SpaceShipOne to Try for Space on Monday 282
CommanderData writes "The first piloted private space flight will occur Monday at 9:30AM ET. SpaceShipOne is planning to ascend to the 62 mile (100 Km) mark and return to land at its takeoff point over the course of 90 minutes. With only a pilot (unnamed at this time) on board this does not qualify as a run for the Ansari X-Prize. If the flight is successful they will likely try for the prize soon afterward..." An anonymous reader adds: "Scaled Composites also has this page about the event."
Sign me up! (Score:3, Funny)
I wonder when... (Score:3, Funny)
The pilot (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I wonder when... (Score:5, Funny)
(which, incidentally, I've never heard of anybody in space actually eating.
Is this the Paul Allen one? (Score:5, Funny)
Hrm? (Score:3, Funny)
Launches a piloted, privately-funded spaceship, capable of carrying 3 people to 100 kilometers
Spaceship one can do that, no? Or can it only carry one person? Thought it had room for 3.
It's for a different award altogether (Score:4, Funny)
Because it's a candidate for the Darwin Awards [darwinawards.com] instead.
Really. I mean, I think I've got a good set of cojones, but this is over the top...
Re:Hrm? (Score:5, Funny)
Hell, I've got a vehicle that can do that now.
It just does it horizontally over paved surfaces. Details.
Re:Fun ride (Score:3, Funny)
With any luck, not these [anecdotage.com].
Re:Score one for mankind (Score:3, Funny)
Something like an albatross buggering a duck, but for some reason, we'll all take a second glance and decide that it still looks like the coolest thing we've ever seen fly.
Oh, you said Planets. Nevermind.
Let me bounce this off you.... (Score:5, Funny)
rocket fuel that Space Ship One uses? It's a solid fueled rocket with a gas oxidizer. I'm sure you'll get a laugh out of it.
Here's the link [space.com]
Re:yawn-inducing conventional engine (Score:4, Funny)
Well its off to the dentist. Then I'll be stopping by the local junkyard to pick up some old tires. Gonna build me a rocket.....
hmmm (Score:3, Funny)
It seems that Open source ideology should be applied to space.
I dunnknow...the idea of Allen Spaceport scares the hell outa me....
Re:You gotta learn to walk before you learn to run (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, and this is a grand first step. And that's exactly what it was designed to be: a first step, and nothing more. You make some great points about the next steps. Thanks for your insigtful, informative input.
The Long and Short of It (Score:5, Funny)
As you might guess, launching from a scorching empty desert with non-toxic propellents and nothing that separates and falls back to earth is going to be easier to license.
As an aside, most of the convincing AST needs is hand-waving and postering, but a good bit of it is also mathematical. "If the craft does not explode and creates an impact zone of this size with a maximum flight radius of this size, there are is 1 in 5 million chance of hitting Bob who has a trailer sitting out in the middle of desert. Since that's less likely than the established 30 x 10 ^ -6 expected causalties, we should be able to fly." Response: "OK, you're on; try not to hit Bob."
-Hope
Shotgun! (Score:3, Funny)
After all, he's already paid for it.
Hey! Not bad for a 25 Year old Video Game! (Score:1, Funny)
Re:You gotta learn to walk before you learn to run (Score:3, Funny)
4) Getting back.
(I don't mean this as a "funny" post. Doesn't getting back to Earth involve a huge number of problems? Such as: atmosphere; avoidance of crash landings in civilized areas; and a few other things that don't matter if you just intend to land on the moon or Mars.)
Read the orginial Link before commenting please. (Score:5, Funny)
Let me bounce this off of you...
And the line
You'll get a laugh out of this.
Re:I thought for X-Prize it was pilot + 2 sandbags (Score:1, Funny)
Or a typical american