A phased approach to orbital public access

The most significant problem with the creation of any viable space passenger business is the “investment trap”; that is the large size and long duration of the initial investment needed to acquire the infrastructure required by the business (launch vehicles, etc.) mean the commercial operations can never generate sufficient revenues, fast enough, to repay the investment and make a profit. This problem is greatly exacerbated by the need to achieve demonstrated levels of safety suitable for public use. The only strategy to overcome the investment trap is to exploit an existing infrastructure developed for the general space business. To illustrate this, a feasibility study of a Personnel Module for the Skylon reusable launch system is outlined. This Personnel Module has two versions, an Initial Configuration suitable for support of the ISS and a Final Configuration with passenger seat prices and levels of safety suitable for support of post-ISS space stations with public access as their main activity.