SpaceShipOne 100 km Attempt Slated for June 21 345
apsmith writes "Scaled Composites has just announced their first attempt at breaking 100 km, scheduled for June 21. This would make it the first commercial manned vehicle to officially enter space. This is not quite an Ansari X prize attempt since it will carry only one person without the extra mass corresponding to the 3-person prize requirement; they have to give at least 30 days' notice for that. Past flight history is available from their site; the Discovery Channel is producing a documentary on the whole project, 'Rutan's Race For Space.'" Roger_Explosion adds "If successful, the craft - named Space Ship One - will become the world's first commercial manned space vehicle. Space Ship One will temporarily leave the earth's atmosphere, and the pilot (yet to be announced) will experience about three minutes of weightlessness."
Re:I say... (Score:4, Funny)
Hey no fair! (Score:5, Funny)
The Vulcans are helping them out. I wont be at all surprised if SpaceShipOne looks like a Zephram Cochran design.
more adds (Score:2, Funny)
Magic Carpet Ride (Score:3, Funny)
But can it go to plaid? (Score:4, Funny)
First Unofficial Commercial Vehicle in Space? (Score:4, Funny)
"This would make it the first commercial manned vehicle to officially enter space."
Which immediately makes me wonder which was the first commerical manned vehicle to unofficially enter space. Did this guy [snopes.com] finally get some larger balloons?
Best of luck, Space Ship One! May your design be sound and your crew be safe.
My favorite FAQ (Score:4, Funny)
A: Everyone, especially children. They will want to tell their children that they were there to see the event that triggered the industry of private space tourism.
Within two weeks... (Score:5, Funny)
Just booked a room in Mojave ... (Score:5, Funny)
Is there some kind of geek accent I wasn't aware of?
Yeesh (Score:3, Funny)
-Erwos
Re:Webcast? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:more adds (Score:3, Funny)
Twinkle Twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
A red giant, or a shooting star?
No, just an advert for a little blue car...
Re:Just booked a room in Mojave ... (Score:5, Funny)
Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to composing my internet rant about how funds for producing Doom 3 have been syphoned off and used to buy new A/D boards for Armadillo Aerospace.
Re:Just booked a room in Mojave ... (Score:5, Funny)
Perhaps you used the words "whoa-hai" or "glayven". That's usually a dead giveaway.
Sontarans next (Score:3, Funny)
BumperCam? (Score:3, Funny)
Maybe with the video slowed down so the flight will take as long as a drive to Oregon?
Cool. (Score:1, Funny)
Now if I can just get over Rio Grande
Yay! (Score:4, Funny)
"Yet to be announced" eh? Cool, that means I'm still in the running.
Star Trek / Zephram Cockram moment (Score:4, Funny)
What I care about, or would if I was the pilot, is whether it has a slot loading CD player into which I can slap a CD in the last few seconds before launch!
Re:Space vs. Weightlessness (clarification) (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It's the commercial version of Mercury (Score:5, Funny)
CONGRESSPERSON SKYPACK: My district has a company that makes winglets for aircraft, contributed $5000 to my campaign last election. I want winglets on the new orbital spaceplane.
NASA ADMIN: But congressman, we are currently looking at a more cost effective capsule design, there are no wings.
CONGRESSPERSON SKYPACK: Well you had better rethink your short-sighted design. My constituent told me winglets are the latest thing on my last junket to Barbados with them. You NASA people should know that winglets add efficency to wingtips! You should at least be looking at them.
CONGRESSPERSON SMOOT: Yes, winglets are a good idea REP SKYPACK, they sound sexy. I would also like to see them use landing gear from manufacturer X.
CP SKYPACK: Yes, Manufactuirer X is in your district right SMOOT? They make tires for cars. Why, they would need at least 15 million to develop an aircraft grade landing system don't you think? Good idea...if you'll vote for my winglets I'll....
SMOOT: Sounds great! OK!
NASA Administrator: Gentlemen, we will require neither winglets or landing gear for our capsule. We can make it safer and cheaper without them. Don't you understand?
SKYPACK: I understand that your system better have wings and tires ADMIN, or you'll get no approval from THIS committee. In addition, I am going to cut your development budget while adding these two features to your design to make me look fiscally responsible, and don't you dare go over budget!
NASA ADMIN: Where is a gun, I need to shoot myself immediately.
SMOOT: Theres a firearm manufacturer in my district ADMIN, if you could purchase....
And the stupidity continues.
Macho Grande? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Pilot? (Score:2, Funny)