Will Also Develop Suborbital Spacecraft

The race for private spaceflight got several boosts recently, with the latest coming from orbital tourism company Space Adventures -- so far, the only company that has put space tourists into orbit. Over the past several days, the company has announced plans for a new spacecraft, plans to build a $265 million spaceport in the United Arab Emirates, and most recently, the development of yet another spaceport in Singapore.

Last week, the company announced its partnership with an investment firm founded by members of the Ansari family, of X-Prize fame. The Prodea venture capital group will help finance suborbital vehicles designed and built by Russian aerospace firm Myasishchev Design Bureau, to be used by Space Adventures. The Explorer spacecraft will have the capacity to transport up to five people to space, and will be launched from a carrier aircraft similar in concept to the method used by SpaceShipOne (and the upcoming larger SpaceShipTwo.)

The Associated Press reports the new commercial spaceport in the UAE (below) will be based at the southern end of the Persian Gulf, near Ras Al-Khaimah. The UAE government is already in for $30 million, Space Adventures representatives told Aero-News.

Monday, Space Adventures also announced plans to develop a multi-use spaceport in Singapore (below) -- which will include astronaut training facilities. The cost is expected to be a "minimum" $115 million USD.

"Singapore is one of the best-connected countries in the world," said Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures. "It is home to one of the world's busiest air and sea ports. Singapore, with its superior geographical and economic infrastructure, is primed to be the hub of a new, revolutionary form of travel – in space."

Until now, Space Adventures is best known -- some would say infamous -- for sending the first three space tourists into orbit, arranging flights aboard Soyuz capsules bound for the International Space Station. Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth, and Gregory Olson reportedly paid the company $20 million each for the privilege of riding third-seat aboard the Russian flights, with the cash-strapped Russian space program eager for the business.

The price tag should be considerably less for a suborbital flight.

Space Adventures made its announcement at a time when the race for private spaceflight appears to be heating up even more than it already has. Last week, ANN told you about the New Mexico Economic Development Board's successful effort to win legislative approval to start development of a $225 million spaceport facility near Truth or Consequences, NM.

Sir Richard Branson's upstart space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic, is expected to make its home at the NM facility. When completed, the spaceport will also host the annual X-Cup exhibition for other private spaceflight companies.

FMI: www.spaceadventures.com, www.prodea.com