Pilot Completes 1st Stage of Space Flight
The Spaceman
30-09-2004, 00:32
"Ignoring a warning to abort the flight, a test pilot took a stubby-looking rocket plane on a corkscrewing, white-knuckle ride past the edge of the atmosphere Wednesday, completing the first stage of a quest to win a $10 million prize. "
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=753&e=1&u=/ap/20040929/ap_on_sc/private_spaceship
What are everyone's thoughs on this?
"Ignoring a warning to abort the flight, a test pilot took a stubby-looking rocket plane on a corkscrewing, white-knuckle ride past the edge of the atmosphere Wednesday, completing the first stage of a quest to win a $10 million prize. "
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=753&e=1&u=/ap/20040929/ap_on_sc/private_spaceship
What are everyone's thoughs on this?
Second lauch, this one reached space...
Incertonia
30-09-2004, 00:37
I saw the footage on the BBC World newscast. It's awesome stuff.
I was really getting down on the potential for spaceflight, with all the issues the Shuttle has had and the fact that NASA has had to work on such a shoestring for so many years. This gives me hope that I'll get out into space at least once before I die. :D
The Spaceman
30-09-2004, 00:42
Yes. I am a pilot so this looks like a good thing for people who are interested in piloting and aerospace jobs. Hopefuly NASA and others will be working together to create a better cheaper rocket. Once this happends, space will be open to humans at last.
Incertonia
30-09-2004, 00:46
Well, the second flight has to happen within what, two weeks? I read on MSNBC that it's tentatively scehduled for next Monday.
Well, the second flight has to happen within what, two weeks? I read on MSNBC that it's tentatively scehduled for next Monday.
Yup, next monday, provided that they don't need to work out that problem that they had during the boosted ascent.
The Spaceman
30-09-2004, 00:50
Yes the next one has to be in14 days. They hope for the next one might be as soon as Oct. 4.
Eutrusca
30-09-2004, 01:20
I think that until space travel becomes commercially viable, the exploration of space will tend to stagnate. So this was a good first step. :)
Purly Euclid
30-09-2004, 01:46
I'm glad to see some private space flight up there. Aren't we supposed to have moon colonies by now? This makes me hopeful that I can say, for real this time, that moon colonies will exist in fifty years. Hell, they may even be moon cities by that time.
The Northern Utopia
30-09-2004, 01:51
Second lauch, this one reached space...
Actually, the first one reached space too, it was just a test flight. This is the first attemp at the x-prize. They have to go up agian within 2 weeks. It's schedualed for Monday (th 4th). You can watch a live webcast here:
http://xprize.primary.net/index.php
I'm glad to see some private space flight up there. Aren't we supposed to have moon colonies by now? This makes me hopeful that I can say, for real this time, that moon colonies will exist in fifty years. Hell, they may even be moon cities by that time.
now that would be something wouldnt it?
The Spaceman
30-09-2004, 02:24
yes it would be. In 50 years everything could be different
The Holy Palatinate
30-09-2004, 04:28
The joy of it is, it's not just an advance on getting into space. A decent sub-orbital craft could get across the Pacific, or from Britian to SE Asia, in an hour or two instead of 1/2 a day or more.
Purly Euclid
30-09-2004, 21:19
now that would be something wouldnt it?
Yes it would be. I've heard that one Japanese economist, actually, predicts that space related activities will be worth $4 trillion by 2030. I'm now thinking that it isn't a farfetched idea.
The Spaceman
30-09-2004, 22:16
wow. That is something. Hope the pro War governemnt will allow money to go into space and not war.
Actually, the first one reached space too, it was just a test flight. This is the first attemp at the x-prize. They have to go up agian within 2 weeks. It's schedualed for Monday (th 4th). You can watch a live webcast here:
http://xprize.primary.net/index.php
No, the first one technically didn't breach the 100 mile mark...
The Northern Utopia
30-09-2004, 23:59
100 km, it's like 62.5 miles. You might be right though.
I'm glad to see some private space flight up there. Aren't we supposed to have moon colonies by now? This makes me hopeful that I can say, for real this time, that moon colonies will exist in fifty years. Hell, they may even be moon cities by that time.
Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want to live on the moon. But that's just me. From a scientific standpoint, it's spiffy I suppose.
BackwoodsSquatches
01-10-2004, 00:10
Ten million?
Thats it?
It probably costs the people who are making this ship that much.
The Spaceman
01-10-2004, 20:50
It depends. It will be high at first but as soon as we find cheaper ways, the cost will go way down.
The moon would be a fun place to live. Besides from all the scienific research that you will get, you will also have fun with less gravity. You will also be able to hopefully be free from Earth. You will have to be a loner though to fully enjoy it. I know I would, with all the freedom to do many things and be a peace with myself. It will mostly be a spiritul thing though.