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Singapore becoming an exit of Earth?

From: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_630286.html

Singapore could become launch pad to space

A FRENCH aerospace giant wants to make Singapore a launch pad for commercial space flights.

European Aeronautic Defence and Space (Eads), a leading defence and military contractor, is working on the ambitious plan, which it hopes will eventually rival British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, which is to launch the world's first commercial space flight this year.

*I'll only type out important parts from the rest of the article*

"First, he said, there is a readily available pool of people in the region with deep-enough pockets to pay the EUR 200,000 (S$350,000) it will cost for an hour-long ride into space. Secondly, the infrastructure to house the planes and take-off site are available."

"He would not say where in Singapore the venture would be based, but it is understood that the facilities in an airport like Changi could be used."

"A 'demonstrator' model of the space plane will first need to be designed, built and tested here over the next 1.5 years, using the expertise of local researchers and engineers."

"Once airborne, the space plane would rocket into orbit, taking travellers to the edge of space 200km above earth. The hour-long ride would include 10 minutes of weightlessness."

"The 300 tickets for Mr Branson's Virgin Galactic flight have already sold out at US$200,000 (S$256,000) each, although the date for the flight has not been fixed."

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Wow isn't this a very huge project? If Singapore were to undertake this eventually.

However Singapore is already so small and now they are thinking of constructing a launch pad here. I wonder how much space it will take. Most importantly, where will its location be? Near the airport? (Not very possible since the launch will get in the way of the heavy flight traffic around that airspace) Lim Chu Kang? Some offshore island?

In my impression, a launch pad needs a large space, especially a considerable buffer area so as not the affect the surrounding neighbourhood with its noise, smoke and possible contingencies. Seeing a rocket being launched in SG seems pretty unimaginable.

Talking about launching rockets, this is the impression I have...



I think it's because such videos are readily broadcasted in the media, and most look really catastrophic to me. Hence the impression is really deep.

What will SG become if such accidents were to happen? What if the debris were to rain over SG? Or am I worrying too much? I guess the success rate of launching isn't as low as I've assumed.

Hmm...in the far future will I be able to afford such luxury out-of-earth trips? Let me tour around the world first haha.