the foreseeable future I believe the Soyuz rocket is the cheapest and safest way to get to orbit. Any alternatives will be many more years in development, and the costs, just for energy, will remain high, until the far off potential of things like space elevators, which may ultimately make access to orbit cheap.

	Dmytro from Ukraine asks: Dear Richard, generally, the orbit is only an intermediate point on the way to other sky bodies like Moon, Mars etc. Would you take a part in such expedition ?
	Yes, if it becomes possible. I have said since I was very young, that if the director of NASA came to me and asked: “We have a mission into deep space, where you will be part of a crew that will leave the earth to never return within a single lifetime, do you want to go?” I would say yes in a heartbeat! However, we (Space Adventures) does now offer a trip to the moon and back, I just cannot afford it. Yet. :-)

	Theodore from USA asks: Dear Richard: Do you feel it is possible for many of those who can should put their money together to help expedite a mission to Mars? There has always seemed to be a great drive in the past of many generous benefactors to finance those items representing their scientific interest for the betterment of man. It would seem to me that the next fronter for those who wonder about the future of man and our solarsystem would combine their talents and resources to bring this journey to Mars to fruition.
	Theodore, I think private money must help one step at a time. I don’t think private donations could match the cash needed for a Mars mission all at once. Instead, we should get private missions going into space first, and then reach farther and farther. I think voting and lobbying is the best way to get a Mars mission going soonest. Without regard to what you think about the Iraq war but it is sad that NASA’s yearly budget is less than a weeks cost for Iraq. - Richard

	Erick Herlitz from Patagonia, Chile asks: Definitely this mission will be an experience that will change your life. Do you think you can change your view of the Humankind in the World when you see our blue planet?
	Erick, Many astronauts say that it does. I am looking forward to seeing if it does for me! - Richard

	Victor from Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia asks: I believe that "botanic gardens" could be a good model for future gardens during missions to other planets and for the survival and sustainable development of colonies on Mars, Moon, etc. What do you think about it? I wish you to make/choose any experiment with plants during your upcoming space mission!
	I actually think that you are on to something accurate. I am a big fan of a project called Biosphere II which I visited some years ago, and even though that experiment is no longer in operation, I think that it is the sort of environment that is necessary for a closed environment for long term human stay on another planet.

	Jean from California asks: Hello Richard, you've been my idol for over a decade. My question to you is - When humanity has gotten a good taste of visiting surrounding planets and perhaps even temporarily inhabiting bases on the moon for example, how long do you think it will take before a permanent voyage in search of a far off planet to teraform is planned? There are many who argue that we will exhaust earth's ability to sustain our growing population, eventually someone will need to leave earth in the name of exploration. Though I don't expect it to be in my lifetime the thought of being born on a space station far from earth on it's journey to a new world does sound intriguing. I'm excited that we're on the verge, have you thought about this topic at all? (condense question as you see fit)
	I’m a huge space enthusiast, but I’m also a skeptic when it comes to leaving our star system and heading further into the galaxy. I think it will take another 10-20 years to having bases on the Moon or Mars. I think it’s going to be another 100-200 before we begin to chart a course that has human beings on board a voyage that would be multi-generational to leave the Earth and travel to another planet or to a separate star. I would be thrilled if it happens in our lifetime, but I think it will be highly unlikely that we will have people traveling extra-solar anytime soon.

	Mathew from England asks: HI Richard, hope your space mission goes well, I'm watching the countdown. I was wondering whether you can ever increase air pressure in space so you have normal gravity- So you can do more than just float everywhere?
	Interestingly, when people think of the space station, they think it is way up in space far away from earth and because of that distance, there isn’t much gravity. It turns out that common perception isn’t accurate. If you take a 1 foot globe, the orbit that space station is in is about the thickness of a nickel or two away from the surface of the earth. That’s really how thick the earth’s atmosphere is; it’s quiet thin. In fact if the space station was standing above Huston, not only you would feel that gravity in the space station, the entire space station would feel it and crash into Houston. In the station, you feel the normal one gravity just like on earth, the reason why it appears different is because its in orbit- its traveling around the earth 17210 miles/hr. This is like a yoyo going to the bottom of the string being roll it around and it will hold itself away from your arm. That same centrifugal force keeps the station in orbit and keeps you inside the space station. If you were to add more atmosphere to the earth, you could in theory expand the atmosphere but the side effect of that would be increased pressure on the ground, meaning people would breathe over-pressured atmosphere which could be toxic, things in orbit at the current altitude would experience drags and may fall out of orbit and we’d have to put space stations to even higher orbit in the vacuum of space where they can glide around without swimming through or be dragged down by the atmosphere. So, adding air pressure wouldn’t really help in that sense.

	Ian from TX asks: *Do you think one day space/planetary travel will be as simple as crossing a warp Gate* as seen on Tabula Rasa?, Its a fascinating thought. Great work on the game, by the way, love it.**
	Well, what’s interesting about worm holes and things of that nature, is mathematically they appear to be a feasible and so far in the field of science, anything which is mathematically feasible, people have found a way to make work. In the case of worm holes and things of that nature, while it’s a mathematical possibility, the energies that are involved are energies that involve multiple stellar masses of energy so while I think it’s a hypothetical possibility; it’s definitely nothing near term, if possible at all.

	Josh from Singapore asks: I've always been interested in space travel. Could share with me your feelings as I am only twelve and Space Adventures is constructing a spaceport here in my hometown and I intend to enroll in their space camp and in the future become an astronaut or like you fund my own space mission so I hope you can share with me your experience as Singaporeans are just not in that space thing yet.
	You are at a great age for space travel. The cost of access to space and the opportunities to travel in space are growing quickly. And while it will remain somewhat expensive for the next many years, there will also be many new ways to work in space that you should also consider!