Jeff Bezos' Shot At Space 159
Brad Stone points out his story (due out in Monday's issue of Newsweek) on Jeff Bezos' secret space-oriented company, called Blue Origin -- which aims to launch tourists in a reusable vehicle. The article also touches on some of the other private space ventures you've been reading about lately. (One cool note about Blue Origin is that Neal Stephenson is an employee; I hope he's not allowed anywhere dangerous.)
Neal Stephenson on the payroll... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Space Race 2.0? (Score:5, Interesting)
So, five years later, their secret projects are going public, cuz they finally have something that resembles a proper plan.
That, and the fact that NASA's recent stumbles provide a fertile ground for a private, less bueraucratic space-oriented enterprises.
High tech (Score:3, Interesting)
Voyager? Not high tech? The first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping for fuel? Methinks he's pretty modest
SB
Neal Stephenson: Tripoli's first Cert Level 4? (Score:5, Interesting)
He'd gotten to Level Two, which requires a written test and successfully launching a carefully inspected large rocket. As I recall, it lets you use "J" and "K" motors. (For those who flew Estes motors as kids, this is the equivalent of 64 and 128 D motors.)
Level Three requires a really large and sturdy rocket, and lets you use monstrous M motors.
(I was certified in the early 90s before there were levels, but let it lapse during grad school; when I tried for level one last year I failed because my model's nose cone popped off due to internal pressure. Nothing damaged, but that was enough to scuttle the attempt.)
Now I'm picturing him filling out the paperwork for Cert Level 4: Manned Flight.
Stefan
* Tripoli Rocketry Association / National Association of Rocketry
Space Access Society meeting this weekend (Score:3, Interesting)
This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers flight, and a lot of these companies see this year as a terribly symbolic time to actually make it all happen.
It's time
Tax Stunt... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:More (Score:2, Interesting)