The House Subcommittee on Space is
holding
a hearing Tuesday to discuss the future of citizen space travel. Space
Frontier Foundation President Rick Tumlinson, Apollo 11 astronaut “Buzz”
Aldrin, Michael Hawes, Deputy Assoc. Director of Space Station, and
Dennis
Tito, first citizen explorer in space, will testify at the Rayburn House
Office Building, between 2:00 and 4:00 pm.
The Foundation believes many are getting the wrong message about Dennis
Tito’s flight to space station Alpha, and have become too focused on
trying
to turn the unfinished station into a “tourist” destination.
“Our goal should not be to convert (Alpha) to an orbital hotel and spa,”
explained Tumlinson. “Space tourism is not the government’s job. The
government’s investment in the station and its infrastructure should be
the
economic catalyst for a new orbital community – including commercial
hotels
and facilities in the Alpha neighborhood.”
In the Foundation’s view, privately owned co-orbital facilities create
huge
opportunities for all involved. They decrease pressure to accommodate
visitors aboard the International Space Station, increase safety by
providing
redundancy in emergency situations, and most importantly, begin a new
space
industry unlimited by the physical scope of the government’s station.
Regarding space transportation, Tumlinson stated: “We must also be
careful
about giving away individual seats on government vehicles to potential
private sector customers as this would undercut the very competitive
environment we need to lower costs.” He added, “We don’t need any more
taxpayer funded space translators. The people get it. Most just cannot
afford
it.”
For more information about the Space Frontier Foundation, call 1(800)
78-SPACE, or visit our website: www.space-frontier.org.
