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Space Island Group Sees Private Shuttle and Space Stations

Posted on Feb 4, 2003

West Covina, CA � Extending heartfelt condolences to the families of Space Shuttle Columbia�s crew, one of the nation�s leading commercial space visionaries sees in the aftermath of tragedy the opportunity to affirm their legacy by refocusing on not only continuing their scientific experimentation, but extending it to commercial development of the products of their research.

Gene Meyers, the Founder and CEO of the Space Island Group, Inc., believes his concept of building commercial space stations from redesigned Space Shuttle components is the best, fastest and most cost effect way to rebuild America's space vision.

"Because the loss of Columbia will further reduce industry's ability to study the thousands of new, commercial materials that can only be produced in the gravity-free region of low-Earth orbit," Meyers said, "SIG is accelerating its effort to privately finance the design, construction and launch of a fleet of 50 improved space shuttles capable of safely and economically carrying 75-100 passengers to orbit and back on a weekly basis before the end of this decade."

Meyers says that once in orbit, passengers will stay on large, wheel-shaped space stations built from several of the new shuttle's hollow, 747-sized external tanks, or "ET." "NASA's first generation shuttles now carry an ET to orbit, then destroy it when empty. SIG's ET-station design is based on extensive engineering NASA and its contractors did in the 1970s. NASA hasn't pursued the concept because of budget constraints," he explained.

Meyers has consulted with hundreds of former and current shuttle engineers and technicians, who strongly believe that the flight data NASA has accumulated over the last 22 years (including the accident analysis of the Columbia), when combined with a more efficient, private industry management team overseeing the experienced aerospace workforce SIG will hire later this year, will lead to a far safer vehicle with far lower operating costs.