Paul Allen To Develope Space Travel Adventure

 Posted in the Seattle Times.

Space travel will always be for the wealthy

Editor, The Times:

The recent decision of Paul Allen’s to develop space tourism is a combination of absurdity and self-indulgence. [“Rocketing into dream of space travel,” page one, Dec. 14.]

The energy requirements to get anything into space are so large that an average human will not be in a position to afford it, now or in the future. Even if the scheme can be successfully developed, it will appeal to those who can afford it and can exercise their right to exploit the opportunity. Their decision will not be unlike that of people exercising the right to own and use an oil-consuming vehicle, just because they can afford it.

If Allen is set on spending money, might it not be better if he helped finish the incomplete trolley line in Seattle that now serves only his real-estate holdings by expanding it to be useful for other people in our community?

— Reiner Decher, University of Washington professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Seattle