Private Spacecraft's Inaugural Launch

[Furtherman]

With all the bad news and wasted spending going on in the world today, I am happy to read that someone is spending money that could help out mankind in the long run.

http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/827/1d/www.space.com/images/spaceshipone_163x110b.jpg

Private Spacecraft's Inaugural Launch Set for June 21 (http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/rutan_launchdate_040602.html)

An Image From The Test Flight (http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=v_spo_feather_0513_02.jpg&cap=SpaceShipOne%20with%20tail%20section%20feather ed%20into%20position%20above%20200,000%20feet%20on %20May%2013%20flight.%20San%20Diego%20is%20at%20le ft,%20Santa%20Barbara%20is%20under%20the%20left%20 wing%20and%20Edwards%20Air%20Force%20Base%20is%20a t%20right/center.%20Image%20Credit:%20Scaled%20Composites)

I'd like to think that in our lifetime these trips will become affordable enough to take a few orbits around the Earth. Interesting that the man behind it all is president of Vulcan Inc.

Of course, there is the chance that something could go wrong, and our heroic pilot just might end up battling the apes.

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...with thanks to JustJon

[Freakshow]

Is the pilot Lance Bass?

<center><img src=http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v53/monster6sixty6/guests/freak2_sig.gif>
Little Children like me. Because I force them to.<br>With Violence</center>

[Tall_James]

Of course, there is the chance that something could go wrong, and our heroic pilot just might end up battling the apes.


Now that is something I'd pay to see!


<img src=http://home.comcast.net/~jamesgpatton/patton.jpg>
Avoiding household responsibilites...one post at a time
[center]The Best Blog You're Not Reading (http://cheeseeatingbird.blogspot.com)

[Freakshow]

Reporter: Uh, question for the barbeque chef. Don't you think there is an inherent danger in sending underqualified civilians into space?
Homer: I'll field this one. The only danger is if they send us to [ominous] that terrible Planet of the Apes. Wait a minute...Statue of Liberty...that was _our_ planet! You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell! [weeps]


<center><img src=http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v53/monster6sixty6/guests/freak2_sig.gif>
Little Children like me. Because I force them to.<br>With Violence</center>

[furie]

An Image From The Test Flight


http://www.godhatesglobes.com/

what's sad is that is what NASA had originally envisioned for the shuttle program, a reusable craft that would first take the space vehicle into the upper atmosphere, then launch itself that final bit.

but NASA didn't want to spend the money to develop two vehicles.



<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/furie1335/.Pictures/rfsigs/SimpPulp.jpg" height=100 width=300">

[Justice4all]

Is the pilot Lance Bass?

<center><img src=http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v53/monster6sixty6/guests/freak2_sig.gif>
Little Children like me. Because I force them to.<br>With Violence</center>

Or Major Tom?

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Bowie, Md.: Berkeley, I'm so glad you're back!; I've really missed The Far Side all these years.

Berkeley Breathed: Yes, thank you, but I don't draw Far Side. I draw Calvin and Hobbes.

[Furtherman]

They are on their way!

Private craft flies into space (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/06/21/suborbital.test/index.html)



SpaceShipOne, the first private manned spacecraft, made a flawless takeoff over the Mojave Desert this morning. The rocket plane was carried aloft under the belly of its carrier jet, White Knight, for an hour long ascent. After the pair reach 50,000 feet, SpaceShipOne will decouple from the carrier jet and blast into space.


Edit: They made it.
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2004/TECH/space/06/21/suborbital.test/story.ss1.landing2.cnn.jpg

SpaceShipOne landed safely in the Mojave Desert Monday after reaching an altitude of 62.5 miles.



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...with thanks to JustJon



This message was edited by Furtherman on 6-21-04 @ 11:32 AM

[Mike Teacher]

Next stop for those who have been following Rutan for a decade or two; the Ansari-X Prize.

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[TheMojoPin]

Tall_James and I ALWAYS have front-row seats for the ape fights at Madison Cube Garden.

<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=TheMojoPin">
1979 << December boys got it BAD >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

[Tall_James]

Tall_James and I ALWAYS have front-row seats for the ape fights at Madison Cube Garden.

That's only because we are the darlings of our ape overlords who get us the seats. And all we have to do is pick the occasional flea out of their back fur.

Sweeeeet!


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Avoiding household responsibilites...one post at a time
[center]The Best Blog You're Not Reading (http://cheeseeatingbird.blogspot.com)

[Furtherman]

This guy pulled a Homer Simpson up there.

Private craft soars into space, history (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/06/21/suborbital.test/index.html)



Melvill said once he reached weightlessness, he opened a bag of M&M's in the cockpit, and the candies floated for three minutes while the ship soared high above California.


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...with thanks to JustJon

[gypsy]

When we are finished fucking up this planet, we can go fuck up the rest of the universe.

[Mike Teacher]

Ed Sullivan: What's that called? Is that your Crash Helmet?

Jose Jimenez: [Looking at helmet in horror] Oh! I Hope Not ! ! !

Ed: What's the most important part of the Countdown?

Jose: That's the Blast Off.

Ed: What's so Important?

Jose: I always need to have a blast before I take Off...

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[Furtherman]

Richard Branson unveils Virgin Galactic spaceplane (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8400353.stm)

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46876000/jpg/_46876705_008391358.jpg

Sir Richard Branson has unveiled the rocket plane he will use to take fare-paying passengers into space.

SpaceShipTwo was presented to the world in Mojave, California.

The vehicle will undergo testing over the next 18 months before being allowed to take ticketed individuals on short-hop trips just above the atmosphere.

Billionaire Sir Richard, who heads the Virgin Group, intends to run the first flights out of New Mexico before extending operations around the globe.


I'm already starting to save for my ticket.

[Snoogans]

didnt google promise 1 billion to the first person who flies to space privately?

[Furtherman]

Real spaceship Enterprise flies for the first time

http://scifiwire.com/assets_c/2010/03/VirginGalacticEnterprise-thumb-550x461-35975.jpg

OK, so we still don't have those personal jetpacks we were promised, but thanks to British billionaire Richard Branson, we're at least one step closer to affordable space travel for ordinary people—because Virgin Galactic's VSS Enterprise has finally taken flight! The maiden voyage of the world's first commercial spacecraft took place yesterday over California's Mojave Desert, CNN reported.

Branson's company announced that the VSS Enterprise had successfully completed what it called a captive carry flight attached to a carrier plane.

"The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program," said Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites, which built the spacecraft.

The plan is for the 60-foot long rocket plane to be taken 60,000 feet above the Earth by its carrier, after which it will then fire rockets to propel itself into space. Testing will continue through 2011 before commercial flights begin.

Virgin Galactic expects to be able to offer one flight per week, each containing six tourists who have paid $200,000 for the experience. Sound too pricy for you? Not everyone has been scared off by the cost—about 80,000 people have already placed their names on the waiting list.

You can watch the test flight for yourself below (http://scifiwire.com/2010/03/real-spaceship-enterprise.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter).