SpaceShipOne takes home the X Prize
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/10/04/spaceshipone.attempt.cnn/index.html)
Woo hoo! Team America! USA! USA! USA!
*prepares for the usual "zee Americanz are imperialist swine! they are conquering space for themselvez!" post in the next 5,4,3....* :D
Anyways, makes me wonder how much longer until we get affordable space travel, sure beats waiting for hours on a jet. Maybe I can finally take a vacation on the Moon ;)
Purly Euclid
05-10-2004, 02:54
Don't worry, imperialist dogs! The British CEO of Virgin Airways says he can send people into space like that by 2007, at $100,000 for three minutes, of course.
Copiosa Scotia
05-10-2004, 03:10
To quote from a sign given to one of the astronauts, "SpaceShipOne, government zero."
Star Shadow-
05-10-2004, 03:13
I all ways tell liberals "genius isn't free." no one listens...
Incertonia
05-10-2004, 03:16
Just to put it in perspective, SpaceShipOne essentially accomplished what NASA did in 1961, albeit with a reusable vehicle. Don't get me wrong--I'm excited--but this is still just a very small step.
When I read about it this afternoon, though, the funny bit I picked up on was how the Ansari Prize was funded--the Ansari brothers didn't put up the $10 million. They bought what's called a "hole-in-one" insurance policy--the insurance company based its premiums on how much they thought the chances of success were. It's an all or nothing bet--if no one accomplished it, they kept the cash, but in the event someone did it, they have to pay off. I bet they're kicking themselves in the ass right now for taking the bet. :D
UpwardThrust
05-10-2004, 03:16
Yeah they did a hell of a job for what they started with … good job to them
Corneliu
05-10-2004, 03:45
*Breaks into a rendition of America the Beautiful*
Now, lets get the private businesses going and go back and colonize the moon.
Formal Dances
05-10-2004, 04:13
Only in America.
Way to go guys. Keep up the good work and lets get back into space.
Cannot think of a name
05-10-2004, 04:22
Rattan, who is the real genius, is american I think, and it happened here in California (what would you guys do without us?) but a british guy is footing the bill. And I don't think that this did or could happen in a vacuum. It's cool, it's really cool. I'm excited, but for us as people, not as a triumph of the US or any one group. It's just cool. Yeah those guys.
EDIT: I just realized that I said a space flight couldn't happen in a vacuum....now point and laugh.....