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The Step-By-Step DIY Approach To The X-Prize
HobbySpacer writes "According to this article, John Carmack's Armadillo Aerospace team is making steady progress towards a X PRIZE rocket vehicle. Playing the tortoise to Burt Rutan's hare , the Texas team just might win the race to 100km altitude. At least if some of the other teams don't get there first."
See the first comment on advances made by the private sector.
And as for a 'Microsoft' in space, that will never be allowed to exist. There's a big difference between space and software - mainly, space is *space*. That is, area to be controlled. Planets and asteroids, which are veritable land to be dominated over and taxed.
Look at the New World. The private sector made the journeys, but the flags they flew were that of England, Spain, Portagal and a few others. And those nations wisely stepped in and prevented private monopolies.. Because anyone with land (or space) and accompanying resources (which, if you believe asteroid mining/farms on the moon theories) can easily become a nation, and thus, a threat.
The idea of privatizing space exploration is a good one. If private jokers start creating moon bases, governments will have no choice but to follow suit. And governments are in a very good position to do that - all it takes is a simple declaration of 'National Security!' and a corporation's monopoly on launch/flight/etc. vehicles is no longer a monopoly.
Sheesh guys, don't bury the old girl 'til she's dead. Concorde still goes over my house every day, and will do for the next eleven days.