MSNBC had the most spectacular group of idiots ever amassed behind some cameras. I didn't see anything 'cept a bunch of people in lawnchairs and an ocasional tower shot.
Anyone know of any good footage of the separation and initial boost? Pictures are cool but video would rock.
Just saw "Spartan". Not now, never will be, on the top 100 of anything list. But it stands as one of the finest examples of sparse dialog that rivets your attention, among hundreds or perhaps thousands of lesser efforts.
Kudos to screenwriter and director David Mamet, along with leading players Val Kilmer, Ed O'Neill, Tia Texada, William Macy, Kristen Bell.
I posted my comment above in response to what I thought was the article about top motion pictures in terms of gross revenues. So call me an idiot, and I won't bitch out any of you.
The other big advantage to the new fuel is it's cheap. Personally, I am very happy to see that since my husband is a BAR (Born-Again Rocketeer) whose motto is "Work to Fly".
Space flight has to be made more economical, and given the cost of propellant, this is a huge step forward.
Well Arnold you sure gave us a nice critique about a movie. Whatcha think about this terrific flight? This is such great news! I feel like you do Dean.
So, if I understand it, the R&D for this ship was US$20 million. Does anyone know how much it costs per flight? Put aside pilot costs, and just give it to me in terms of wear and tear and fuel...
Well, this is certainly a very impressive achievement and SpaceShipOne looks so damn cool. Could have come straight out of Star Trek or something. But environmental impact is something that has to be looked at before space tourism hits the big time.
Okay, everybody. This is what I thought of the flight. Below is part of a comment I had made on one of Dean's posts about the great flight from the day before.
-----
The capability of private enterprise to loft space vehicles into earth orbit -- plus a lot more in regard to space travel and reseach -- is one of the key factors that sustains my pride in being a citizen of the United States of America. Live on forever, glorious republic.
---
(I really had thought I was posting a comment on the piece about the best-grossing motion pictures of all time. Which is not the way I judge the quality of a motion picture.)
I'm excited. Hopfully all of us interrested in space flight get to fly in space. Wouldn't that be cool? Man!
Wish technology didn't have to wait up for the economy to allow it to be built. What a dumb system we have. We could have mllions of cool stuff but it's always, "Too expensive"... Sigh, that's dumb that the human race doesn't advance because it cost money... Sounds retarded to me, But at least we weren't born 200 years ago, that woulda sucked... :)
Arnold, don't feel too bad about the "Sspartan" posting- that movie _does_ have a connection to Mojave; portions were filmed at Al Hansen's hangar at the west end of the flight line.
Our barbeque the night before the flight was fun- liquid nitrogen ice cream, long demo runs of the teacart rocket engine, Chris Gilman of Global Effects modeling a space suit, and an Irdium flare. I'm afraid that my use of a liquid nitrogen dewar to put out the grease fire in Alex Pournelle's grill was a bit too memorable, though...
Of course, I feel that our Xerus vehicle will be a far more operable and economical spacecraft than SS1, but then, I'm a bit biased. It was great to see Mike pull off the first private spaceflight safely! Nice hat on his personal web page, too.
Ahhh, the sweet smell of capitalism!
MSNBC had the most spectacular group of idiots ever amassed behind some cameras. I didn't see anything 'cept a bunch of people in lawnchairs and an ocasional tower shot.
Anyone know of any good footage of the separation and initial boost? Pictures are cool but video would rock.
Absolutely the best news in a long time. This is great!!! Wow.
(Can you tell I'm excited?)
Just saw "Spartan". Not now, never will be, on the top 100 of anything list. But it stands as one of the finest examples of sparse dialog that rivets your attention, among hundreds or perhaps thousands of lesser efforts.
Kudos to screenwriter and director David Mamet, along with leading players Val Kilmer, Ed O'Neill, Tia Texada, William Macy, Kristen Bell.
(Ebert gave it four well-earned stars.)
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Free market in space....mmmmmmmmm.
Paul Allen and Burt Rutan. A great combination. And now Bezos of Amazon.com fame is entering the fray.
You have to admit, creating a dynamic spacegoing enterprise is a lot more exciting and potentially profitable than flying a balloon around the world.
The big money guys would be stupid not to try to grab a piece of this action.
hot digtety damn! I actualy got up to watch the flight...
I posted my comment above in response to what I thought was the article about top motion pictures in terms of gross revenues. So call me an idiot, and I won't bitch out any of you.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
The part I liked the best was that it burns tire rubber and nitrous oxide to make its fuel. Talk about two things we have a lot of ...
And that are by far less explosive than a fuel cell ...
Arnold, were you on that spaceship or are you just spaced out?
Q: When do we get to the friggin flying cars?!?
Flying cars? I'm still waiting for the silver jumpsuits and hoop mini-skirts we were supposed to be wearing by now!
The other big advantage to the new fuel is it's cheap. Personally, I am very happy to see that since my husband is a BAR (Born-Again Rocketeer) whose motto is "Work to Fly".
Space flight has to be made more economical, and given the cost of propellant, this is a huge step forward.
This is great. This is what free men and women can do. Thank you!
Hoop miniskirts....mmmmmmmm-hmmmm!
Today, so am I, Dean.
Well Arnold you sure gave us a nice critique about a movie. Whatcha think about this terrific flight? This is such great news! I feel like you do Dean.
So, if I understand it, the R&D for this ship was US$20 million. Does anyone know how much it costs per flight? Put aside pilot costs, and just give it to me in terms of wear and tear and fuel...
How long until I can retire to the moon?
Well, this is certainly a very impressive achievement and SpaceShipOne looks so damn cool. Could have come straight out of Star Trek or something. But environmental impact is something that has to be looked at before space tourism hits the big time.
Okay, everybody. This is what I thought of the flight. Below is part of a comment I had made on one of Dean's posts about the great flight from the day before.
-----
The capability of private enterprise to loft space vehicles into earth orbit -- plus a lot more in regard to space travel and reseach -- is one of the key factors that sustains my pride in being a citizen of the United States of America. Live on forever, glorious republic.
---
(I really had thought I was posting a comment on the piece about the best-grossing motion pictures of all time. Which is not the way I judge the quality of a motion picture.)
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
I'm excited. Hopfully all of us interrested in space flight get to fly in space. Wouldn't that be cool? Man!
Wish technology didn't have to wait up for the economy to allow it to be built. What a dumb system we have. We could have mllions of cool stuff but it's always, "Too expensive"... Sigh, that's dumb that the human race doesn't advance because it cost money... Sounds retarded to me, But at least we weren't born 200 years ago, that woulda sucked... :)
Arnold, don't feel too bad about the "Sspartan" posting- that movie _does_ have a connection to Mojave; portions were filmed at Al Hansen's hangar at the west end of the flight line.
Our barbeque the night before the flight was fun- liquid nitrogen ice cream, long demo runs of the teacart rocket engine, Chris Gilman of Global Effects modeling a space suit, and an Irdium flare. I'm afraid that my use of a liquid nitrogen dewar to put out the grease fire in Alex Pournelle's grill was a bit too memorable, though...
Of course, I feel that our Xerus vehicle will be a far more operable and economical spacecraft than SS1, but then, I'm a bit biased. It was great to see Mike pull off the first private spaceflight safely! Nice hat on his personal web page, too.
Only in Mojave.