Burt Rutan On Future Of SpaceShipOne (and Two)

Neil Halelamien writes "In a recent interview with the Desert Sun, Burt Rutan talks about the future of SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo. The bad news is that SpaceShipOne will be retired straight to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, despite getting five different requests to fly suborbital payloads. The good news is that efforts are being focused on SpaceShipTwo, which will carry nine people, and fly higher and further downrange than SpaceShipOne. Virgin Galactic will purchase a fleet of five of these vehicles, which will start test flights in 2007. Virgin Galactic may end up competing with Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, which is rumored to be developing a VTOL suborbital vehicle. Also interesting to watch will be Rutan's involvement with t/Space, one of the companies contracted by NASA to conduct concept studies for the Vision for Space Exploration."

9 People Hey?

[rf0]

Could they join the 100 mile high club?

Rus

I won't trust the thing until...

[Anonymous Coward]

...SpaceShipThree.One.

Re:9 People Hey?

[switcha]

Could they join the 100 mile high club?

And the 'orbital orgy' just replaced Natalie Portman as bedtime fantasy for geeks everywhere...

Re:9 People Hey?

[Tackhead]

> > Could they join the 100 mile high club?
>
>And the 'orbital orgy' just replaced Natalie Portman as bedtime fantasy for geeks everywhere...

For $250K, my orbital orgy had damn well better be with Natalie Portman.

Re:Private space-flight

[Anonymous Coward]

As long as the power (as in democratically elected officials) is handed out by people, I'm all for it.

Profit, on the other hand, is much much more sinister. In fact, most corporations won't listen to the public or the democratically elected governments. Therefore I don't trust them.

And don't give me the tired, old "vote with your wallet" crap. It doesn't work - never has and never will - because the corps can buy your wallet. Hey! You work for them!

Re:Rutan is my hero.

[dasunt]

Jafac writes:

[ Snip most of a vast conspiracy theory... ]

The "Only those who were opposed to the US were involved in scandalous activities" is a laugh and a half. Keep watching Fox and keep taking those Blue Pills Neo.

Ah, but what are you hiding?

A quick google search shows Jafac new and used aircraft and aircraft parts [quicksitemaker.com]. Ah hah! I see your plan:

1. Turn the nation against the current US leadership and those involved in Iraq.
2. Use that anger to end the US involvement in Iraq.
3. Wait until the excess government equipment from the war goes on the chopping block.
4. Buy said equipment at a low price.
5. Sell high.
6. Profit!

You were crafty, but not crafty enough for this slashdotter.

PS: My tinfoil hat is tighter than yours.