Shatner Aims for Real 'Star Trek'

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Shatner Aims for Real 'Star Trek'

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Saturday October 23, 2004 @02:43AM from the beyond-lance-bass dept.

swight1701 writes "William Shatner wants to boldly go where he's only pretended to go so far. The 'Star Trek' star is among more than 7,000 people who have told Richard Branson they would gladly pay him $210,000 (£115,000) for a trip aboard his planned spacecraft. In all, more than $1.45 billion (£800 million) has been pledged -- years before the Virgin Galactic spaceship is even built, Branson said. I wonder did Shatner sign up because the first ship will be the VSS Enterprise?"

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Payload by tepples · 2004-10-23 02:57 · Score: 2, Insightful

Oh come on, everyone knows there's no weight in space

Sure, there's no apparent weight once in a freefalling orbit. But it still takes energy to lift payload out of Earth's gravity well into freefall, and it takes fuel to provide this energy, and it takes energy to lift the fuel...
Sounds like a great marketing concept to me by squatex · 2004-10-23 03:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

They should probably let Shatner on for free (or at least for an endorsment contract). The marketing here basically writes itself.
1. Re:Sounds like a great marketing concept to me by meta-monkey · 2004-10-23 05:20 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  If every time a celebrity wanted to ride the ship you gave him a free seat, you'd never make any money. It's only going to be celebrities and other rich people riding this...who else can afford $200k for a 3hr flight? I want them all to pay through the nose for this so the profits can be reinvested to make it affordable for the rest of us. No breaks.
  
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  We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
Registration.. by bigattichouse · 2004-10-23 03:10 · Score: 2, Insightful

I wonder when nations will begin requiring national registration for spacecraft (ie - HMS Bounty)... I know the shuttles are "Registered" as US planes, but VSS implies that Virgin is vying for "autonomy" as a space venture. So is "The Corporation" (ala Aliens Trilogy) Virgin,Inc.?

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meh
Re:A 'record label' is behind this? by AC-x · 2004-10-23 03:12 · Score: 2, Insightful

They're hardly starting a space program, just buying into Scaled Composites'
Re: Branson by monoi · 2004-10-23 03:29 · Score: 2, Insightful

You're complaining, on Slashdot, about the only UK train operator that provides laptop power points at every seat?

(And try the cookies -- yum!)
Re:Shatner would have to pay double... by Tablizer · 2004-10-23 04:49 · Score: 2, Insightful

Don't laugh. Southwest Airlines is charging double for people who can't fit into a single seat. Why don't they offer a variety of seat sizes? One-size-fits-all is stupid. Bowling alleys usually don't charge extra for bigger bowling shoes.

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Table-ized A.I.
shatner rocks by poptones · 2004-10-23 05:26 · Score: 2, Insightful

I saw him with Joe Jackson on Leno last night as well, and I thought it awesome. I'd drive to memphis to see the two of them if they went on tour.
Re:Shatner would have to pay double... by general_re · 2004-10-23 05:39 · Score: 2, Insightful

Bowling alleys usually don't charge extra for bigger bowling shoes.
Stocking a pair of size 13's doesn't usually mean you're forced to throw out two pairs of size 7's, unlike airplane seats.

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ABSURDITY, n.: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.