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John Carmack, Rocket Boy

Posted by timothy on from the up-in-the-air dept.

will_edit_for_food writes "Space Future has an interview with John Carmack (of Doom and Quake fame) about his new company Armadillo Aerospace and their plans to build a passenger-carrying vehicle for space tourism." Carmack's involvement with unconventional rocketry is well-known, but this interview offers a glimpse into the details of Armadillo's approach to the skies.

5 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. HP engines..... by digitallis · · Score: 2, Informative

    Interesting that they want to use HP engines. Last I checked, these were smaller engines used simply for course correction. (aren't the OMS engines on the Shuttle hydrogen peroxide?) The logistics of a directed hypergolic reaction outside of the microgravity of space must be an interesting on as well. (How they plan to get enough of the stuff to take off....)

    FOr that matter, I don't see any plans for an orbital insertion vehical/stage. The site isn't very clear on the business plan.

  2. Re:I'll belive it when I see it. by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 3, Informative

    You do know that they're talking about one of the experimental landers, right? Just out curiosity, exactly how would YOU have fixed it? Do you think they should order another one out of the catalog? Start the engineering teams rebuilding one from scratch?

    Sheesh, cut him some slack.

    --
    Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
  3. Re:Those were the days by jeboyer · · Score: 3, Informative

    So, anyone have any links for someone looking to get into amature rockets?

    I'm not sure what you classify as amatuer, but the two biggest "consumer" (essentially for stuff you can buy commercially) organizations for model and high-power rocketry are

    National Association of Rocketry

    Tripoli Rocketry Association

  4. The Difference by namtog · · Score: 2, Informative

    There is a big difference in "grey" tape. The most common type is duct, not duck, tape. This is what you find at your local hardware store. Yes, it has many uses.

    Then there is gaffers tape, a much higher quality product. And, as you might guess more expensive.

  5. Re:wtf does carmac know about rockets? by xiana · · Score: 2, Informative

    We experimented with adding the player velocity to the rocket velocity way back in QuakeWorld, and it just randomized play too much, and didn't quite look or feel right.

    -Xian