U.S. Company Plans $265M Spaceport in UAE (here's why port deal?)

the Bush administration really must think the US public is stupid.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. Company Plans $265M Spaceport in UAE LOS ANGELES (AP) -

A day after Space Adventures announced it was in a venture to develop rocket ships for suborbital flights, the company said Friday it plans to build a $265 million spaceport in the United Arab Emirates.

The commercial spaceport would be based in Ras Al-Khaimah near the southern end of the Persian Gulf, and the UAE government has made an initial investment of $30 million, the Arlington, Va.-based company said in a statement.

The spaceport announcement comes on the heels of Space Adventures' new partnership with an investment firm founded by major sponsors of the Ansari X Prize to develop rocket ships for suborbital flights.

The agreement between Space Adventures and the Texas-based venture capital firm Prodea would help finance suborbital vehicles being designed and built by the Russian aerospace firm Myasishchev Design Bureau.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/tech/2006/feb/17/021700109.html

and here's info from the press release:

The company, which organized orbital flights for all of the world's private space explorers, also announces that His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi of Ras Al-Khaimah, along with the UAE Department of Civilian Aviation, have granted clearance to operate suborbital spaceflights in their air space.

The UAE spaceport, planned to be located less than an hour drive from Dubai, already has commitments for $30 million (USD).

"I am proud to announce Ras Al-Khaimah as the site where suborbital commercial space travel will begin and flourish. Space Adventures is the pioneer of space tourism, which is why we signed an agreement with them nearly a year ago and began this project. After we initiate operations here, we look forward to expanding operations outside of the United Arab Emirates. In this regard, I would also like to announce that we have committed an additional $30 million (USD) of funding for global spaceport development. We are most excited about spearheading this multi-billion dollar industry," said His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince of Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

"Because of Ras Al-Khaimah’s unique airport and spaceport support facilities, His Highness' commitment to space tourism, and the close proximity to Dubai, one of the world's leading luxury tourist destinations, makes it a choice location for spaceflight operations," said Mr. Anderson. "As a global leader of tourism, the United Arab Emirates is an ideal location for a spaceport. Suborbital flights will offer millions of people the opportunity to experience the greatest adventure available, space travel. We are honored to partner with His Highness Sheikh Saud."

The suborbital space transportation system has been designed by Myasishchev Design Bureau, a leading Russian aerospace organization which has developed a wide-array of high performance aircraft and space systems. Explorer, as it has been named, will have the capacity to transport up to five people to space and is designed to optimize the customer experience of space travel, while maintaining the highest degree of safety.

The system consists of a flight-operational carrier aircraft, the M-55X, and a rocket spacecraft. The vehicle is designed to optimize the customer experience of space travel. "We've designed the Explorer with several exciting features that will be announced in the near future that will make the customer's experience fantastic. Additionally, the safety of the passengers is our chief aim and the Explorer will make use of several multi-redundant safety systems that we have unique experience in designing and implementing for the last 40 years," said Valery Novikov, head designer at the Myasishchev Design Bureau.

http://www.spaceadventures.com/media/releases/2006-02/347

Have something to do with this? Seems too coincidental.

Who are the principals of Space Adventures?

financiers as the US port deal.

www.prodea.com

Prominent individuals among these include, successful entrepreneurs including:

Mike McDowell from the adventure travel industry.
Randall Rule venture capitalist from the non-aerospace industries.
Dr. Alberto Vasquez e-commerce/supply chain management software entrepreneur.
Richard Garriott gaming software entrepreneur.
Gloria Bohan, President of Omega World Travel.
Peter Diamandis, Founder and President of the X Prize Foundation

Current Partners
Industry Partners
Space Adventures would like to thank the following organizations, whose various projects, both directly and indirectly, have helped us in our goal of promoting space tourism.

Program Development
Russian Aviation and Space Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Rocket & Space Corporation Energia
Scaled Composites
XCOR Aerospace
Deep Ocean Expeditions
Omega World Travel

Industry Research & Support
National Space Society
Space Camp
Space Tourism Society
Space Transportation Association
X PRIZE Foundation

Michael McDowell, several exist with same name

Alberto Vasquez no record found

Randall Rule
seems to be quite a large and consistent conributor to National Republican Congressional Cmte, Lindsey Graham; Cox, John H; National Republican Senatorial Cmte; National Rifle Assn; Gramm, Phil; Inhofe, James M; NRSC/Non-Federal
occupation: SAW MILL CAPITAL/PARTNER
MARIETTA,GA 30068
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=rule%2C+randall&txtState=%28all+states%29&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N

BOHAN, GLORIA MRS,
Thune, John; Coleman, Norm; Bentley, Helen Delich; Brown, Melissa; Ganske, Greg; Chambliss, Saxby; Shaw, E Clay Jr; Talent, James M; Forrester, Douglas R; Davis, Jo Ann; Katzen, Jay K; Davis, Tom; Tate, Scott; Forbes, J Randy; Bush, George; W Goode, Virgil H Jr
FAIRFAX,VA 22031
OMEGA WORLD TRAVEL/OWNER
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=bohan%2C+gloria&txtState=%28all+states%29&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N

Peter Diamandis not found, either as individual or company

Omega World Travel
SOFT MONEY DONATIONS: 2001-2002
NOTE: The donations listed may be made by individuals associated with the organization as well as by the organization itself.
To Democrats: $0 (0%)
To Republicans: $2,000 (100%)
Total: $2,000
Contributor Occupation Date Amount Recipient
BOHAN, DANIEL P
MCLEAN, VA OMEGA WORLD TRAVEL INC 9/19/2001 $2,000 Republican National Cmte
source: opensecrets.org

Diamantis from his own foundation site
http://www.xprizefoundation.com/news/News_XMAN.asp
Extraordinary Feats of an X-Man
An ambitious philanthropists wants to change the world, and have some fun too!

space tourism!!!

It was freaky!

without getting every one of our cracks searched these days.

http://www.spaceadventures.com/media/releases/2003-06/56

wait, it looks like it is this company, they specialize in "space tourism".

Strategic Partners & Relationships
Space Adventures has consistently partnered with industry leaders to expand the company's reach worldwide, as well develop new programs and products:

Global Sales Network — Space Adventures' maintains an international reseller network with agent offices in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Turkey, and the UK.
Industry Partners — Space Adventures has partnered in various capacities with several leading existing and start-up aerospace organizations such as XCOR Aerospace and the Mysichyev Design Bureau (designers of the Soviet Space Shuttle Buran), and several others which remain confidential.
Government Partners — Space Adventures has worked hard to develop top-level relationships with key international government agencies including NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Transportation (USA); The Russian Space Agency, RSC Energia, the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center; in addition Ministry of Science & Industry in Australia and JAXA and ESA, the Japanese and European Space Agencies, respectively

go to Dubai to spend a few mil on a space flight.

Unfortunately, not just anyone (Cat Stevens, etc.) can come to U S anymore.

Also, consider the regulations on this venture U S vs UAE.

Why develop the space tourism industry for wealthy sheiks when you could be helping out the domestic economy and creating more jobs? We have a great spaceport here in California that could be developed. I want Lou Dobbs' head to launch on this one.

south central New Mexico, to be built and operated by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.

and White Sands is nearby, one of the alternative sites for space shuttle landings.

to hallibutton.

Money is their MO.

Well, well, well, our little Jeb Bush is involved heavily in this. When I first read this story last month, I was shocked at how *left-field* this sounded. Well, this sure explains it. Nothing, repeat NOTHING these people do is without an ulterior motive.


Jeb Bush asks $55M for space agenda
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2050322&mesg_id=2050322

Direct link to main article in this above archived thread:
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060118/BREAKINGNEWS/60118012





http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060118/BREAKINGNEWS/60118012




And LOOK AT THIS:

Well, I declare, ALL of these secretive port decisions were made between November and January! And Jeb was also busy working on his end of it.

From the NYT, February 17, 2006



http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/nyregion/17ports.html

Bush is selling us down the river... these guys are not for America and its people...

Gee, a maneuverable reentry vehicle for an Osama wannabe with a backpack nuke in the passenger seat....

They actually are our allies!

Still no clue
http://www.prodea.com/prodea.htm

here's about one of their board members
http://www.xprizefoundation.com/about_us/boardAmir.asp
and the other co founder of this US company
http://www.xprizefoundation.com/about_us/boardAnsari.asp

following the company name google links, I found this
http://www.siliconiran.com/

Does this mean we are outsourcing our space program to the Saudis?

Within 10 years, the UAE will become and even bigger player in the global tourism market... with expectations of 20+ million visitors per year. That's about 5x the country's total population. There is no connection with the port deal. The port deal was done by the government of Dubai with largely money from major international banks (UBS, HSBC, etc.).

The UAE national government is ponying-up part of this money. RAK has nearly perfect weather year round. Combine that with hordes of tourists coming to Dubai already... You can see why the move was made. There is nothing sinister here... just business. The UAE is the home of UBERcapitalism... they want to make a profit (not cause terrorism, or try to attack anyone).




This computer rendition made available on Friday by Space Adventures Ltd., shows the company's plans for a $265 million commercial spaceport in the UAE. The commercial spaceport would be based in Ras Al Khaimah near the southern end of the Persian Gulf, and the UAE government has made an initial investment of $30 million... http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Index00.asp

"There is nothing sinister here... just business. The UAE is the home of UBERcapitalism... they want to make a profit (not cause terrorism, or try to attack anyone)."

I live here and work with the most important people in this country...

So, you tell me if I don't know...


:grr: :banghead:

I am really getting sick of the incessant paranoia, Arab and Muslim bashing on this board!

The UAE is a US ally... GET OVER IT!

make a profit off of providing pseudo security at our ports, and now we reward them again? Give me a fecking break.

i know zilcherooni abt UAE but off the cuff the best way to keep your enemy from bombing you is to intertwine yr survival w. yr enemy's survival

i don't consider the UAE my enemy but clearly some do

my thinking is if we are intertwined financially w. these folks then we are all invested in ea. other's survival

russia will never bomb us now nor will we bomb russia, too many of our people are over there, too many of their people are over here

getting to be the same w. china

get the intelligent arab nations invested in our survival and there will be no more 9-11s

we are going to have to get over the automatic knee jerk arab equals bad reflex


on edit -- jcmach1, are you the DUer who works in the UAE? cool to get yr read on it

on second edit -- did you see where dubai voted themselves hippest city on the planet, i assume that's pretty silly but one day i'll drop by and check it out, why not, they obviously do know how to draw tourists

Could it be that thee head leaders are trying to make it one world government?:shrug:

Just in case for the rich freepers. The last resort.

Updated: 10:10 a.m. ET Feb. 17, 2006


The company that helped put three millionaires into orbit has teamed up with Russia's Federal Space Agency and the financial backers of the $10 million Ansari X Prize to develop a new breed of suborbital passenger spaceship.

...Competition ahead
But several other ventures are targeting the same market, and appear to be further along the development path. Among the front-runners are British-based Virgin Galactic, which is working with the same Scaled Composites team that built SpaceShipOne; Oklahoma-based Rocketplane Ltd., which is modifying a Learjet for rocket-powered spaceflight; the Canadian-American Planetspace venture, which is trying to get clearance for testing; and XCOR Aerospace, which already has a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration for a test vehicle.

Rocketplane and Planetspace have targeted 2007 for the start of commercial operations, and Virgin Galactic plans to begin service in 2008 or early 2009. On Thursday, New Mexico legislators approved funding for the construction of a spaceport in Upham, N.M., that would be used by Virgin Galactic.

Tearne declined to compare the other companies' timetables with Space Adventures', but she maintained that "we have the confidence" to say the Explorer will be the "first to fly." She also said Space Adventures would continue to pursue marketing deals with other suborbital companies.

more

:kick: