7-Up: Free Space Flight Offer

Palomar · 2004-10-04 18:02:46

*I don't see as having been posted previously today (Search).

This just in from space.com's "Astronotes" for this date (is in updated column format, must copy and paste):

***
Lemon-lime beverage, 7 UP, the official soft drink of the Ansari X Prize, announced Monday plans to offer consumers the first free ticket into space. The announcement followed the win by SpaceShipOne of the $10 million competition.

"At 7 UP, we want to make space travel a reality for everyone, not just for millionaires," Randy Gier, EVP/CMO of Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, the beverage's parent company, said in a press release. "7 UP applauds the success of the X PRIZE and the notion that the only way to go is UP when it comes to the future of space travel. We are very proud and excited to be the very first to help bring free space travel into the reach of everyone."

"The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and Founder of the X PRIZE Foundation. "My mission and that of the X PRIZE Foundation has been to create a future in which all of us can travel into space. Our goal is to create the personal spaceflight revolution in partnership with innovative companies like 7 UP. Together we are making space travel accessible to the average citizen."

Details of 7 UP's first free ticket into space will be unveiled in 2005.
***

--Cindy

P.S.: Have since changed my stance.

Martian Republic · 2004-10-04 18:36:09

I wonder how many people on this board going to enter that contest when it announced?

Or was that a ridiculous question?
:;):

Larry,

comstar03 · 2004-10-04 19:20:17

Larry, ummmmm, ridiculous question !!!!

but does this help move space forward ?

Interesting to see comments - both answers are correct in different reasons . Depends on your view of moving space foward .

Martian Republic · 2004-10-04 20:10:19

Larry, ummmmm, ridiculous question !!!!
but does this help move space forward ?
Interesting to see comments - both answers are correct in different reasons . Depends on your view of moving space foward .

We pretty much have the same opinion about how to develop space and any differences are just minor differences.

But, in answer to your question does it advance or move space forward.

Maybe!

It could either move space forward or die right where it at or not move very much further than where it at right now.

Larry,

SpaceNut · 2004-10-04 20:42:39

Why must we wait so long for the info that will lead to space.

I know! lawsuit if anything should happen with any civilian flight. I do not wish this to occur but anyone who would go must accept the risk before and to wave all rights for damages in this case.

I am all for creative financing and wish more could be done to lower the cost of space...

BWhite · 2004-10-05 10:07:47

Larry, ummmmm, ridiculous question !!!!
but does this help move space forward ?
Interesting to see comments - both answers are correct in different reasons . Depends on your view of moving space foward .

It moves space forward, maybe not by much, but forward nonetheless.

By beginning the essential task of paying for space with funds that do not originate with the US federal government. With the exploding federal deficits, public-private joint financing is the only way we will ever get anywhere.

Besides, as the Aldridge Commission concluded, moving space into a more central role in our culture is mission-critical for sustainability.

Martian Republic · 2004-10-05 10:10:28

Why must we wait so long for the info that will lead to space.
I know! lawsuit if anything should happen with any civilian flight. I do not wish this to occur but anyone who would go must accept the risk before and to wave all rights for damages in this case.
I am all for creative financing and wish more could be done to lower the cost of space...

>>lawsuit if anything should happen with any civilian flight.<<

Even if lawsuit were not a problem and they could do all the creative financing they wanted to do, it still wouldn't make any difference.

We use to have a vibrant air lines and now there all going bankrupt and this is a mature industry too. This deregulation has destroyed the air lines business and threatens to completely and totally eliminate it too. Without government of the right kind of regulation, rule, tax policies and possibly even a few government contracts this effort could go down in flames.

Just a simple change of regulation so they can certify that there space flight is reasonably safe and meet certain standard, would help.

Set up a tax rite off system so they can replace or upgrade there equipment over time and improve there services. The White Knight and Space Ship One cost 20 million dollars to build and much of it was by donated labor and expertise of people how had a labor of love for this effort. If this industry is going to have the people they need to run it, you will have to pay them and not pay them McDonalds wages either. Labor of love is great, but you can't make a living on it if you not getting paid and to have the people to make it work are going to have to be paid.

These are just some of the problem that have to be worked out to make a go of it. But, to push this thing to the next higher level so it doesn't die, which it probably will without being nurtured. I was thinking about Bigelow attempt to set up the Americas Cup's as a follow through. They were trying to get NASA to go half on that 50 million dollars cup prize. One shuttle flight cost about 500 million dollars per flight. Also once they win cup prize that by the way did not cover the price of those space, they have no continual income that they can depend on. That will have a big impact on what they can and can't do too. Beside we want more than one private carrier who can take people into space. We also need to complete the ISS and finish that project.

So I suggest is that we scoop this mess up and rework our plans. We want to get the best of both worlds of the private sector and public sector so we will go with an expanded America's Cup than what Bigelow had in mind. We are going to finish the International Space Station anyway, so we buy two of Bigelows habitation that can support 12 to 14 people and one gravity wheel and we were going to put two emergency return shuttle on it too. We will need to send up at least three shuttle to either keep the space station manned or crew rotation per year. So that would be between 24 to 28 people on the ISS at any one time. Also Bigelow may throw up two or three other independent space station other than the ISS station. These other station may be underwritten by a number of different governments, business, etc.

But, back to our America's Cup and the contest rules:

1. You have to be able to reach the ISS with 7 to 10 people.
2. You have to be able to repeat it with the same space ship just like X-Prize.

America's Cup prize is:

1. America's First Place Cup Prize trophy.
2. America's First Place Cash prize of $50 million dollars.
3. America's First Place contract for three shuttle flight at $10 million dollars per flight for three times a year for five years to supplement those other three flight a year that NASA doing to the ISS or $150 million dollar contract over a five year period.

For a sub total of $200 million dollars.

The second, third and forth place prize are:

1. Second place cup, $10 million cash prize and replace one of NASA mission to the space station for $10 million dollars for five year.
2. Third place cup, $7 million cash prize and replace the second NASA mission to the space station for $10 million dollars for five year.
3 Fourth place cup, $3 million cash prize and replace the last of the three scheduled mission to the ISS for $10 million dollars for five years.

Since these will be reusable shuttle, when there not using it to go to the ISS, they can use them for some else like joy ridding or possibly a tourist business.

For a sub total of second, third and fourth place is: $170 million dollars for a grand of $370 million dollars for the America's Cup series. Now keep in mind that this is not even one shuttle launch which cost about $500 million dollars for one launch. Assuming that private enterprise can do this and not only get the prize, but also make a profit at $10 million dollars a launch, this would go a long way to opening up space in the private sector. They will also know that there is a certain of return so they can recoup some of there investment in this new contest. At that point NASA could change it focus and work on some else further there space goals.

Larry,

SpaceNut · 2004-10-05 10:15:29

Some very good thoughts into the prize amounts, but what about the time line duration for when it must be awarded?
Without that the race to achieve will be on the slow road.

Martian Republic · 2004-10-05 10:55:31

Some very good thoughts into the prize amounts, but what about the time line duration for when it must be awarded?
Without that the race to achieve will be on the slow road.

Ten to fifteen years should be sufficient. The X-Prize we started in 1996 and was awarded in 2004 and we already have the momentum going for the new contest too. Tell those 26 groups and anybody else that want to join the contest. We have another contest. Other contracts like the repair of the Hubbell space telescope could be up for grabs too to the bidding contractor. If they jump through hoops for ten million dollars for the X-prize. What would they do for an America's cup prize that I laid out?

Then we could go America's Cup II contest for private transports ships to the moon, because of NASA mission to build a city of 10,000 people on the moon. NASA would have there three or four space transports get the process going and other twenty to thirty Earth to Moon space ships as view of what we need to run operation with. Then recycle the X-Prize and America's Cup I contest for the next contest.

Larry,

Palomar · 2005-05-27 11:46:40

May 27
Buzz Aldrin Announces Commercial Spaceflight Contest
Former NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin has announced a new contest for private citizens hoping for a chance to fly into space.
The Free Ticket to Space Sweepstakes, a competition offered by Diet 7UP in partnership with the Ansari X Prize Foundation, will award a free seat on an future commercial spaceflight approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Ever since Neil Armstrong and I first landed on the moon more than 30 years ago, everyday Americans have dreamed of going up into space,” Aldrin said in a statement. “Through the Free Ticket to Space sweepstakes, Diet 7Up and the X Prize Foundation will make one person’s dream come true while spreading the word to everyone that personal spaceflight is not light-years away.”
The spaceflight contest runs through Aug. 31 of this year, with a winner to be announced in October. The winning spaceflight is expected to launch on or before Dec. 31, 2009.
Spaceflight fans can enter the contest by inputting codes found on specially marked packages of Diet 7UP into the “First Free Ticket to Space” section at http://www.7UP.com]www.7UP.com.

*Sorry I "offended" you, Clark. I'll delete my comments and reinsert this instead.

Heaven forbid I provide you with an excuse at pretense.

I simply want to get on with the business of getting to Mars (and beyond). That -is- the point of the Mars Society and New Mars.

--Cindy

clark · 2005-05-27 12:08:22

heaven forbid someone try to increase interest in space and send someone into space on a non-government ride.

I for one fail to see how something like this mars the pristine beauty of space, or offends the dream of sending people into space.

From my vantage point, this looks like the begining of something wonderful. Just my opinion.

clark · 2005-05-27 12:46:00

me thinks the lady doth protest too much! :laugh:

While getting to Mars is a noble goal, I fail to see how sending people into space, for free no less, some how detracts from that goal, or hinders our progress.

While this is the Mars Society, it seems rather short sighted to poo-poo ideas that strive to bring more attention to space to the general public. But I’m sure that is just me being pretentious. :laugh:

SpaceNut · 2005-05-27 12:58:31

I knew that we had an old thread on this.
7-Up: Free Space Flight Offer

The liking of suborbit flight to that of the modern airplane
appears to be the goal.

Cobra Commander · 2005-05-27 13:04:44

Merged with the now-defunct Aldrin/contest thread. Thanks for the Link Spacenut.

Edited By Cobra Commander on 1117220864

Palomar · 2005-05-27 13:13:31

I knew that we had an old thread on this.
http://www.newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2089] 7-Up: Free Space Flight Offer
The liking of suborbit flight to that of the modern airplane
appears to be the goal.

*Yes, I recalled it too but couldn't find it with Search.

And I regret having restarted the subject.

--Cindy

BWhite · 2005-05-27 14:32:53

I wonder how many people on this board going to enter that contest when it announced?
Or was that a ridiculous question?
:;):
Larry,

How many alias ID can we create?

srmeaney · 2005-05-27 20:36:43

The liking of suborbit flight to that of the modern airplane
appears to be the goal.

Now all they have to do is build a turtle shell on the back of spaceshipone and the Sub orbital flyers can make orbital reentry upside down. Big tile shield with extra fuel tanks in it.

That way it can still come home like an airplane but it can dock with the ISS (you know, one day when its big enough).

Then 7-UP Can run big competitions for groups.

And fifty years from now, Aerospace fighters can launch from any Airport on the Planet to repel that Alien horde addicted to rival Sponsorship brand names.

clark · 2005-05-31 06:06:50

Hmm, I wonder if the Mars Society could fund the purchase of a ticket to space as a way to attract more people into the organization. Raffle it off, catch is, only members get a chance. Then raffle off some second and third prizes (things like trips to the research stations, or NASA, or whatever space related nonsense you can think of).

Use part of the profits to purchase future tickets, and help fund research programs. The free PR of being a pro-space group that works to actually send its members into space would be rather nice. More people within the organization can be used to create greater leverage when trying to lobby.

Just a thought.

SpaceNut · 2005-05-31 08:32:41

You could even do tickets to the desert research facilities or other analog sites that are doing research for Mars.

clark · 2005-05-31 10:56:46

Excellent suggestion.

I'm sure Bobby could sell a lot more books this way. :laugh:

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#1 2004-10-04 18:02:46

Re: 7-Up: Free Space Flight Offer

#2 2004-10-04 18:36:09

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#3 2004-10-04 19:20:17

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