Richard Garriott ''Man on a Mission''

[sitha241]

I watched it today and it is fine documentary..since I think there is not a lot of movies and documentaries about roskosmos, russia, soviet space program and
especially soyuz spacecraft this is nice one..nice shot of reentry from within the spacecraft with quality cam is rare also I think

 

[jedidia]

Richard Garriot? AKA Lord British? What's he doing in space? :shock:

 

[sitha241]

Richard Garriott sued NCsoft for $24,000,000 USD.[35] Garriott sued for damages relative to his termination from the parent company NCsoft.[36] Garriott's allegation states that NC Soft terminated his employment, then fraudulently reported his termination as willful resignation in order to preserve the right to terminate Garriot's stock options unless he exercised them himself within 90 days of termination, forcing Garriott into a decision to purchase stock with which a loss was incurred worth dozens of millions in profit for Mr. Garriott. Additionally, the news of the termination was issued while Mr. Garriott was confined to quarantine from the space flight, which was originally intended to be a publicity move to further promote the game and increase revenue. In July 2010, an Austin District Court awarded Garriott US$28 million in his lawsuit against NCsoft, finding that the company did not appropriately handle his departure in 2008. NCsoft stated that it intended to appeal the decision.[37][38]

he got a space flight for a bargain

 

[toddhisattva]

All In The Family

Richard Garriot? AKA Lord British? What's he doing in space? :shock:

It's in his family - his father is Owen Garriot of Skylab and Spacelab-1. Saw on a recent docu that the elder Garriot now has the same beard as Richard

 

[Codz]

It's in his family - his father is Owen Garriot of Skylab and Spacelab-1. Saw on a recent docu that the elder Garriot now has the same beard as Richard

Spaceflight isn't just something in a family. It should be something that is earned, unfortunately the ultra rich seem to be able to just bypass this.

Also, in the video he claims to be a "second generation astronaut". Calling himself an astronaut is as absurd as me calling myself an aviator after taking a commercial flight.

 

[T.Neo]

Calling himself an astronaut is as absurd as me calling myself a aviator after taking a commercial flight.

You don't train to be an aviator when you buy a plane ticket. All paying spaceflight participants so far have recieved cosmonaut training.

 

[Codz]

You don't train to be an aviator when you buy a plane ticket. All paying spaceflight participants so far have recieved cosmonaut training.

Considering they just threw money at Roscosmos to procure a ride, I'd hesitate to call them actual astronauts. When these people buy seats on a Soyuz, they're essentially dead weight for the mission itself. They are occupying a seat that should have been given to a more qualified astronaut or cosmonaut that can actually contribute to the mission without getting in the way of the others who have to deal with him or her.

 

[Cras]

Oh please. Are those that flew on the Shuttle as Payload Specialists equally guilty of soiling the good name of astronauts everywhere too? Or are they somehow exempt because they had their seat paid for by a corporation instead?

 

[NovaSilisko]

Considering they just threw money at Roscosmos to procure a ride, I'd hesitate to call them actual astronauts. When these people buy seats on a Soyuz, they're essentially dead weight for the mission itself. They are occupying a seat that should have been given to more qualified astronaut or cosmonaut that can actually contribute to the mission without getting in the way of the others who have to deal with him or her.

And you wouldn't do exactly that if you had money to throw?

 

[Codz]

Oh please. Are those that flew on the Shuttle as Payload Specialists equally guilty of soiling the good name of astronauts everywhere too? Or are they somehow exempt because they had their seat paid for by a corporation instead?

What? Those people are the specialists of the mission! They are the reason it's even launching! They aren't billionaires who threw money at the Russian space program. These people aren't going for personal pleasure because they happen to be obscenely rich.

---------- Post added at 12:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 AM ----------

And you wouldn't do exactly that if you had money to throw?

No, I wouldn't. I'd instead put the money into attempting to go the legitimate route to becoming an astronaut. If not that, then put it into something more responsible than blowing several million dollars on a week on the ISS.

 

[Matrix Aran]

That money though it could be argued leads toward future productive spaceflights.

 

[Cras]

Stupid billionaires ruin everything for everybody.

 

[Codz]

I'm just personally against space tourism in government space programs. If a private entity wants to bring people up, then by all means thats fine. Let's just agree to disagree and rerail the topic.

 

[sitha241]

I do not think it is so bad to pay to go up..I would if I had the money, but like, lot..

 

[T.Neo]

When these people buy seats on a Soyuz, they're essentially dead weight for the mission itself. They are occupying a seat that should have been given to a more qualified astronaut or cosmonaut that can actually contribute to the mission without getting in the way of the others who have to deal with him or her.

There's no evidence that spaceflight participants to the ISS have been obstructive to the rest of the crew to the degree that you claim. Furthermore several spaceflight participants have engaged in scientific activities during their flights.

What? Those people are the specialists of the mission! They are the reason it's even launching! They aren't billionaires who threw money at the Russian space program. These people aren't going for personal pleasure because they happen to be obscenely rich.

I somewhat doubt that [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Garn"]Jake Garn[/ame] or [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Nelson"]Bill Nelson[/ame] were selected because they were specialists integral to the success of the missions in which they participated.

Also, I think it is pretty unfair to say that these people "flew in space just because they threw money at the Russian space program". A lot of work and effort is involved in training to fly to the ISS, regardless of whether an individual is a professional astronaut or spaceflight participant.

 

[toddhisattva]

That he made this documentary is proof enough he didn't go just for "personal pleasure." Richard Garriott doesn't "happen" to be obscenely rich. He earned it with a series of damn good games. He put in the hours. He is spending his own money on something he loves, and since he's an artist he is sharing the experience. Good for him!

(I meant my "family" and "beards" remarks in a chummy and fun way, thus the beer mugs. Why does everything, everything, and everything always always and always turn into class warfare? I guess it's like the old saying, "If C++ is the only language you use, the whole world looks like a thumb.")

 

[Codz]

I somewhat doubt that Jake Garn or Bill Nelson were selected because they were specialists integral to the success of the missions in which they participated.

Also, I think it is pretty unfair to say that these people "flew in space just because they threw money at the Russian space program". A lot of work and effort is involved in training to fly to the ISS, regardless of whether an individual is a professional astronaut or spaceflight participant.

As I previously said I have withdrawn from this debate. However, the vast majority of payload specialists were vital to their respective missions. I also do not support the ones you have listed as they were only brought along for political reasons. Anyway, NASA ended that program after Columbia was destroyed.