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Lockheed Martin Tests New Spacecraft Prototype

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the everything-done-by-remote-control-in-the-future dept.

Hmmzis writes to tell us that Lockheed Martin is using Spaceport America to test a new prototype spacecraft. The prototype is only about one-fifth the size of the projected production model which promises to deliver satellites into orbit at a cheaper cost. "It looks a bit like the space shuttle and would fly to space and return the same way. But even the big version would not carry people, just satellites. The goal is to get to orbit faster and cheaper thanks to an automated reusable spacecraft run by its own computers and just a handful of people for a launch crew."

2 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Prior Art? by stoolpigeon · · Score: 4, Funny

    I could swear I saw an Estes sticker on the side of that rocket.

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    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  2. Re:Take a look at this! by Provocateur · · Score: 2, Funny

    It must be a joke. I mean /. with 3 rocket stories in one day? 'Lockheed tests new rocket' 'Fedora 9 cleared for launch' and 'IBM pilot program for internal Mac use'

    This is too much, even for an armchair rocket scientist. (Hey Stephen Hawking is a wheelchair physicist, so we could be on the same level.)

    --
    WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.