Planet Space is one of the most ambitious space ventures of our times. It is a privately funded rocket and space travel project based in Chicago. This space project was initiated by Geoff Shireen, who was the CEO of the Canadian Arrow Corporation and Dr. C. Kathuria in the year 2005. Then in the year 2007, a big shot in the arm came in the form of announcement by NASA, to provide requirements and specifications to Planet Space, in order to enable crew and cargo flights to the International Space Station. This is required to be done with adherence to the terms of the National Aeronautics and Space Act.

The original idea was to make use of the Silver Dart for the purpose of enabling crew and cargo flights to the International Space Station. However, with Planet Space deciding to utilize a spacecraft provided by Lockheed Martin, in accordance to its COTS proposal, the plan was put on hold. The COTS proposal does not include use of the Silver Dart.

As it is, Planet Space is by far one of the most ambitious projects in the history of space research. It aims at making space travel accessible to the general public. As a matter of fact, the company has laid down its emphasis on two major areas; first Canadian Arrow and second Silver Dart, which although on hold, may ultimately be put to use.

Seeds to this mega project were sown, when Geoff and Kathuria met. They instantly clicked together and soon the idea this brilliant project surfaced. With a guys like Geoff Shireen, who is the President of Canadian Arrow and Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, who was the founding director of MirCorp, the project was able to generate a lot of enthusiasm. Every body was exited by this association, between two entrepreneurs, who had a love of space. Thus, Planet Space was set up.

Now, the only hurdle, which the project faced, was in terms of monetary support. The project involved an enormous amount of initial investment. Perhaps, due to this reason, a lot of people were skeptic about it. However, all was not lost, as a number of corporate came forward for funding this project.

Perhaps the most important advantage to this entire project is in the form of association with Dr. Kathuria, who was a founding director of MirCorp. MirCorp is the company that launched the world’s first privately funded manned space program. History was created in the year 2000, when Dennis Tito became the first space tourist or citizen explorer. The project was a result of a joint venture with RSC Energia. RSC Energia is credited with launching the first satellite Sputnik.

As far as the Canadian Arrow is concerned, it is a two-stage rocket, where the second stage is a three-person space capsule. The engine and aerodynamics of the rocket are based on the V-2 design from WWII. The launch of the vehicle, is supposed to be on a vertical position from the ground, on a sub-orbital trajectory. It is scheduled to return on Earth through parachutes and result in water landing.

Planet Space aims at extending space tourism to a large number of people. The vision is to make space tourism as common as catching a flight.

Tags: international space station, planet space, planet space science