Slashdot Mirror
X Prize Launch At Mojave Spaceport [updated: success!]
knovis writes "The Ansari X Prize is being attempted at this moment: 9:30am EST. Bert Rutan and Paul Allen's Scaled Composites is preparing to make the first of 2 launches necessary. For the uninitiated, the X-Prize is a $10M prize available to the first entirely privately funded organization that creates a vehicle that travels to 100km above the earth's surface (low earth orbit) twice within 2 weeks. IIRC, SpaceShipOne is planning 3 flights for that 2 week period, for safety. Best of luck to Private Spaceflight. Did anyone else notice that Virgin Galactic has just been launched?"
Project Zen writes "MSNBC has an article about how the seats won't be filled with people but mementos of the crew." Several readers sent links to CNN's story on the flight, and space.com's continuing coverage, including by webcam; NASA TV also has an eye on the launch. (Watch this space for updates.) Update: 09/29 15:57 GMT by T : Disconnect writes "As reported all over, SpaceShipOne successfully flew its first X-Prize flight attempt. As of now (11:45:40EST) the officials have not cleared the flight as successful, but it's looking good."
I hope they found a good way to tie all those momentos down. It would be a shame if flying slide-rules created a problem during the launch.
Please lock your seat back trays in the upright positions...
Although I am unable to conceive of the type of spacefaring mishap which could result in a mere broken leg...
I jest, but good luck.
Blearf. Blearf, I say.
until it got /.'ed to hell. What sort of story will we tell our grandchildren?
"Yeah... I remember when the first commercial space launch occured. I was sitting in front of an idle browser window..."
What is music when you despise all sound?
OMG... did I just slashdot the webcast I was watching?
Bad Coz, bad Coz...
I love vegetarians - some of my favorite foods are vegetarians.
Ah, CNN said it was "delayed." Granted CNN also had a woman report asking if there was some kind of rocket required to get it to space. It was just discussed but another reporter, it almost appears as though half the people at CNN don't have the faintest idea as to what's really going on.
Kyle
http://www.unlogikal.net/
My hopes go with you. There are no prayers to speak of from me for you or anyone or anything.
-I am an elective eunuch.
Yeah, let's cheer on science and engineering with superstitious beliefs!
Don't confuse the issue with your "facts"
Linux - Because Mommy taught me to Share.
That is normal, don't worry about it.
It's not a lie. It's the truth with lossy compression.
Hmm... Lets hope it doesn't need military Helicopters with long polls to catch it when it re-enters the atmosphere!
Visit London Scalextric Club
Coincidently, I think she's flying Virgin...
Does that mean she's not a member of the Mile High Club?
Yes, the pipe is quite large. Now only if they would pass it around.
If you think the Christians are unjustly slammed on occasion, you should try being Pagan. :)
Mutant Freaks of Nature: "Frighteningly Addictive"
From what I hear, they'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
erh...
OH! Mo-jave Spaceport! My bad.....
Bryan R.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
Hey could you at least learn to spell "intolerance"? I'm very intolerant of people that can't spell.
when asked how the altitiude of 100k+ was verified to the satisfaction od the x-prize organisers, the commentator replied "It's not rocket science".
A pizza of radius z and thickness a has a volume of pi z z a
was a real "screw up" eh??
While I agree, it is clear that they are "paying the bills" by squeezing the ads in when they have theye eyeballs locked on the screen.
Welcome to commercial spaceflight.
Either way, it worked. The spacecraft has landed successfully.
Kinetic stupidity has a new brand leader: Allen Zadr.
One of the benefits listed in the parent's link are:
Same-day package delivery
Umm... are they serious? I can just see a UPS spacecraft dropping into my front lawn, leaving a slip saying they couldn't deliver since no one was home, and blasting off again.
======
In X-Windows the client serves YOU!
X-Price goes the way of Nascar. http://www.nascar.com/
I got the machine rebooted and was very relieved to to see that Mike was still alive and on decent.
I just hope that ship doesn't use windows, and if I does, I hope it has 5 backups. Because the I wouldn't want to bet my life against the chance of 2 windows machines crashing at the same time.
-Derek
Treat me like a marketing stat, and I'll treat your movie like a series of ones and zeros
I will expect you, from now on, to never use the phrase "Good Luck", a superstitious belief.
Perhaps maybe use the alternate phrase, "may the randomness of the Chaos be in your favor"
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
You misspelled John Denver... LOL
Yes, I do.
We have to nip this whole "religion" thing in the bud, before it gets too popular.
Otherwise, it won't be too long before even government officials are using it as a basis for policy decisions.
Those who sacrifice security to condemn liberty deserve to repeat history or something. - Benjamin Santayana