Theoratically, sub-orbital flights needs no rockets. The
spaceship simply piggy back on a larger jet, example the 747, which
will bring it up to 50.000ft, and from there, the spaceship will
ignite their engine to leap into the boundary between Earth and
space - 360,000ft(100km).
Technically, they will not go beyond the boundary into Space but
will shut out their engines and glide back to earth, with
passengers experiencing 0 gravity.
Having a seating capacity of 6-9 persons means it can land
safely in Changi Airport with untouched excess runway length
still.
It is well within Singapore's efficiency, ability and
capability to host this space venture, as well as the lucrative
spin-offs such as astronaut trainning, astronomy, etc, it will
bring in tourist dollars. Our Terminal 2 or even military airports
can easily host the landing vehicles.
It's only the monthy overheads and maintenance of the operations as
well as talents in management of such enterprise may prove costly,
even with the cost per person at a mediocre $300,000.
Will i invest in it if i had the money? I really don't know. This
is no flight of fancy but a reality, springing forth from
humanity's long held childhood dream to go into space and see the
stars and beyond, as if it had been programmed into our genes to
reach for outer space.
