Space tourism to suborbital war fleet

On Friday, I interviewed the US Marine Corps officer leading a campaign to develop a high-speed, point-to-point space travel capability for the US military.

I contacted the officer -- Lt Col Paul Damphousse -- after his organization, the National Security Space Office, posted a fascinating request for information to industry. The RFI asked the market about options for transporting a 200kg payload above 50,000ft altitude for up to 5,000nm -- suborbital territory.

The idea grew out of an even more ambitious, USMC-launched concept called small unit space transport insertion (SUSTAIN), which probably drew as many giggles as gasps when it was profiled on the cover of Popular Mechanics in 2005.

After talking with Damphousse on Friday, I came away with the impression that the US military is serious about the idea of space transport, and has dialed back its requirements to non-absurd levels. After all, if technology will soon allow rich tourists to start frolicking in space, why not a US miltiary payload?

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