If a private team of people built a shuttle for space exploration would the government stop them?

Maybe not directly, but a government that won't let you ride a motorcycle without a helmet, or ride in a car without seat belts, would regulate any space venture out of existence. It would cost more in permits, environmental impact studies, liability insurance, international entry/exit visas, taxes, hazardous material waivers, and legal fees than it would to design and build a space vehicle.

If the Wright Brothers faced today's government red tape, they'd still be trying to build their first bicycle.

Most governments have strict limits as to what constitutes a space vehicle.

A few years ago before the Ansari x prize was won by Bert Rutan I visited Star chaser Industries in Hyde Manchester.

There I learned that certain types of technology wasn't allowed to be used by other than the military.

i.e. engines which were capable of gimbling (the motor is actually steered rather than the rocket being steered by wings etc).

The reason given for this was that governments didn't want this type of technology to "fall into the 'wrong' hands", hence why most x-prize entrants went down the road of re-usable space-plane type craft rather than a re-usable rocket.

I guess also that as soon as any independant rocketeers were found to be building thier own space-craft health and safety inspectorates would soon become involved too.

just that aspect of interference is enough to put anybody off.

Private companies can develop space craft, in fact a prize was offered to the first private company to break into orbit.

There's no law against it. Obama is funding private/public space flight partnerships right now.

No idea sorry but you've put across a really interesting point, I will be keeping an eye on this thread

Good question.....

Apart from the Airspace of the country you would be leaving there realy shouldnt be any real problems. now back in the real world we live in the Governments would sabotage any efforts unless you agreed not to do it. there are many things in space these freaks dont want people to see or even know exist.

space tourism will never happen until full ET disclosure happens, which never will until the ET decide to do it themselvs.....

yes you should take a permission to go to space may be it privately or not. you have to take permission before you go to space from goverment as suppose if you travel through any disaster then how can you take help from goverment.And you have nopremission to do something illegal.

it's already being done.. Virgin is building a shuttle for space tourism,

Well you would need permission as to air space at least.

no if they did just move the idea to a country that would