| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Tech |
| Countdown to historic space trip |
| 2004-06-20 |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #8 The significance is that this would be the first time ANYONE got their Astronaut wings in anything other than a government run program. This is the first truly civilian manned space vehicle. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-06-20 12:50:47 PM |
| #7 #5 Cheeseboy "As usual the media stories about this miss at least half the story. The X-Prize requires two flights in a two week period with a pilot..." Go and reread the article, they cover that detail nicely. #6 "...making an attempt for the prize?" Tomorrow is a dry run attempt at the target altitude. If they make it, you can expect an attempt for the prize within 4 to 6 weeks. Whizzer |
| Posted by: Whizzer 2004-06-20 11:04:09 AM |
| #6 cheaderhead, I thought that the contestant had to inform the X-prize organisers if they were making an attempt for the prize? I could be wrong, but I've been following things via several other blogs and this is the first I've heard of an actual attempt tomorrow. Apart from all that though, this is a truly amazing adventure! - not least because it shows you *don't* need a shedful of cash from the 'Gummint' (I've seen Rutan on the TV and he pronounces the word in that way ;) to get off the ground. Certainly if he does do another trip on 4th July that would be fantastic! |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2004-06-20 9:47:53 AM |
| #5 As usual the media stories about this miss at least half the story. The X-Prize requires two flights in a two week period with a pilot and two passengers or their weight equivilant. If Rutan has enough weight on board and is successful this flight it would open up the possibility of a 4th of July second flight. But as far as this becoming a commercial success as far as the space tourism business goes I'd give either EXOR or Bristol Spaceplanes a better chance as they will have simpler operating systems provided they can get the engines sorted out. |
| Posted by: cheaderhead 2004-06-20 9:09:09 AM |
| #4 sigh |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-20 8:29:28 AM |
| #3 The fuel used, specially developed by US firm SpaceDev, is called hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). It is a mix of rubber and nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. This could make a launch accident a lot less stressful. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-20 8:29:03 AM |
| #2 The fuel used, specially developed by US firm SpaceDev, is called hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). It is a mix of rubber and nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. This could make a launch accident a lot less stressful. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-20 8:28:47 AM |
| #1 Everything about this enterprise is amazing, including Rutan's sideburns. Consider the testosterone level of the pilot who's going to deadstick this ship down from 62 miles high. I hope he gets the acclaim that Lindberg got. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-06-20 1:20:59 AM |