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-- SpaceShipOne lands safely in California - first private space flight
SpaceShipOne lands safely in California - first private space flight
Good stuff!
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Private Rocket Plane Successfully Punches Into Space
By Reed Stevenson
MOJAVE, Calif. (Reuters) - SpaceShipOne successfully punched beyond the earth's atmosphere on Monday in the world's first manned commercial space flight.
The privately funded rocket plane was released from a larger plane called the White Knight and ignited its rocket engine to enter space 62 miles above the earth.
It landed safely back at a runway in the Mojave Desert in California, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
The unprecedented $20 million project was intended to demonstrate the viability of commercial space flight and open the door for space tourism.
The white rocket plane with its striking nose -- a pointed cone covered with small portholes -- was designed by legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan and was built with more than $20 million in funding by billionaire Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft Corp.
It was piloted by Michael Melvill, who after the successful flight, officially became an astronaut.
After burning its rocket for 80 seconds, SpaceShipOne spent 3-1/2 minutes at its peak altitude, a short suborbital hop that made Melvill weightless and gave him a clear view of the earth's curvature and the black expanse of outer space.
The flight marked the first time that a non-government spacecraft reached the altitude considered to be the boundary between earth's atmosphere and outer space.
Allen and SpaceShipOne's builders were widely expected to next try for the Ansari X Prize, which is $10 million for the first team that sends three people, or an equivalent weight, on a manned space vehicle 100 kilometers above the earth and repeats the trip within two weeks.
that is sweeeeeeeeeeeeet
Do they still have raves in the Mojave Desert in California?
wow. that is one ugly mofo
| quote: |
| Originally posted by FunkySimon What could possibly be the point of having windows that can be openend in a space ship... |
I was trying to catch the flight this morning, but was busy... Drat... Anyone have any links to some video footage of the thing?
awesome.
if prices are like...$300 bucks to go in space when im like 80..
id do it.
id like to see whats up with space.
This is a very exciting day, Ive been waiting to see who will take the x prize since aboput 2002 I dont care who wins it as long as someone does....
I don�t like the idea of private individuals jetting off into space.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Spin Doctor I don�t like the idea of private individuals jetting off into space. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by FunkySimon that must be the funniest craft I have ever seen LMAO And how is it possible that the guy can open the window to stick his hand out?? What could possibly be the point of having windows that can be openend in a space ship... |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by ali92 Why not? If it's more environment-friendly and gets us where we want to go quicker, I see nothing wrong with it. As long as the travel method is reliable... |
It was an interesting stunt and all, but it's ultimately meaningless. It's not going to lead to anything more practical than what NASA has developed. They're using the same technology at the same cost structure. At best, it will ferry rich millionares to space at a hefty fee. The costs of space exploration are simply far too prohibitive to enable the private sector to effectively make any significant progress. Only NASA has the funding necessary to make any kind of noticeable impact in space travel ...
Kool but do they server an in flight meal? 
Do space miles qualify for frequent flyer miles?
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