Slashdot Mirror

The Canadian Arrow team recently had a successful test firing of their engine. (They are the ones who set up the world's first private astronaut training centre.) The DaVinci team is likely to be the second private team into space.

Space tourism and Extreme space diving are not going to be profitable. The next phase is likely going to be a private satellite launch system. However, I could see a new "X-Prize" for private launch to low earth orbit as the next step.

The Canadian Arrow team has put together the world's first private astronaut training centre. If they were only in it for the X-Prize, they wouldn't have built the training centre. They are looking to space tourism, and are also hoping to start a new extreme sport: Space-diving (like sky-diving, except from space).

Isnt this pic showing the manned module (propelled by 4 jato-type rockets) disengaging from first stage while still on the ground.

Someone needs to re-explain the whatnots of this proposal to the artist who build this artist's impression... don t we think?

... that the job application requires a non-refundable $75 fee?

The rocket motor is a reproduction V2 engine, capable of 57,000 lbs of thrust, burning a mixture of alcohol and liquid oxygen.

This is the first time I hear of alcohol being used to launch a rocket to space.