Blue Origin - would you go?

[Nanocyberia]

I'm sure many of you are aware the recent launch of Blue Origin, that carried Jeff Bezos and crew...

Yes, criticism of this and that... Whatever...

Let us simplify things; I'm curious:
Suppose that sub-orbital flights are routine (and actually take you places in record time--so planes become old school) and affordable (okay, a bit more expensive than planes but still within reason).
Would you still go on one?

[Ifreann]

Not if Jeff Bezos was involved in any way.

[Drew Durrnil]

Not if Jeff Bezos was involved in any way.

I think the OP is saying in this scenario that you will be on an equivalent of airlines.

[Nanocyberia]

Not if Jeff Bezos was involved in any way.

I think the OP is saying in this scenario that you will be on an equivalent of airlines.

This.

(But really, it shouldn't matter if Musk or Branson or some other multimillionaire/billionaire was involved--plenty such people already rake obscene amounts of money just from fossil fuels, and it doesn't bother some people in the slightest...)

[Kragholm Free States]

Well sure I'd go on one if they're as practical and affordable as the OP scenario says. Who wouldn't? But if I was planning to, I think it'd be a good idea to get at least some training beforehand.

[Dumb Ideologies]

Doesn't seem worth the money or energy. I have no pressing desire to go to space or go abroad so its just a waste of resources I could be using on something I care about more.

[Fartsniffage]

I'm much more interested in where this tech is going.

And I also, one day, want to cross the Atlantic on a blimp. Coz blimps are pretty pimp.

[Nanocyberia]

Doesn't seem worth the money or energy. I have no pressing desire to go to space or go abroad so its just a waste of resources I could be using on something I care about more.

Maybe that lack of desire to travel is due to extensive journey times... (I can relate--I'm not a traveller myself...but I certainly wouldn't mind a brief trip to space!)

Anyway--consider:
- a plane flight requiring 20 hours to cover a given distance, ticket price 300 euros;
- versus a rocket that would take only 5 hours, for 900 euros (maybe even a "holiday special", at only 750 euros)...

[Galloism]

Doesn't seem worth the money or energy. I have no pressing desire to go to space or go abroad so its just a waste of resources I could be using on something I care about more.

Maybe that lack of desire to travel is due to extensive journey times... (I can relate--I'm not a traveller myself...but I certainly wouldn't mind a brief trip to space!)

Anyway--consider:
- a plane flight requiring 20 hours to cover a given distance, ticket price 300 euros;
- versus a rocket that would take only 5 hours, for 900 euros (maybe even a "holiday special", at only 750 euros)...

I want a window seat.

[Drew Durrnil]

Maybe that lack of desire to travel is due to extensive journey times... (I can relate--I'm not a traveller myself...but I certainly wouldn't mind a brief trip to space!)

Anyway--consider:
- a plane flight requiring 20 hours to cover a given distance, ticket price 300 euros;
- versus a rocket that would take only 5 hours, for 900 euros (maybe even a "holiday special", at only 750 euros)...

I want a window seat.

same here uwu

[Atomic Testing Museum]

I would go if I could do it for free. Other than that the whole thing sounds like a pretty useless and unnecessary waste of time and money . Also Jeff Bezos doesn't need more money.

[Nanocyberia]

I would go if I could do it for free. Other than that the whole thing sounds like a pretty useless and unnecessary waste of time and money . Also Jeff Bezos doesn't need more money.

Right...but you don't seem to have considered my hypothetical scenario...

[Ethel mermania]

If I am flying nyc to Tokyo, and a sub orbital flight could be done in 4 hours instead of the usual 12, yes I would take the sub orbital flight assuming costs are within 40% of each other.

[The Two Jerseys]

I'm much more interested in where this tech is going.

And I also, one day, want to cross the Atlantic on a blimp. Coz blimps are pretty pimp.

"Rigid airship."

As long as it's filled with safe, nonflammable helium.

[Ethel mermania]

I'm much more interested in where this tech is going.

And I also, one day, want to cross the Atlantic on a blimp. Coz blimps are pretty pimp.

"Rigid airship."

As long as it's filled with safe, nonflammable helium.

Coward.

[Ifreann]

Not if Jeff Bezos was involved in any way.

I think the OP is saying in this scenario that you will be on an equivalent of airlines.

And I'm saying I don't want to visit Almost Space on Bezos Air.

[Untecna]

If the costs went down enough and it had plenty of successful flights, I might consider it.

[Postauthoritarian America]

I think I could come up with something more productive to do with a quarter of a million bucks than taking a chance of blowing up on the launch pad, suffocating if the capsule fails or burning up on reentry. No thanks.

[Immortan Khan]

I think the OP is saying in this scenario that you will be on an equivalent of airlines.

And I'm saying I don't want to visit Almost Space on Bezos Air.

Fwiw Bezos did definitively reach outer space as they passed the Karman line.

[Kragholm Free States]

I think I could come up with something more productive to do with a quarter of a million bucks than taking a chance of blowing up on the launch pad, suffocating if the capsule fails or burning up on reentry. No thanks.

Sure, and on your way to spend it more wisely you could fall down a flight of stairs and break your neck or get hit by a speeding car while crossing the road. Why not take a chance?

Besides, OP specified in this scenario that space flights only cost a bit more than conventional aeroplane flights, so there is no quarter of a million bucks involved.

[Postauthoritarian America]

And I'm saying I don't want to visit Almost Space on Bezos Air.

Fwiw Bezos did definitively reach outer space as they passed the Karman line.

Immaterial according to this analysis. They rocketed up and fell back down. Arguably at no point did their centrifugal force overcome their need for propulsion in order to get to wherever it is they were; ergo they never "reached outer space."

[Ethel mermania]

Fwiw Bezos did definitively reach outer space as they passed the Karman line.

Immaterial according to this analysis. They rocketed up and fell back down. Arguably at no point did their centrifugal force overcome their need for propulsion in order to get to wherever it is they were; ergo they never "reached outer space."

You will never work in marketing with that attitude

[Bombadil]

If I am flying nyc to Tokyo, and a sub orbital flight could be done in 4 hours instead of the usual 12, yes I would take the sub orbital flight assuming costs are within 40% of each other.

Despite the huge environmental costs?

I'd rather we spent our time building the matrix, without blowing up the sky first so it can be fully solar powered.

Then we just travel in our minds man..

*tokes*

[Alcala-Cordel]

Space is cool. Space capitalism is not. There's no way in hell I could afford to go, but if I could I would not.

[Ethel mermania]

If I am flying nyc to Tokyo, and a sub orbital flight could be done in 4 hours instead of the usual 12, yes I would take the sub orbital flight assuming costs are within 40% of each other.

Despite the huge environmental costs?

I'd rather we spent our time building the matrix, without blowing up the sky first so it can be fully solar powered.

Then we just travel in our minds man..

*tokes*

Ny to Tokyo on the back of the bus is no fun, no fun at all.