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Private Rocketplane Test A Success

Posted by michael on from the x-prize-or-darwin-award-whichever-comes-first dept.

HobbySpacer writes: "XCOR announced the success of the first phase of flight tests for the EZ-Rocket. In the most recent flight, Dick Rutan fired both of its rocket engines to take off and reach a speed of 160knots and an altitude of 6200 feet. The vehicle is a Long-EZ kit plane modified to hold twin 400 lb thrust rocket engines fueled by isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. The project is not aimed at a homebuilt EZ-Rocket but will demonstrate safe and reliable rocket propulsion. The primary goal is development of reusable launch technology that leads next to a high altitude sub-orbital rocket vehicle for space tourism, rocket racing (e.g. vertical drag racing at air shows) and the X-Prize competition."

1 of 283 comments (clear)

  1. Wait a sec by British · · Score: 1, Troll

    "isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. "

    Wait a minute, what did the Nazis use for rocket fuel for the Me. 163 Komet? Wasn't one of the components pure hydrogen peroxide, making it VERY dangerous to work with?

    I dunno ,EZ-Rocket doesn't sound too safe to me. Nor does "Nuclear Reactor In a Box"