Woomera Spaceport???

[Jonathan]

On the front page of the local Adelaide newspaper was an article about Andy Thomas' plan for converting the Woomera rocket range in outback South Australia for use as an international spaceport for tourists. It would cost $150million

full article here - http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au...55E910,00.html

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Ill book my seat now !

[anthony2302749]

If my memory serves me right (feel free to correct me), we as a nation had a viable space program during the 50’s and was the third nation in the world to launch its own satellite. But like most things our government does, usually through a lack of foresight, cut funding causing the Aussie space program to decline and lose the advantage we gain by having the ability to launch satellite.

In the last 10+ years there has been plenty of talk by politician to establish a space port so that Australia can get into the lucrative satellite launching business, which we had the ablity to in 50's. So what Andy Thomas is say in nothing new except he what to launch tourist.

[rogerg (Roger)]

I was interested to read about it on Thursday on news.com.au. The usual thought when through my head, "oh yeah, sounds good, probably won't happen in my life time".

This morning I was disapointed to see news.com.au had moved the article in to "The Other Side", usually reserved for light hearted shallow commical news articles like "cow saves farmer".

Roger.

[acropolite (Phil)]

My first thought was that I'd rather see that sort of money put in to addressing the global warming problem, but as the space program has given us so much (including an insight in to the destruction we're doing to this planet) it would probably be a good thing. As an economic bonus it might go a little way to weaning us off our dependancy on third world exports such as coal, woodchips etc.

[fringe_dweller]

well I'm sorry I dont want it here, bringing all those tourists here increasing air traffic and consequently more contrails and pollution - from the launches as well - i want to preserve our precious best darkest deepsky skies in the world and aus BOO!
its not like I or many other south aussies can afford 200 hundred thousand dollars to go for a bored and jaded richboys plaything trip for 30 seconds
NIMBY!

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Gee Kearn .... most rich people I know are not bored at all
They have all the money they need to do the things they want, usually to busy to be bored
But you are right about one thing, I would hate to see your nice dark skies messed up !

[fringe_dweller]

LOL sorry! ok then Ian, i'll rephrase: obscenely wealthy people with money to burn and cant buy a thrill anymore - I'd wager lots of them wouldnt even be interested in "space"

I thought it was going to be up at cape york? what happened to that one? yer send it to qld thats ok with me

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Tragic ... I dont think i could have so much money to be not interested in Space !

[fringe_dweller]

I am sorry if I offended any mega wealthy people, lord knows they have it tough as it is, without me adding too it
I almost feel sorry for them?
But what I meant is it will be popular with the thrill seekers of the like of the 'rich octogenarian (wont say what nationality)'s who get carried up to the summit of Mt Everest on the back of a sherpa' crowd possibly - the been there done that crowd?
a bit like the ultimate show ride?

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

You crack me up Kearn.
Ill tell you what, someone give me a couple of million & I will see if life still excites me.
Ill tell you what, Ill make a study of it an write a thesis on it (I will of course have to buy a Univesity Degree so my thesis will be taken seriously
But give it to me now please, I don't want to have to wait till Im 80 to be carried up to Everest base camp.

[rowena]

Cape York got canned because of the Daintree Forest is under World Heritage Listing.

After Cape York plans where for going into western Central Qld area. This is due to that it would cost less to launch from here to get into most orbits that are required. (Hence why they wanted to choose Cape York in the first place!)

One thing is that for every 100m a rocket goes up, it uses up a lot of fuel/money. Why don't people like Nasa launch from higher altitudes as opposed to launching from close to sea level like in Florida. This would save a lot in fuel costs

[fringe_dweller]

Ian, I hope you find a kindly tychoon who will take you on in this worthwhile endeavour - maybe a government grant could be made available for this purpose? where do i sign on?

Thankyou Rowena for the info, I did wonder what happened there after it was touted in the media for about 10 years LOL,... those damn tree huggin hippies again ggrrrr

In this day of global warming/climate change it all sounds a little bizzare to be doing this, but rockets use hydrogen/oxygen mix??? is that polluting (other than transparency ruining water vapour?) -

when I read these stories I have visions in like some of the scenes in 'gattica' were there's this continual launching of rockets in the background - scary!

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

when I read these stories I have visions in like some of the scenes in 'gattica' were there's this continual launching of rockets in the background - scary!

Now that would create some serious pollution in our skies!

I was reading Friday's paper at work today and there were the results to a poll that went with the article asking people if they were in favour of the Woomera spaceport or not. 51% said yes and 49% said no, but there were only 35 votes

[MiG]

Originally Posted by rowena

One thing is that for every 100m a rocket goes up, it uses up a lot of fuel/money. Why don't people like Nasa launch from higher altitudes as opposed to launching from close to sea level like in Florida. This would save a lot in fuel costs

No it wouldn't. Not only is a km or two a small proportion of the orbit altitude, but the energy that goes into height is only about 10% of the total energy. So basically you have a tiny fuel saving at the expense of having to set up a spaceport in a high altitude location, which typically isn't a large flat piece of land.

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Not a very high participation rate in the poll !
Either it was a very small sample canvased or the care factor is very low
Yep Kearn ... I bet it will be just like Gattica, except that instead of testing your DNA to see if you are fit to go into space it will be more like "LA Story" ...
Q:"So, you want to go into space ?"
A: Yes, very much !
Q: So what is your credit rating with Moodys ? Where do you live ? What do you drive ?
A: Ahh, Who are moodys ? I'm a territorian Mate ! & I drive a Crusier !
Q: Next !!!!!!!

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by gaa_ian

Not a very high participation rate in the poll !
Either it was a very small sample canvased or the care factor is very low

That section of the paper has all the letters to the editor and other junk that I rarely read, but out of all the times I've looked at the phone in poll results it's never got even close to having a hundred votes so it's quite pointless.

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

That section of the paper has all the letters to the editor and other junk that I rarely read, but out of all the times I've looked at the phone in poll results it's never got even close to having a hundred votes so it's quite pointless.

Jonathan, I too read the letters to the editor in the advertiser sometimes, and I have to admire them, at least there honest about the number of voters in their phone polls - not like that outrageous, fatuous and irritating aussie foxtel news polls everyday with their leading questions/options gggrrrr - they never say how many people called, which is just sooo not democratic IMO.

Ian, I havent seen that movie in a while, you got me there! but I bet theres at least one Territorian going up in one, ...and that would be Troy Dan (i think he is a territorian?) LOL he'll hang out of the window as it goes up maybe?