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Catching Up With The Rocket Guy

Posted by timothy on from the smaller-portion-please dept.

Jedi Holocron writes "The full article is at Space.Com and reports on the current status of Brian "Rocket Guy" Walker's home-brew space program. This is the guy who is planning to build a rocket in his backyard, funded by his toy inventions. He's scaled back from an X-Prize launch to a mere 15,000 feet with a sky-diving return. This could be the next ride installed next to Disney's Mission:Space if he has his way!!! All told he's now calling it an amateur rocket, however it doesn't look like the model rockets I remember."

4 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. It's nice to see... by r_glen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Some people don't give up on their childhood dreams

  2. It's cool that he's a toymaker by macshune · · Score: 3, Insightful

    and that he's building a *rocket*. I'm sure this will inspire a lot of kids to go into science if it works.

    I'm also sure it's good for him because he can turn around and make action figures of himself and his rocket!

  3. Re:The X-prize is retarded by stoolpigeon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anybody in serious contention for winning the x-prize is motivated by far more than the prize itself.

    Those who are working on a budget that makes the prize itself impressive do not have a chance.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  4. Re:Interesting by DoraLives · · Score: 3, Insightful
    The expected failure rate on that system they're supposed to wheel out in a few years is going to be high

    Concur.

    and if it's anything like the systems that shot down the Iranian airliner "by mistake", it only has to fail once for this rocket guy to skydie.

    Count on it to fail at least twice.

    Failure number one: Mistaken identity is made, live fire at Rocket Guy.

    Failure number two: The fucking thing misses Rocket Guy cleanly and then goes on to take out a 757 minding its own business at 45,000 feet, two states over.

    --
    Is it fascism yet?