Where no Passengers have gone before

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta says travelers could soon boldly go where no passengers have gone before -- into space.

HT Drudge

A few years ago some mocked the idea of space tourism. As a child I read Robert E. Heinlein’s books. The "Past Though Tomorrow" series had stories on commercial and passenger travel in space. It is now a reality. As other forms of travel are "commercially" possible more and more travelers will go into space.

With the problems the shuttle is having with launch debris, we should focus on alternative ways of getting out of earths gravity. The space elevator is an excellent choice. We have to get out of the "rocket" mentality. Commercial space has to make the jump and take the lead. NASA and the government bureaucracy will not make that leap. Granted we still need rockets, but for passenger travel the elevator is more efficient and safer.