Rutan hits 200k feet! Almost there!

"Jim Weir" wrote in message
...

The point is the same point that Edmund Hillary and his small
civilian band had when they climbed Everest.


Not the same. Nobody had climbed Everest and returned before Hillary and
Norgay. The X-Prize competition is a race to be the "first" to do something
that's been done before.

In article . net,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

"Jim Weir" wrote in message
...

The point is the same point that Edmund Hillary and his small
civilian band had when they climbed Everest.

Not the same. Nobody had climbed Everest and returned before Hillary
and Norgay. The X-Prize competition is a race to be the "first" to
do something that's been done before.

A suborbital flight, and repeat it with the same vehicle in a 14 day
period?

Funny, I can't remember hearing of such a thing.

I think you don't understand the actual rules or intent of the Ansari
X-Prize.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

"Chad Irby" wrote in message
om...

A suborbital flight, and repeat it with the same vehicle in a 14 day
period?

Funny, I can't remember hearing of such a thing.


The capability was there. Individual X-15s were flown within two week
periods a number of times and the craft was flown above 100 km.



I think you don't understand the actual rules or intent of the Ansari
X-Prize.


You'd be wrong abut that.

In article et,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

"Chad Irby" wrote in message
om...

A suborbital flight, and repeat it with the same vehicle in a 14 day
period?

Funny, I can't remember hearing of such a thing.

The capability was there. Individual X-15s were flown within two week
periods a number of times and the craft was flown above 100 km.

....you haven't read the actual rules yet, have you?

The X-15 carried one guy (the rules for the X-Prize require that the
craft has to be able to carry three, although it only has to have the
equivalent ballast for the actual prize flight).

The two semi-qualifying (100 km+) X-15 flights took place over a month
apart, in the #3 airframe.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

"Chad Irby" wrote in message
om...

...you haven't read the actual rules yet, have you?


Yup.



The X-15 carried one guy (the rules for the X-Prize require that the
craft has to be able to carry three, although it only has to have the
equivalent ballast for the actual prize flight).


So the significant thing about the X-Prize is that it requires a three-place
craft?



The two semi-qualifying (100 km+) X-15 flights took place over
a month apart, in the #3 airframe.


The point is the X-Prize does not require any new technology or capability.

In article et, Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

"Chad Irby" wrote in message
om...

A suborbital flight, and repeat it with the same vehicle in a 14 day
period?

Funny, I can't remember hearing of such a thing.


The capability was there. Individual X-15s were flown within two week
periods a number of times and the craft was flown above 100 km.

So now it's not "it's already been done," it's "it *could* have been already
done?" I think it's time to give up. The X-15 was a really cool plane, but
it wouldn't qualify for the X-Prize even if it was operational today. It
couldn't carry passengers.

It's a shame the orbital followons weren't funded, or space travel would
have looked very different for the last forty years.

Mike Beede

"Mike Beede" wrote in message
...

So now it's not "it's already been done," it's "it *could* have
been already done?"


Yes, manned suborbital flight has already been done.



I think it's time to give up.


Do what you must.



The X-15 was a really cool plane, but
it wouldn't qualify for the X-Prize even if it was operational today. It
couldn't carry passengers.


You're missing the point. The X-Prize does not require any new technology
or capability. Manned suborbital spaceflight was accomplished and abandoned
over forty years ago.

On Fri, 14 May 2004 22:41:29 +0000, Steven P. McNicoll wrote:


"Chad Irby" wrote in message
om...

A suborbital flight, and repeat it with the same vehicle in a 14 day
period?

Funny, I can't remember hearing of such a thing.


The capability was there. Individual X-15s were flown within two week
periods a number of times and the craft was flown above 100 km.



I think you don't understand the actual rules or intent of the Ansari
X-Prize.


You'd be wrong abut that.

So he openly admits that he's trolling. Nuff said.

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net

The X-Prize competition is a race to be the "first" to
do something that's been done before.

What non-government entity has reached outer space (sub-orbital or not)?
That's the largest part of the "not been there nor done that" aspect. The
two-week turnaround is part of the attempt to demonstrate a viable reusable
craft which would encourage commercialization of the activity.

The goal of the X-Prize, as I understand it, is to promote commercial access
to and use of space with a focus on space tourism. There are private launch
facilities, but none of them are for manned spacecraft. All manned space
flight is performed by government agencies that many consider to be far more
wasteful than a commercial enterprise would be.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
____________________

"John T" wrote in message
ws.com...

What non-government entity has reached outer space (sub-orbital
or not)?


None, but that's irrelevant.



That's the largest part of the "not been there nor done that" aspect.


Why?



The two-week turnaround is part of the attempt to demonstrate a
viable reusable craft which would encourage commercialization of
the activity.


The X-15 had turnaround times less than two weeks.