Space goes commercial

Redundancy, control, and software are key enabling technologies toward bringing space flight to a store near you.

Space travel is set to change over the next couple years as commercial entities begin taking average citizens beyond the Earth's atmosphere and gravitational pull. For the carriers, making these adventures safe is a key aspect of designing the craft.

The pioneers in this new tourism field are pushing the envelope for travel, but they are not pushing the capabilities of technology. “We're not forging any new frontiers, we're exploiting available technology,” said David Urie, Program Manager at Rocketplane.