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Round the World Flight Set for Monday

Posted by Zonk on from the where-he-stops-nobody-knows dept.

An anonymous reader writes "LiveScience is now reporting that Burt Rutan's GlobalFlyer is set for Monday takeoff. The plane, piloted by Steve Fossett, has been grounded since January by weather. The mission: the first solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe via jet powered craft without refueling." Commentary also available from the BBC.

1 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. China: Space Threat to USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Although the latest effort to circumnagivate the globe by a single one-manned spacecraft is an interesting technological pursuit, it has enormous implications for national security. Mr. Rutan should ensure that all his crew and engineers are vetted and that there are no Chinese nationals or former Chinese nationals (including those from Taiwan province and Hong Kong) on his staff. Beijing would surely use this space technology to accelerate the Chinese program weaponizing space. Note that the entire space program in China is part of the Department of War.

    By contrast, NASA in the USA is an entirely civilian effort.