SpaceShipOne...will they make it?

[Tormod]

It is pretty exiting with Scaled Composite's attempt to win the Ansari X-Prize. They managed to complete their first flight on Wednesday but they will have to do it again with 14 days to win the prize ... 10 million dollars ...

http://www.xprize.org/


I hear they will try again on October 4.

What do you think about this? Is it the dawn of space tourism?

[Freethinker]

Let's hope so. If Bush actually gets elected this time we need to get as far away from this planet as possible.

[Tormod]

They did it! Congrats!!!

CNN: SpaceShipOne captures X Prize
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/10/04/spaceshipone.attempt.cnn/index.html

SpaceShipOne climbed into space for the second time in a week to claim the $10 million Ansari X Prize.

Space tourism here we come! I hear the tickets will be really cheap, like half a million dollars.

[Freethinker]

Yes, an exciting time in "space travel". Though it seems to be oriented to near earth, possibly commercial traffic.

Maybe the HC can be held there?

[Tormod]

Sure...our 100th anniversary, perhaps? Sponsored by the Freethinker Foundation for Galactic Atheism!!

[freeztar]

Here's the latest news from Scaled Composites while constructing SpaceShipTwo:
SPACE.com -- Explosion Kills Three at Mojave Air and Space Port

[TheFaithfulStone]

That's tragic.

But, I have to note that although VG has made absolutely NO noise that they will cancel the project, or that anything bad is going to happen, that the CNN story on this event makes it sound like they're already closing the doors.

Originally Posted by The Liberal Media

A ticket for such a ride was to cost $200,000.

Research, people, research

Unless they know something I don't about this - a ticket for this STILL costs $200,000.

I mean, yeah, it sucks, but it's not like they're going to talk about "The Freedom Towers were to be 1,100 feet high" or something the instant a construction worker falls to his death. Rockets are probably one of the most dangerous things you can build. The fact that a four man accidents is national news worthy means it's also probably one of the safest. Do you hear about it when people are seriously injured (or killed) in construction accidents?

Details are scarce on this, and the Scaled server is down, but I doubt VERY seriously whether this "sinks the ship." I have heard some scuttlebutt that it wasn't even a malfunction, but a handling error that caused the deflagration.

TFS

[InfiniteNow]

I also find it curious that the deaths technically had nothing to do with the craft, but you really need to be paying attention to see that. It wasn't the spaceship or anyones activities within that caused the deaths, but a tank on the side of a building somewhere. My best to the friends and families, and those who will move past their grief to continue working on this project.