The Rutan SpaceShipOne Revealed 404
smartalix writes "Burt Rutan's company, Scaled Composites, announced that they have been developing a commercial manned space program in secret for the past two years. The system consists of a carrier vehicle called the White Knight and a piggyback (actually underslung) orbital spaceplane called SpaceShipOne. My money is on this effort capturing the X Prize." Well, it's pretty, whatever it is. Space.com has a story with pictures for those of you who weren't quick enough to hit scaled.com before it melted.
Whahhh? (Score:3, Funny)
Hmm (Score:2, Funny)
Watch out for the patents (Score:3, Funny)
-bort
Re:Watch out for the patents (Score:1, Funny)
In space... (Score:5, Funny)
Oh, I get it.... (Score:3, Funny)
Damn, Burt Rutan is a genius.....
Re:Beam me up SCOTTY! (Score:5, Funny)
And to all those folks who say it's an "ugly aircraft", they need to remember that it's a *spacecraft*. And it's actually *two* craft.
Although I think the paintjob is ugly. Paint a red maple leaf on it or something, it would look way better.
A rutan? Dr Who was real! (Score:5, Funny)
Aha! Finally, it is revealed that the rutan landing at Fang Rock [bbc.co.uk], from Dr Who [bbc.co.uk], was in fact real event! The truth can come out.
here's an idea. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Watch out for the patents (Score:1, Funny)
Distinguished Names (Score:1, Funny)
Other dignitaries who attended the event were Dr. Maxim Faget
I bet that guy got hell when he was a kid. I wouldn't be able to stand people calling me Maximus.
Fuel (Score:5, Funny)
Laughing gas, tire rubber, and flames! A recipe for hilinks!!
Contact (Score:5, Funny)
That's some fuel! (Score:5, Funny)
Burning rubber to orbit, laughing all the way? (Yeah yeah, it's sub-orbital -- for now.)
Re:....what the hell..... (Score:3, Funny)
very sci fi looking .. no ? (Score:4, Funny)
Whenever I look at the entries for this competition I can't help but wonder why they all have this sci fi look to them. ie something out of start trek. I always have this image of some guy of a err more feminine persuasion flailing his hands and going " it justht doesnt look spathy enough.... more spathy people
Mirror... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Watch out for the patents (Score:4, Funny)
Re:....what the hell..... (Score:2, Funny)
When it's a couple inches from my back, I don't really distinguish between exploding and burning really fast.
"He didn't technically EXPLODE, Jim, he just burned to cinders very quickly..."
This thing really burns rubber... (Score:3, Funny)
no... really! (read the article)
Wierdest fuel I've ever heard of!
Re:World's most BORING spaceship name! (Score:1, Funny)
Return Ticket (Score:3, Funny)
A more advanced race was visiting a planet with a primitive culture, slightly pre-industrial age. They had rules of involvement based on the advancement of the culture they were contacting. One of the thresholds of the involvement levels was space travel capability.
So the locals tossed a man into what was the equivelant of a diving bell, set it on a powder keg and blew it into space. They then went to the representative of the more advanced race and said:
"We have space travel capabilities now. You can deal with us as spacefarers. Oh and by the way, could you please rescue our astronaut before he burns up on reentry?"
I hope these guys have a return plan. I don't think they're gonna get rescued.
Now that the Rutans have space supremacy (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Back Into Hiding (Score:1, Funny)
Max Faget? Somebody actually named their kid Max Faget? I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that. That's the funniest god damn thing I've read in months and I just confirmed he's a real guy. Max Faget! Holy fucking shit that's hilarious!
Re:You cant keep good engineers down (Score:5, Funny)
Never in a thousand years could I imagine a worse name to grow up with. His school years must make prison look like playschool.
Re:Watch out for the patents (Score:3, Funny)
Riding a Plane - Air Force One
Hmmmm... I guess by this logic, it would be "Laura Bush One" when he's riding... ummm... well... nevermind.
Re:In Secret? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:In Secret? (Score:1, Funny)