Ruimtereizen

Voor wie dat wil, bestaat de mogelijkheid om mee te gaan op een van de 10 daagse halfjaarlijkse missies naar het International Space Station (ISS). Moet je wel even 30 miljoen dollar voor neerleggen (voor 15 miljoen dollar extra kun je ook een ruimtewandeling maken. Te duur? Voor 100.000 dollar kun je al even de ruimte in (tot 100km boven de aarde) en ben je gewichtloos voor 5 minuten. Voor 3500 dollar kun je al gewichtsloosheid ervaren in het speciale G-force One vliegtuig. Ook kun je voor 8000 dollar in de Soyuz Simulator trainen of de "centrifuge" (10 G-force) uitproberen.

Je kunt je space ticket nu al boeken en zo één van de de eerste commerciële astronauts worden. Virgin Galactic (onderdeel van het Virgin-concern) verwacht de eerste astronauten al in 2009 te kunnen lanceren vanaf de Mojave Spaceport met hun eigen VSS Enterprise. Het 5-persoons ruimtevaartuig is de opvolger van de award-winning design van de SpaceShipOne. Een vlucht gaat $200,000 kosten en wie er serieus mee wil, kan nu al reserveren. De aanbetaling voor deze ultieme reis bedraagt $20,000. Voor dit geld krijg je ook nog een meerdaagse training. De sub-orbital flight komt tot minimaal 100 km boven de aarde en duurt rond de twee uur van start tot landing.

Space Future - for everyone who'd like to travel to space. Learn why the goal of affordable travel to space for the general public is not only practical, but highly desirable.

Richt zich ook op ontwikkelen van hardware voor commerciele ruimtevluchten. Volg de ontwikkelingen op hun website. Ze bieden ook zero-gravity flights aan vanaf Kennedy Space Center.

http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/

The Space Island Project will incorporate technologies, vehicles and procedures developed by NASA and Aerospace Companies over the last 25 years to create a stand-alone, commercial space infrastructure supporting the broadest possible range of manned business activities in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) 400 to 500 miles above Earth.

http://www.xcor.com/

XCOR engages in research, development, and production of reusable rocket-powered, horizontal launch vehicles for suborbital, and ultimately, orbital travel. XCOR is a leader in the development of reliable, low-cost rocket engines.

• Centre for Earth Observation Programme - a European Community funded programme for advancing the use of Earth Observation (EO) data.
• European Space Agency - an international organization composed of 14 European Member States which aims to provide cooperation in space research and technology.
• European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
• Space Environments and Effects Analysis Section - provides information and tools on the space environment and its effects on space systems.
• Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity - includes answers to the most frequently asked questions about European participation in the International Space Station.
• European Astronaut Centre (EAC) - European Space Agency astronaut biographies, training, and mission participation.
• European Space Operations Centre (ESOC)
• Near-Earth Navigation and Geodesy - sea level monitoring from ERS satellites' altimetry and orbit determination results, and space geodesy research.

• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
• NASA Headquarters
• Today@nasa.gov - current news and press releases from NASA about its missions and programs.
• Aero-Space Technology Enterprise - has agency-wide responsibility for technology transfer and commercialization.
• NASA Headquarters Macintosh Users Group (NHMUG)
• NASA Jobs - official source of information about working for NASA and employment opportunities. Includes information about applying to become an astronaut.
• NASA Technology Plan

• PBS: Space Station - includes a photo gallery, interactive quiz, virtual tour, and more.
• International Space Station Overview - assembly details and flight schedules with summaries, flight control, and more.
• NASA: International Space Station - includes current assembly status reports, information about scientific research, crews, and extravehicular activity, and a fact book.
• Canadian Space Agency Space Systems Sector - manages Canada's contribution to the International Space Station, a robotic system, the Mobile Servicing System (MSS), for assembly, maintenance, and servicing tasks.
• Discovery Channel: Home in the Sky - features news and progress reports on the mission of astronauts assembling over 100 parts never attached on Earth, to build a world class orbiting laboratory where no one has built before.
• European Space Agency Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity - includes answers to the most frequently asked questions about European participation in the International Space Station.
• Houston Chronicle: The Next Outpost
• International Space Station Program - site by Boeing, NASA's prime Station contractor, featuring photographs of Boeing Space Station work and Real Video, in addition to comprehensive information.