Fly Me to the Moon

By Liz Hammond

      Space.  To many it is the final frontier of adventure and exploration.  But to the common man, the hope of ever experiencing the wonders of travel in space first-hand is slim.  Or is it?

            Not if the people at Space Adventures Inc. have anything to say about it.  Located in Alexandria, Va., this visionary company is already booking sub-orbital flights above the earth's surface.  While the actual flights (costing $98,000) are still three to five years away, Space Adventures already has 139 reservations.

            Space travel is the culmination of a four level program of astronautical experience called "Steps To Space."  For those who want to keep their feet firmly on the ground, Space Adventures begins with "Terrestrial Tours," which can include witnessing a space shuttle launch to visiting ancient craters in South America.  Or, one can don a spacesuit and train in the "neutral buoyancy" tank (a process that simulates weightlessness while underwater) at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Russia.

            "Russia has some of the top aerospace engineers," said Chris Faranetta, Space Flight Program Manager for Space Adventures, in explaining the choice of the Russian facility. "They have well developed astronaut training."

            The next step involves a zero-gravity flight, which gives the participant 30 second bursts of weightlessness during a parabolic flight in a cosmonaut training plane known as the Ilyushin-76.

            "The plane makes a large arc," described Faranetta, "and you experience free-fall," much like the "drop" one feels on a roller coaster.  "Flying" just like Superman is a common comparison.

            The $5,400 price tag includes two nights' lodging at a 5-star hotel in Moscow, flight suit, transportation and other preparation for the zero-gravity flight.

            Also available are rides on high performance Russian MiG-25 fighter jets in the third level of "Steps To Space."  Designed to intercept the United States' SR-71 Blackbird, this plane will carry a passenger at 85,000 feet (about 16 miles) above earth at twice the speed of sound.  From this height one can view the curvature of the earth and the black sky of space.

            The final stage will be aboard a reusable launch vehicle for a 30 to 120 minute flight in sub-orbital space – that's 62 miles above earth.  For comparison, most satellites orbit at 100 to 22,000 miles above earth while the moon is 250,000 miles away.  To qualify for astronaut status according to United States guidelines, one must fly more than 50 miles in altitude.

            "What many people don't realize is how thin the earth's atmosphere is," commented Faranetta.

            The once-in-a-lifetime trip will include six days of training and other amenities.  The proposed sub-orbital flight would give the fledgling astronaut a full five minutes of weightlessness, also in a parabolic pattern.

            "We haven't had any inquiries into space flight," reported Julie Ansfield of Karp's Travel, 4100 W. River Lane, Brown Deer.  "We do a lot of odd trips, but not to space yet.  However, we'd welcome the chance to book such a trip!"

According to Farenetta, there have not been any independent inquiries to Space Adventure from the Milwaukee area either.

            Space Adventures is looking to private companies to built the passenger space vehicle of the future.  With names like the Space Cruiser, Proteus, and Roton the proposed vehicles will either launch vertically like a rocket, or take off from a runway with a jet assisting.  Some of the crafts have been previously used to lift rockets into space and are being adapted for tourist travel.  All such vehicles, of course, would have to be licensed by the FAA before they were used for commercial travel.

            For those who are not so daring, there are plenty of opportunities in the Milwaukee area to explore the heavens from the safety of solid earth.  Star enthusiast and naturalist Karen Keerans is a member of the Wehr Astronomical Society, which meets at the Whitnall Park in Franklin.

            "We have a monthly program every second Tuesday," she said, "and regular Friday night star parties at the observatory in Froemming Park."  Many club members set up their own telescopes and visitors are always welcome to take a peek at the night sky.  When asked if she would take a ride into space she replied, "Absolutely!  I think eventually we will be doing more travel into space."

            Astronomy teacher Gary Sampson of Wauwatosa West High School tries to keep the interest in space travel alive in the students he teaches, which isn't hard since the school building has its own planetarium.  But, that isn't so unusual because of when the school was built.

            "Back in the '60s it was the 'thing to do,' to include a planetarium in a new school due to the immense popularity of the U.S. space program," he said.  "When I was a kid, the dream was to go to the moon.  Well, we did that.  Now I tell my students to dream of going to Mars."

            The Milwaukee area used to have some connections to the NASA space program back in the 1970s when several area manufacturers such as Delco and Ladish Co. Inc. made parts for the Apollo missions, although no area companies continue to do such projects. However, an interest in space is alive in the area as the nationally known Astronomy Magazine is published in Waukesha.

            Close to the Shorewood border is the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Although they host many school programs, there are also public shows on Friday nights.  Director John Harmon hadn't heard of any plans for tourist flights to space, but thought it would be a great experience.

            "Every year we get more lights [in the city] that make it difficult to see the stars," he said.  "From the darker sky of space you could see more stars and nebulas with the naked eye."

            Summer is a great time to be outdoors and looking at the stars through a telescope.  In addition to the Wehr club, there is also a Milwaukee Astronomical Society, which has an observatory right in New Berlin on (where else?) Observatory Drive.  With three main domes, there's plenty of opportunity to gaze at the wonders of the stars on Friday nights.  There are several other small observatories scattered throughout the area.  (A community parks and recreation department can usually provide information on them).

            For the ultimate view of the galaxy, the jewel in the crown is the Yerkes Observatory just a short drive away in Williams Bay, Wis.  A true astrophysical research facility operated by the University of Chicago, Yerkes is home to the world's largest telescope with a 40-inch refractor lens.  Visitors can enjoy a tour of the Observatory and learn more about astronomy and the origins of our universe.

            Observatory director Jim Gee says that the idea of traveling in space in the near future "is pretty far removed from us."  Whatever the scientists want to learn about space can be accomplished from earth.

            "Some of our scientists do go up on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory," he explained.  "It's a modified C-141 transport outfitted with an infrared telescope."  Soon taking its place will be a similarly equipped Boeing 747.  These flights are used to study such things as cosmic dust.

            As the well publicized International Space Station continues to be built, many think that making reservations at a "space hotel" will one day be a common occurrence.

            "It's all about taking steps," commented Faranetta.  "I think small, 'mobile home' size space stations will be the ideal."  Although Space Adventures has no concrete plans yet for traveling to the moon, Faranetta said he believes one day it will be a reality.

            "There's all kinds of natural resources on the moon and mining opportunities."  He sees the private industry taking on more of the burden of developing space travel.

            "NASA and private companies complement each other," he said. "It's more efficient for NASA to use commercial services from private companies because they can do it for less money."

            One such company, Space Island Group, already sees a use for the Space Shuttle's used fuel tanks.  In an article in the July 1999 issue of Popular Mechanics, SIG envisions an orbiting space wheel hotel made from the refurbished tanks – an ideal cooperation between NASA and the private sector.  It has even been suggested that the Russian Mir station be turned into a tourist attraction.

            "I think all people of all ages should be able to travel to space," commented Sampson.  "I think there is a real commercial market out there.  I know I'd love to go!"

            With that kind of enthusiasm being taught to young minds, well, the sky's the limit – literally.

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