Golden Spike Company: A Man Sells the Moon (PJ Media Exclusive)
Today, a new startup announces they plan to sell commercial flights to the Moon.
December 6, 2012 - 10:49 am
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Why the name?
Golden Spike is named, of course, for the Golden Spike that joined the first transcontinental railroad. You can see that in our new logo. We want to be the Golden Spike that puts us back on the way to the Moon.
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Meh. The moon’s overrated. They have green cheese in Wisconsin.
“Tonite on Discovery…If you liked Gold Rush, Wait until you see “To the Moon”…. with a chance to win a ticket…TO THE MOON!!!!
I’d DVR that….
Perhaps the moon is made of Stilton….mmmmm Stilton…
Sorry, no; and not Dutch either. ☺
The technology does exist, but it would still be a dangerous round trip, how many people who want to take on the extreme challenge have the checkbooks to back it up? If they can get people to do it, then I’m all for it, but it’s not like going LEO on Spaceship 2, which has sold many tickets and still hasn’t had a single flight. However, I don’t see any reason to go to the moon other than to say “I’ve been to the moon.” That will just be rich people’s bragging rights.
As Zeoman said, though, it might make for a good reality show.
Spaceship 2 does not go to LEO. It is simply a lofted high-altitude rocket propelled aircraft that has nowhere near the energy to achieve LEO. I’m not knocking them, they probably have some of the best engineering of the NewSpace crowd, but as you pointed out in all the years since the X-prize was awarded and despite all of the hoopla and all of the money that’s been spent, they still have yet to carry a single fare-paying passenger on one of their high-altitude rides.
The first flights, while they’re still shaking the bugs out of the system, should be Hollywood liberals. And they should pay extra to build another one if something goes wrong. It’s only fair.
If I were super rich I’d paint a giant leering face on the Moon.
Guess there’s something wrong with me.
Wonder if the U.N. would arrest me or villagers with torches show up.
Gub.
I’m sure that’s a suggestion you’ve heard before.
First the tourists, then the surveyors, then the exploiters. Industry on the moon has it’s own problems, but who cares about a biosphere that doesn’t exist? Cheap Aluminum for all, and that’s just the start.
Wait. You pay these guys money, and they’ll take you somewhere where there are no progressives? Even for a short time, it’s worth whatever they are asking. Sign me up, please.
Mr Burns (of The Simpsons fame) explains The Fiscal Cliff:
http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2012/12/excellent-mr-burns-of-simpsons-explains.html
Antarctica except with no air. Can’t wait. (meh) Back on Earth 1, I’m all for commercial orbital and sub-orbital flights. I hope to take at least a sub-orbital one in my lifetime. I’m 54 so time’s a wastin’. The moon is too big a challenge. Until the price comes down via reusable boosters and reusable spacecraft it’s a nonstarter. The tech exists today for LEO so let’s do it. Who knows? After a few decades of space-tourist LEO we might find a better way to the moon.
I am in favor of it, noting that I never will be able to afford the ride. But if it can be done, it will be repeated, and exploited. I can think of a good goal for getting there now, however I am not a nice person.
That said, a key variable has not been mentioned. It could be a project killer. We are not living in a free system. The polite form of the problem is “regime uncertainty”. Will the powers that be, with or without legal authority; allow this enterprise? And if they do, what price will they extort?
By the way, when I first tried to submit this comment; it told me that I was posting comments too quickly and to slow down. Honest, I’m typing as slow as I can. /sarc.
Subotai Bahadur
When I saw the headline, all I could think was “shades of D. D. Harriman”.
My original wording would have made that even more blatant, and no without reason — Alan is very aware of the similarity.
Is 1.5 billion too much for a harsh mistress?
I’ll wait until Southwest Airlines is flying this route, thanks. If I had $1.5B, I’d just buy a country here on Earth.