Starchaser Rocket Capsule Drop Tests Successful

thaig writes "Starchaser Industries reports that their NOVA 2 rocket capsule has completed two manned drop-tests from an altitude of 10,000 feet. The capsule was put through a number of manoeuvres during its descent to fully validate the steerable ram-air parachute canopy that made it possible to fly the craft like a glider. Starchaser Industries' Thunderbird project is a contender for the $10 million X-PRIZE. Here's the earlier story."

Comments

Obligatory slashdotting joke

[SuperBanana]

I dunno about the capsule, but their site spiralled down in flames and crashed before there was even a single comment.

Just what we all need

[aardwolf204]

Just what we all need,
Another Thunderbird Project

Thunderbird the rocket?

[pajama]

Thunderbird the rocket or Thunderbird the mail client?

Phoenix the browser or the database?

Mozilla the browser or ,er , neverimind.

economics of rewarding

[Flunitrazepam]

Is it really easier to design and build a craft to take you 100 miles above the earth and return safely than it is to track down Saddam?

You get 35 million for Saddam, only 10 million for turning into a shooting star.

Re:economics of rewarding

[Anonymous Coward]

You get 35 million for Saddam, only 10 million for turning into a shooting star. Ok.. for the X prize you need to launch, land, and re-launch within 2 weeks (IIRC). So, use the second flight to land the launcher on Saddam, and triple yer prize money.

Re:economics of rewarding

[madpierre]

1 ... capture Sadman.
2 ... borrow WMD/scud from Sadman.
3 ... use WMD/scud to win x-prize.
4 ... profit $45,000,000

Sadman would make a good test 'pilot'. (no need for a chute) :-)

In Soviet Russia...

[Anonymous Coward]

...man-rocket test drops you!!

Re:Starchaser

[madpierre]

British Rocket Science 1950 - present.

Scene: Top secret rocket testing range somewhere in
the home counties. The Mk IV rocket squats
on it's launching pad.

WC Ponsonby-Psmythe: What ho chaps spiffing what?
So this is the old jalopy what?

Gen. Fforbes-Fforbes: Jolly good show. I say you
eggs what times the orrf?

Private Erk: 0600 m'lud. (tugs forelock)

Ponsonby-Psmythe: Top hole. Here comes the boffin.

Prof. Quatermass: (Reading instructions on box)
Hmm. Light blue touch paper ...
Stand well back. Ahhh.

Ponsonby-Psmythe: What's the Cricket score? Had a
jolly old punt on old bean.

No wonder the UK got nowhere fast.

optimistic & redundant

[madpierre]

The name Starchaser is a bit optimistic.
How about ... LEOlimper.

So far all they've done is chuck it off the back of a plane.

Anyway to get the 10 megabucks the thing only has to be

capable of launching three people into space.

No mention of gettin em back :-) so a parachute is somewhat redundant.

Now where can i find three volunteers????

Thunderbird Project is moving along quite nicely

[FrankoBoy]

In fact, five prototypes have already been used for quite a while now.

Re:Details

[madpierre]

Yeah, it's called the ground. ........ SPLAT ... POP ... chute deployed. :-)