Into space and beyond

[LadyJeepFreak]

What do you all think about the private space ship that reached space twice in one week? I heard the company owner has plans to launch paying passengers into space in three years time.

:shock: :shock:

I may be an uninformed american but I never thought our government would even LET anyone try to get into outer space without government control, let alone encourage it and on top of that only to sling paying passenegers out there.

Reminds me of the Jetsons, oddly. Someday I can picture people living like them. lol

Anyway, its extremely interesting and quite an accomplishment or so I believe. Any Thoughts?

Lady

 

[Deerhunter30]

It was an awesome accomplischment. It was done by a small team with a low budget. I think that it would be a good idea to allow the public sector into space. I can see that in the next ten years or so anyone with enough money could make a trip to space. I tip my hat to that brave pilot and those men who worked on that project.

 

[Tug-n-pull]

Well it's about time! I miss the space race. I miss the days of everyone setting around the TV and watching the blast off the splash down all the things that happened in between. I remember when the astro dudes were big heros and mega stars. I remember the first steps on the moon and how everone not living in a cave was glued to the TV. I hear that the ship they went up in had a 2.5L 4banger in it! hehehe tug

 

[Deerhunter30]

That must have been one highly modified 2.5. If it takes over one minute to get that 2.5 from 0-70mph imangine how long it would take to go supersonic!

 

[southtj]

It was an awesome accomplischment. It was done by a small team with a low budget.

Low budget maybe in comparison with NASA but certainly not small in my eyes. They've spent millions on this project.

SpaceShipOne was carried to about 55,000 feet by the plane White Knight before it was released and rocketed to a record height of 368,000 feet. The SpaceShipOne team included pioneer aircraft designer Burt Rutan and was financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen....

...Rutan's SpaceShipOne became the first commercial craft to complete two trips into space within 14 days. Designed and built in three years, at a cost of under $25 million, SpaceShipOne carried a pilot and the weight equivalent of two additional passengers.

It is an extrodinary accomplishment and certainly exciting. My wife and I said this morning that when they are taking passengers on a regular basis we would love to go for a ride. Maybe after the kid's out of college, in about 20 years.

 

[Deerhunter30]

Yes, I should have stated that this was a small budget relative to space flight.

 

[LadyJeepFreak]

Did ya hear how much the "rides" will cost South? LOL I'd love to go myself but geezz at like 200 thousand a pop? Not Likely!

 

[Tug-n-pull]

That must have been one highly modified 2.5. If it takes over one minute to get that 2.5 from 0-70mph imangine how long it would take to go supersonic!

It is all in the gearing! hehehehehe tug :wink:

 

[geopig]

It truly is a marvelous achievement and its great that it is getting so much attention from the public.

I may be an uninformed american but I never thought our government would even LET anyone try to get into outer space without government control, let alone encourage it and on top of that only to sling paying passenegers out there.

Rest assured though, once getting into space begins to be a commercial activity you can be that it will be regulated/taxed by the government.

 

[southtj]

Did ya hear how much the "rides" will cost South? LOL I'd love to go myself but geezz at like 200 thousand a pop? Not Likely!

OUCH! Maybe we'll wait till the prices drop some.

 

[graewulf]

they made the second flight??? way cool! I know I'll be making one of the flights even if I have to steal the money to do it.... I think I will get to fly before I die affordably....

 

[Inspector-Gadget]

Did ya hear how much the "rides" will cost South? LOL I'd love to go myself but geezz at like 200 thousand a pop? Not Likely!

I wonder if "Frequent Flyer Miles" could be applied to reduce the price?

:wink:

Regards,

Gadget

 

[mingez]

Inspector-Gadget,
Well, you are technically staying within 100 square miles on your way up, because mileage is still counted trans-surface as opposed to up and away from the Earth. Maybe call your travel agent to inquire about such discounts and whether they apply to space travel. Or perhaps Astro-locity.