John Carmack's Test Liftoff a Success

brainstyle writes "Space.com is reporting that John Carmack of Armadillo Aerospace (and who apparently has some game design hobby) has had a successful launch of the prototype of its entry in the X-Prize. From the article: 'I had tried several algorithms on the simulator before settling on this one, and it behaved exactly the same in reality, which is always a pleasant surprise.'"

Comments

I wonder...

[Pivot]

Is this the reason we still haven't seem Doom 3 yet?

Re:no X-Prize

[GlenRaphael]

So in 6 months they are going to go from a prototype that goes 100 feet to carrying three people into space? Obviously they are not contenders for the X-Prize.

They are contenders, but a bit of a long shot. Space Ship One is the leading contender to win the prize. If SSO crashes, Armadillo is the next best hope.

And, they aren't that far away. They've got the big rocket that carries three people built; they are just very - and appropriately - cautious. They are extensively testing all the algorithms and principles on the smaller rocket first. The main thing they think will take over 5 months is getting permission to make the shot.

Re:Gun ownership is INALIENABLE tsarkon reports

[ronfar]

In other words:

For all practical purposes, you have the right to bear arms provided that those arms will not seriously impede the government when they decide to get rid of you.

Note, this is not what the founders intended, but they didn't forsee a gargantuan standing army and our modern militarized police forces.

Please note, I am a firm believer in the right to bear arms, but unless you also have the small, weak government envisioned by the Founding Fathers it is not a useful check on tyranny. (As the modern United States of America should prove to any doubters.)