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Win the X-Prize Cup
fitten writes "CNN is reporting that the X-Prize competition may become an annual event. From the site: 'Hoping to build on the momentum sparked by a private rocket plane's dash into space, supporters of opening the heavens to civilians are turning the winner-take-all race into an annual competition that might further fuel imaginations.'"
Everyone in marketing knows that repetition is the key to creating a permanent impression.
They need to have an X-Cup every 6 months to keep the interest alive.
A few charred remains of a failed attempt would be a real crowd pleaser too.
Just like NASCAR.
"Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
I suggest they combine with the Darwin Awards to save money.
Table-ized A.I.
That way Carmack has a chance. He's no good at building spaceships.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Sorry bud, it says SpaceShipOne can only carry the weight of two normal men.
"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
sigs, as if you care.
Hey, thanks! Less work for me! After you are finished, can you go in the back yard and fix the fence? I'm busy trying to overcome my video game addiction.
Are you saying it was not posted because it would have been a dupe? Do you read the same site as I do?
Why not every 4 years? Even 3 would work. This way, it would give people more time to work on even better designs, perhaps even alternative fuel methods for reaching space.
Nope, nope, nope!
We need this all right away. Get off your fat butt and get to work! Innovation in rocket science can drive the economy. Why accept it's hard to do? Back in the early days of aviation (barnstromers and all) wild ideas were tested (ok, some were dangerous and should probably be conducted away from populated areas) but out of all those wild ideas increments in the technology were achieved (beware of patents, the Wrights nearly killed it with the Wrong Stuff!)
Future Patents Awaiting to Be Awarded:
Blowing your silly looking rocket up on the launchpad (whoops, too much prior art)
Method for serving meals in weightlessness
Method for cleaning puke off cabin walls
Rocket powered by fuel from reprocessed used (eugh) baby diapers (gag) (retch)
Rocket with screen door
Pilot airbag
Altudinator
Method for brewing beer in space
Method for dispensing beer in space
Method for wearing lampshade in space
Method for treating hangover in space
Muzak for space travel
Firewall to keep hacker passengers from redirecting rocket to spell 1337 in contrail
Cheese in a can (whoops, prior art, too)
Copyright phrase Spacemeet (as in, we all gonna meet in space, big space meet!)
Method for ejecting passengers
Method for ejecting crew
Method for evading rocket with process server on board
Space Racing, the America's Cup 3D (featuring Larry Ellison and Richard Branson duking it out for bragging rights!)
Method for refueling, checking the oil and cleaning windows at full service station
Method for letting customer do all that hisself at self service station
Method for launching own satellites
Method for forming a united federation of planets
And the list goes on!
Why am I so in favor of such things? I'll be selling the popcorn! =-)
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
I don't know... they took a more pragmatic approach to things. For example, when the US inspection teams were sent over, they were given a laser measuring device to determine if an area was large enough that they were allowed to inspect it. A nice, fancy piece of equipment.
;)
The Soviets were really impressed; they sent their teams over to the US with something different: a stick. Literally, a piece of wood cut to the length that was the minimum dimension. If the stick fit, they could inspect.
Different cultures, different solutions
"She was out of her depth in a shallow pool." -- Peggy Noonan on Sarah Palin
Get Pepsi to sponser it and have a bunch of satelites that hust have a 'this satelite is not a winner' notes in them.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
You really think a bunch of geeks would be successful in a contest to have their "rockets" reach the big O?