Slashdot Mirror
SpaceShipOne 100 km Attempt Slated for June 21
apsmith writes "Scaled Composites has just announced their first attempt at breaking 100 km, scheduled for June 21. This would make it the first commercial manned vehicle to officially enter space. This is not quite an Ansari X prize attempt since it will carry only one person without the extra mass corresponding to the 3-person prize requirement; they have to give at least 30 days' notice for that. Past flight history is available from their site; the Discovery Channel is producing a documentary on the whole project, 'Rutan's Race For Space.'" Roger_Explosion adds "If successful, the craft - named Space Ship One - will become the world's first commercial manned space vehicle. Space Ship One will temporarily leave the earth's atmosphere, and the pilot (yet to be announced) will experience about three minutes of weightlessness."
Jesus. Get teary and everything. Good Lord...
Allen, founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc,
The Vulcans are helping them out. I wont be at all surprised if SpaceShipOne looks like a Zephram Cochran design.
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
so, what's next. satelites with giant adds that change language over different countries. Instead of stars i the nights sky we will see lots of adds. It a possibiblty with corperations going to space.
Evolution or ID?
Will they be playing it?
Sorry, couldn't resist the gratuitous movie quote reference, the names are too similar. :P
Introducing the new Occam Fusion! Now with sqrt(-1) fewer blades!
"This would make it the first commercial manned vehicle to officially enter space."
Which immediately makes me wonder which was the first commerical manned vehicle to unofficially enter space. Did this guy finally get some larger balloons?
Best of luck, Space Ship One! May your design be sound and your crew be safe.
Q: Who is invited?
A: Everyone, especially children. They will want to tell their children that they were there to see the event that triggered the industry of private space tourism.
People who disagree with you are not automatically evil, greedy, or stupid.
Everyone knows the REAL reason a followup flight is required within two weeks. It's so that the Vulcans can detect the flight, as they will only be surveying on our system for two weeks.
... the lady handling reservations at the motel didn't even need to ask what night I wanted (the 20th) -- their phone is apparently being slashdotted, and she said that everyone calling for that night "sounds the same".
Is there some kind of geek accent I wasn't aware of?
I gotta hope the guy they find to pilot the thing has his life insurance paid up.
-Erwos
Plausible conjecture should not be misrepresented as proof positive.
Maybe 'burn up' isn't a good phrase to use.
Ok, am I the only one who thinks that we should not be encouraging the Rutans? Sure, they were enemies of the Sontarans, but that doesn't make them our friends. Just ask Leela.
Any chance there will be a camera on the nose?
Maybe with the video slowed down so the flight will take as long as a drive to Oregon?
We are almost to the age of wacky hijinx ala Airplane 2
Now if I can just get over Rio Grande
"Space Ship One will temporarily leave the earth's atmosphere, and the pilot (yet to be announced) will experience about three minutes of weightlessness."
:)
"Yet to be announced" eh? Cool, that means I'm still in the running.
Vincent J. Murphy
Spandex Justice
Who cares about the avionics crashing (which they did on the last flight IIRC)?
What I care about, or would if I was the pilot, is whether it has a slot loading CD player into which I can slap a CD in the last few seconds before launch!
You cant make anything foolproof, they'll only invent better fools.
So, in effect, orbit is achieved by falling and missing the ground? I thought that was called flying?!?
We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
Neither of these launch options is man-rated, but you make a good point. I don't think NASA is evil, I think congress is evil. Unfortunately, NASA must design their manned space program to please these mindless congressional masters....
CONGRESSPERSON SKYPACK: My district has a company that makes winglets for aircraft, contributed $5000 to my campaign last election. I want winglets on the new orbital spaceplane.
NASA ADMIN: But congressman, we are currently looking at a more cost effective capsule design, there are no wings.
CONGRESSPERSON SKYPACK: Well you had better rethink your short-sighted design. My constituent told me winglets are the latest thing on my last junket to Barbados with them. You NASA people should know that winglets add efficency to wingtips! You should at least be looking at them.
CONGRESSPERSON SMOOT: Yes, winglets are a good idea REP SKYPACK, they sound sexy. I would also like to see them use landing gear from manufacturer X.
CP SKYPACK: Yes, Manufactuirer X is in your district right SMOOT? They make tires for cars. Why, they would need at least 15 million to develop an aircraft grade landing system don't you think? Good idea...if you'll vote for my winglets I'll....
SMOOT: Sounds great! OK!
NASA Administrator: Gentlemen, we will require neither winglets or landing gear for our capsule. We can make it safer and cheaper without them. Don't you understand?
SKYPACK: I understand that your system better have wings and tires ADMIN, or you'll get no approval from THIS committee. In addition, I am going to cut your development budget while adding these two features to your design to make me look fiscally responsible, and don't you dare go over budget!
NASA ADMIN: Where is a gun, I need to shoot myself immediately.
SMOOT: Theres a firearm manufacturer in my district ADMIN, if you could purchase....
And the stupidity continues.
"Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."- Steven Wright
Over Macho Grande?
Funny you should ask. Along with the pilot, the other two seats will just so happen to be occupied by a monkey and a meatloaf! That way, if the space craft blows up, hey, it's only 1 pilot, a monkey and his meatloaf. They just saved 2 pilots!
Authority questions you. Return the favor.