Golden Spike space venture wants to fly you to the moon ... for $1.4 billion

[bananas]

Source: NBC

A group of space veterans and big-name backers today took the wraps off the Golden Spike Company, a commercial space venture that aims to send paying passengers to the moon and back at an estimated price of $1.4 billion or more for two.

<snip>

Golden Spike's announcement came on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 17, the last manned moonshot. Backers of the plan, including former NASA executive Alan Stern and former Apollo flight director Gerry Griffin, discussed the company's strategy at a National Press Club briefing in Washington.

<snip>

Stern, a planetary scientist who was NASA's associate administrator for science in 2007-2008, is Golden Spike's president and CEO, while Griffin is chairman of the board. Other board members include new-space entrepreneur Esther Dyson and Taber McCallum, co-founder and CEO of Paragon Space Development Corp. The lineup of advisers taps into a who's who of space figures, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former NASA shuttle program manager Wayne Hale, former NASA engineer Homer Hickam and Bill Richardson, who has served as U.N. ambassador, energy secretary and the governor of New Mexico.

<snip>

"We’re not just about America going back to the moon; we’re about American industry and American entrepreneurial spirit leading the rest of the world to an exciting era of human lunar exploration," Stern said in the venture's first news release. "It’s the 21st century, we’re here to help countries, companies, and individuals extend their reach in space, and we think we’ll see an enthusiastic customer manifest developing.”

<snip>

Read more: http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/06/15731458-golden-spike-space-venture-wants-to-fly-you-to-the-moon-for-14-billion

[Scabby57]

1. Newt Said It Would Be Free

[hrmjustin]

3. Welcome to DU!

[Faygo Kid]

2. For two? I have just the right two. . .

They can afford it. I vote they save money and make it a one-way trip.

[Earth_First]

4. :yawn:

I personally could care less that billionaire space travel is now a reality for he financial elite.

There is far too much to worry about here on planet Earth.

[thelordofhell]

5. I know a guy named Ralph that will do it for free

You just have to sass him hard enough

[Lucky Luciano]

8. i think you meant Alice who is more likely to go to the moon! nt

[are_you_serious_1234]

14. Thanks for clarifying that for me.

Bang, zoom...

[name not needed]

6. 1.4 billion? I better get to bomb the fucker for that price.

[greiner3]

7. According to Forbes;

There are 100 people 'worth' at least 10 billion. I'd say the number of billionaires worth at least 5 billion might approach double that.

So there are 200 people that fit into the possible 'demographic.'

I base this on someone who would spend, at a minimum, 33% of their net worth.

[Kaleva]

9. I see nothing in the article saying the passengers would return to earth alive

I would want that questioned answered before handing over such a great amount of money.

[1620rock]

10. I'm all for it.

This is about the only time I would endorse such an endeavor of this magnitude where the private sector could reap millions if not billions in revenue.

The fact that we abandoned the moon 40 years ago to divert money, research, and effort into stupid fucking wars is a disgrace. If NASA and the govt. won't foot the bill for this, than let private enterprise go for it, and I wish them well.

[aquart]

11. Quick. Send the Koch brothers a brochure.

[are_you_serious_1234]

12. My priceline bid of $279.00 was rejected.

May need to increase.

[Remmah2]

13. Round trip or one way?

Complete with TSA body cavity check?