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X Prize Founder Launches Rocket Racing League

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the crop-dusting-pilots-unite dept.

David Rosen writes "MSNBC reports a 'Rocket Racing League' is launching today. The man behind the $10 million X Prize for private spaceflight is joining forces with a venture capitalist who is also an Indy car backer to establish a NASCAR-like racing league for rocket-powered aircraft." The Rocket Racing League also has an official website which outlines some of the specifics behind the program.

2 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Reno air races by theycallmeB · · Score: 5, Informative

    They are also joining forces with the organizers of the annual Reno Air Races that were held just a couple weeks ago. Similar to grand prix road races, there are several classes of air racers, the biggest and fastest being the piston-powered Unlimiteds (mostly stripped and re-engined WWII-era fighters). Courses are low to the ground and marked by giant pylons. From the article, it seems the rocket racers are planning more vertical courses so it will be intersting the see how those are plotted. Maybe GPS and a virtual track shown on a heads-up display?

    For those pointing out that some people watch NASCAR mostly for the crashes, crashes at Reno usually involve a distant thud, a cloud of smoke and little good news. Everybody maintains a healthy distance between aircraft, crowd others out of the course and you get grounded, do it too often (as in more than once or twice), and you get banned.

  2. Re:Indeed by temojen · · Score: 3, Informative
    Ramjets need to be supersonic.
    No, I believe you're referring to SCRAMjets. Ramjets just need a supersonic nozzle. See Wikipedia, especially:
    ...although inefficient at the slower speeds, are still more fuel-efficient than rockets within the atmosphere.
    .
    Plus it would no longer fit the criteria, what not being a rocket.
    From the parent:
    I hope this doesn't hopelessly ground us in chemical rockets
    I was just pointing out we needn't be limited to rockets, let alone chemical rockets. Rockets are good at some things, like propulsion in a vacuum. Propulsion at subsonic speeds at low altitude is not one of them.