Building the impossible - and raising the capital to do it.

[Sam Fraser]

This caught my eye:

General Fusion (http://www.generalfusion.com/), a startup in Vancouver, Canada, says it can build a prototype fusion power plant within the next decade and do it for less than a billion dollars. So far, it has raised $13.5 million from public and private investors to help kick-start its ambitious effort.

http://www.technologyreview.com/business/23102/

They don't seem to have built anything yet, but have already raised a fair chunk of change.

Why not us?

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PERMANENT Space Ventures (http://www.permanent.com/), a Kentucky start-up, says it can assemble and launch a crewed mining operation to a near-Earth asteroid within the next decade for less than a billion dollars. It is presently raising capital from public and private investors to help kick-start its ambitious effort.


:p

[Rhyshaelkan]

Something scary to think about.

What would happen if PERMANENT was truly the bleeding edge of space exploitation and travel. Thousands of patents regarding astro-chemistry, astro-biology, astro-mining, astro-engineering and Lunar applications of each.

And those following other groups turning to PERMANENT because we have gotten past the hopeful stage, and are making it happen.

PERMANENT placing SPSs into orbit. And becoming the 'Power Company' of Rollerball fame :D

*Rhyshaelkan Stops before he scares himself.

It would help if you described "off-shore" in more detail. When it comes time to write the business plan for The Venture. Including "Well, we priced this probe at this US company for $2M US however by turning to a Russian company they said they could build the exact same for half the cost."

Is SpaceX reluctant to use the ESA (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Launchers_Europe_s_Spaceport/index.html) space port in French Guiana? Or are they not permitted? Are there competitive alternatives to SpaceX? I suppose we will not know that until SpaceX gets their F9 and F9H off the ground.

Would we should we could we expound on all the scenarios possible, in the business plan of The Venture? Showing that we are ready for any eventuality that we run into at each stage of development. Or would that run an unacceptable risk of someone stealing our very own plan and leaving us as the red-headed step-child. I do not mind cooperation as long as everyone that comes to the dinner table has done work to earn their fair share of the supper.

Edit:socalTECH (http://www.socaltech.com/) seems good at raising funds. They have done so for SpaceX and others. Perhaps when we have an all inclusive plan. We should list with them. Showing a good decision tree in the plan of what we would do when. Unless we can find a similar organization that can do the same "off-shore".

[Sam Fraser]

Please scare me some more, Rhys. :eek: :rolleyes: I like your multiple path approach. It's always good to have a "Plan B to Outer Space". :) SpaceX launch(ed) from an US Army Base in the Marshall Islands (I had to look that up) so they probably don't need to approach the ESA.

As for socalTECH, it's good to see they're open to New Space. Is it possible any U.S.-based venture capitalists will look down on our plan to outsource, though? I know keeping jobs in America is a touchy subject right now. Or would they only care about the bottom line?

[Rhyshaelkan]

It sounds silly, and many of academia look down on them with distaste. But I was hoping to snare the trekkies, the Star Wars fans, the Babylon 5 fans, the Battlestar Galactica fans.

Bright-eyed people that want something different. Some of them would cough up $100 without ever any regard for a return on their investment. Were they able to get some money back? That would be icing on the bigger cake of actually wresting space from the government agencies.

Make it international. We will exchange currencies. Euros, Yen, Dollars it's all good. If we preach, it does not matter where you are from. It does not matter your level of education. It does not matter what your social standing is. If you would like to make some shit happen!! Join us!!

Or that is how I see it. I am not wealthy, limited education, mid-western mutt of a race. But I see the potential of space. And want to make it all happen. It would not take much to be honest.

[Phenix]

What do you mean by "It would not take much to be honest" ? Please elaborate ?

[Rhyshaelkan]

It would not take much investment from any one person, to make it all start to happen.

I have been wanting this since I first read Ben Bova's Welcome to Moonbase, back in 1988-1989. Perhaps things are falling together so it can become reality.

[Phenix]

Sure thing to be honest is as a MASTER value.

My faith is that all members here in PERMANENT are on the same path and that you are not alone. From any country's origins, race, social level, wealthyness as you mentioned is not a creteria. I believe that anyone being honest and being committed and working together will change the Space development vision we all share, that is reality. Discrimination will certainly not help to go International at all and would darken PERMANENT's image. What matters most is what we are working on now all together and show the example to the public.

Thanks from bringing that on the front ;)

[Rhyshaelkan]

Honesty is good. Discrimination is bad. I agree 100%. However I think you misunderstood. It is an American phrase I suppose. You could read it as "It would not take much, in truth". Or, "It would not take much, to be sure".

[Phenix]

Awesome, thanks for filling up the cultural gap. I do really appreciate that :D.

[Sam Fraser]

Hi Rhys, I'm sure the space fan boys think nothing of paying up for the latest xBox game or some space paraphernalia. Maybe we need to start making appearances outside Star Trek conventions and selling bonds. "Make a PERMANENT difference". Wasn't there a company a few years back that were "selling" plots on the moon? We wouldn't be doing anything that crass and gimmicky.

[Rhyshaelkan]

That there is a great idea. We would not be taking funds at that time either. Just names and emails and the like. No one likes to hand over money.

Just look them in the eye. Show them the PERMANENT book. Show our plans and plans within plans. Ask them to be ready with $100 give or take. Tell them the website where they can see their name and the names of thousands and thousands of others wishing for the same future. ;)

[moonus111]

Hi Rhys, I'm sure the space fan boys think nothing of paying up for the latest xBox game or some space paraphernalia. Maybe we need to start making appearances outside Star Trek conventions and selling bonds. "Make a PERMANENT difference". Wasn't there a company a few years back that were "selling" plots on the moon? We wouldn't be doing anything that crass and gimmicky.

Hey this is a good idea, i just posted about it. There are TONS of ppl that are fans of space, but few that know how to make it a reality. If we give them the tools they may be on our side.