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So commercial space travel, thoughts, opinions? Possible, impossible, unnecessary?

If it happens how will it happen? And what are the consequences?

My own contention is sublight commercial space travel isn't so far away (100 years we go were using hot-air balloons, so 50-60 years is a good mark for cheap space travel). Since medical tech is advancing so fast, people will be getting old and staying healthy, cryogenics might be a way to preserve pilots for long voyages (or maybe we'll find some way to become virtually immortal). Computing power is getting better, quantum computing might dissolve the limits of silicon, RT superconductors might be coming as well ( mass produced graphene for example).

So the main question is: commercial availability. Trips to space are usually very expensive affairs, cheaper methods of propulsion and take-off FROM space might mitigate this somewhat (i.e space elevators). But looking at history, the first commercial expeditions to the new world were funded by private investors forming joint-stock companies. And these were for commercial reasons (i.e importing crops and exporting slaves and tools to harvest said crops). So perhaps, large corporations can pool their funds to from similar mega-corporations.

That leaves the question of manpower and objective. Manpower is tricky because astronauts are traditionally of exceptional caliber, and certainly such individuals will be necessary for the piloting and maintenance of the space-craft, but for any such venture to be profitable, cheap labor is necessary. I'm thinking robots for the grunt work (by robots I mean large manned-machines also) and trained workers for their maintenance and management. As for the objective, mining could be extremely profitable but it depends on the needs of people (which could change drastically from now to then). Maybe colony building, but exploration and other such pursuits will probably be ignored as there is no certainty of any return.

And of course there still remain the usual considerations: demographics, politics, government, societal issues, etc. etc.

What do you guys think?

Ever seen the show Planetes? It kinda talks about one idea about it.

To me we need to continue evolving among the stars, the main problem to be honest is not the technology to get there, is the communication between humans in the vast distances.

A mass exodus in a catastrophic event is the only way I see the majority of humanity accepting the idea of leaving our big blue which in itself is a problem, we have become a society without a love for space... We lost the drive to continue our own space program. Imagine the technological advances regarding recycling and even nutrition if we were to become serious about long term travel!

One of my favorite quotes regarding the politics involved: "But does Man have any 'right' to spread through the universe? Man is what he is, a wild animal with the will to survive, and (so far) the ability, against all competition. Unless one accepts that, anything one says about morals, war, politics, you name it, is nonsense. Correct morals arise from knowing what man is, not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be. The Universe will let us know—later—whether or not Man has any 'right' to expand through it."

The only way I see humans traveling in the near future is in gigantic ships outfitted for many 50-100 year voyages, complete city ships independent from a sovereign. History tends to repeat itself, and and we need a Manifest Destiny for all humanity!

SgtMajor wrote:QUOTE (SgtMajor @ Sep 1 2014, 05:03 PM) To me we need to continue evolving among the stars, the main problem to be honest is not the technology to get there, is the communication between humans in the vast distances.

that isnt a new problem though - when the east india company was in business it was accepted that to get a decision out of london would take at least a year and a half.

Hence most expeditions would have to operate autonomously