Slashdot Mirror
XCor Receives Sub-Orbital Launch Permit
Marc Newman writes "MSNBC is reporting that XCor has received the second FAA suborbital launch permit. Xcor Aerospace is not competing in the X-Prize but rather is 'in it to make money'. They are still awaiting a launch permit for their Mojave desert launch site. It'd be interesting if XCor beat Scaled Composites with the first sub-orbital flight but couldn't claim the $10 million prize."
Everyone knows only the first one is important. I mean, we all know who walked on the moon first... Louis Armstrong... but who cares about that second guy Buzz Lightyear?
We, the public, will benefit greatly in the long run with the increased competition. The more companies doing this, the better.
And when the time comes, I'll be ready to take a flight.
Boycott everything - they're all trying to fuck you one way or another
Xcor Aerospace is not competing in the X-Prize but rather is 'in it to make money'.
Oh I see, they want to make money, not win the prize... which is... money...
Uh..
Burt Rutan's company Scaled Composites has the first license for their SpaceShipOne.
http://www.dickrutan.com/rocket.htmlPrivately finances, builds & launches a spaceship, able to carry three people to 100 kilometers (62.5 miles)
Returns safely to Earth
Repeats the launch with the same ship within 2 weeks
Free Image Hosting
Unless I miss my guess there is a heck of a lot more than $10 million for whoever wins this race. If the Bush space plan works, and it may, we could well see the commercialization of space in our lifetimes. And whoever has the best and cheapest commercial transport system at that point stands to make billions and billions.
The site shows something else interesting ... that while Xcor isn't participating in the X Prize, they do plan on participating in the X Prize Cup (which will happen later).
Global warming is neither science, nor politics. It is a religion.
Not quite. It need not be a "spaceplane"... a simple rocket will do. And it needs to fly to 62 miles, or 100 kilometers. It needs to be able to carry three 198lb, 6'2" people to that height, but two of the three people can be represented by ballast - only one live body needs fly. That person needs to return in good health. And the vehicle needs to do it twice in two weeks, not three, between which no more than 10% of the mass mass of the vehicle (not including propellant) can be replaced.
Oh, and one other thing... the ten million dollars is only funded through the end of this year.
I just want to clear up some confusion generated by inaccuracies both in the MSNBC story and the slashdot post:
The vehicle we have received a licence for, as stated in our press release is not a full suborbital vehicle and is not an X-Prize competitor. It is an intermediate technology research platform to continue development of engines and related systems that began flight testing on the EZ-Rocket, our currently flying manned rocket powered airplane. It is also noted that this new vehicle, the Sphinx, has not yet been built. Quoth the press release: "It is helpful that RLV companies can obtain their launch licenses during vehicle design, prior to committing capital to build a vehicle."
A stated before, we are not an X-Prize competitor, due to among other things, a conflict in the time scale of the X-Prize and our business development plan, as well as the planned configuration of our current suborbital vehicle design. XCOR is focused on revenue generation. However, we fully support the X-Prize and offer technology and services to X-Prize entrants, as well as moral and legislative support.
Mike Massee XCOR Aerospace www.xcor.com