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Photos Of Rutan's X-Prize Entry

Posted by timothy on from the private-enterprise dept.

burdicda writes "I think you might be interest in what Burt Rutan has been up to, out there in the Mojave Desert. Take a look at these pictures."

3 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Again, they're on the right track by thephotoman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've said it before, but it's about time that the private sector got into space exploration. The government has gone about as far as it reasonably can in developing the actual process by which we go into space. Now, it should let private industry take the lead, as funding is generally more available in the private sector, and companies can often make decisions quicker than governments can.

    This is also probably the best way of getting the public interested in space travel again, by involving them as participants, not just spectators.

    NASA shouldn't be abandoned, as there's still room for government involvement, especially in strictly scientific missions like launching satelites. In fact, I'd propose that NASA retain its size, form, and function, but that it be a small percentage of space travel, not the majority of it originating in this country.

    --
    Haec merda tauri est. Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.
    1. Re:Again, they're on the right track by Paddyish · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I think what you're trying to articulate is this:

      NASA's role is that of the explorer - opening up new frontiers, blazing the first trail to the new world. A 'proof-of-concept' style approach.

      Once the trail has been established and marked, the private sector should move in and commericialize as much as possible. I think that this delegation of responsibility is the best possible balance in getting mankind permanently off of earth and beyond our solar system.

      FedEx may be better than the USPS, but who came first? Government involvement opens doors. The private sector enlarges those doors and makes it easier to reach the next set of challenges.

  2. Desperately need the private sector by DanielMarkham · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We desperately need the private sector, and things like the X-Prize.

    Anyone read "The Innovator's Dilemma"? The premise of the book is that radical changes (what the author calls "disruptive technologies") can never be supported by organizations attuned to the old technologies.

    Getting into space cheaply is going to require disruptive technology -- big paradigm changes. Just the nature of large organizations will keep NASA from being able to recognize or implement it. Just look at their current ideas for "X-Prize"-like contests -- they want to spread too little money over too many technologies. Who wants to compete to make the best astronaut glove? It just goes to show the agency is not capable of the radical changes we need for our space program.