IOS Steps Up

Interorbital Systems has announced it will conduct a manned, orbital spaceflight using its own launcher and its own human-rated capsule in 2011. Likely, if the flight goes as planned, it will be the first manned, orbital spaceflight conducted by a private group-- a real milestone in human history.

IOS' NEPTUNE 1000 will launch the two-man capsule into a self-decaying orbit from the company's Kingdom of Tonga launch site. The self-decaying orbit will ensure the capsule's return 12 hours, or 8 orbits, after launch. Eight orbits, by the way, would be longer than Yuri Gagarin's flight, and longer than a few Mercury missions. IOS' capsule will splash down in the South Pacific, near Tonga.

Commercial flights of the system are scheduled to begin in 2012, with a price tag of $800,000. It is, therefore, much higher than a ticket price on Virgin Galactic's suborbital flights, for example, but an orbital flight would be a much richer, more fascinating experience. IOS would also have the key to begin truly opening space to private enterprise if it's able to provide consistent access to low Earth orbit. The flight of the NEPTUNE 1000 and crew in 2011 would be a significant step in that direction.