Rutan hits 200k feet! Almost there!

"Chad Irby" wrote in message
om...

It did, after some lower and slower flights.

Not after the high-altitude flights, though, and the average gap between
"hard" flights of the same airframes was a month and a half.


That it didn't happen doesn't mean it wasn't possible.

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

Why?

Just because.

I don't think there's any sort of "Wow! NOBODY's done this before!" aspect
to this. Of *course* men have flown in space. The only difference here -
and the challenge of the task - is to do it with private money.

Why is that a challenge? Because traditionally space travel has only been
done at the expense of billions of dollars and huge government
bureaucracies. The X-Prize is out to demonstrate that space travel doesn't
have to remain the domain of governments.

I personally like the idea of non-government entities in space. Why? "Just
because," mostly. The fact that they're doing this without tax money is a
bonus - and I'm generally supportive of space programs.

My opinion is that the major advances in space technology from this point
forward are going to come from the private sector. Space tourism is just
the start. When companies figure out how to use microgravity profitably to
manufacture crystals and special alloys, we'll start to see real advances
and lower costs for space technology. Then perhaps manned exploration of
the solar system.

That's a l-o-n-g way in the future, though. I'll be lucky to see much of it
fully realized in my lifetime.

But I'm a dreamer - much like Rutan and the others vying for the X-Prize.
The $10M pot isn't going to cover the costs of the attempt much less
generate a profit.

They're dreamers saying "why *not*."

More power to them.

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

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

Just because.

I don't think there's any sort of "Wow! NOBODY's done this
before!" aspect to this.


Actually, based on responses in this thread there seems to be quite a bit of
that!

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote

"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 *is* the relevant point. Sure, it's been done before. Not by a private
corporation, though.

Maybe this will foster alternatives to NASA, ESA, and the Russians.

Pete

"Pete" wrote in message
...

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote

"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 *is* the relevant point.


No, that's not the relevant point, this is:


Sure, it's been done before.


It's been done before. It won't be a first.

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

"Pete" wrote in message
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote
"John T" wrote in message
What non-government entity has reached outer space (sub-orbital
or not)?

This one: http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/ or did you mean manned?


None, but that's irrelevant.
That *is* the relevant point.
No, that's not the relevant point, this is:

Sorry, but I have to go with Pete here, the relevent point is that it is
being done by a small private corporation...and they are making it look easy!

Vaughn

"Vaughn" wrote in message
news

Sorry, but I have to go with Pete here, the relevent point is that
it is being done by a small private corporation...and they are making
it look easy!


What is significant about a private corporation duplicating a feat that a
government agency accomplished decades earlier?

What is significant about a private corporation duplicating a feat that a
government agency accomplished decades earlier?


The fact that they are doing it without tax money and a huge outfit like NASA
behind them is VERY significant.
Matt Gunsch,
A&P,IA,Private Pilot
Riding member of the
2003 world champion drill team
Arizona Precision Motorcycle Drill Team
GWRRA,NRA,GOA

From: "C J Campbell"


"Shiver Me Timbers" wrote in message
.. .
C J Campbell wrote:

That last third of the flight is going to be tough.

How condescendingly generous you are.

The last line was written by you, campell.

snip

It really is going to be tough.

That's what the man said before you attacked him.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

"N329DF" wrote in message
...

The fact that they are doing it without tax money and a huge
outfit like NASA behind them is VERY significant.


Why?