Thread: Private Spaceship.

>>> just had someone complete the first flight (of two)

Yesterdays flight was not the first of the two required to win the X-Prize. It was a further test flight. The rules of the X-Prize require that the space craft carry a crew of 3 or ballast to the same mass, that was not the case with yesterdays flight.

I was very suprised to find this was an unknown project to Americans. In Europe, the X-Prize has had on and off news coverage for years, through the general media as well as the science portals. Not just David here, I was chatting about it on another board with UK, Holland, Belgium and Ireland types, then a few Americans wandered into the discussion with "Huh?" type comments. Odd.

I was under the impression that it just had to repeat this in 2 weeks to win the X-Prize, not that this was another test flight. Of course, you know more about space-related things than anyone I've seen online, so I'll assume you're right.

Between this, and the first successful teleportation of atomic states--I'm thinking my fears that the future in my life time wont be as amazing as my grandfathers is off base. He was lucky to live through times of innovation-- the growth cars, tvs, electronics. I was affriad that things would be stagnent in my life time. But things are finally shaping up.

cheez, he's right. This made history but it wasn't for the first stage of the X-prize. they have to go up two more times with three crewmen. I think its safe to say that barring any horrible accidents, they'll win it.

ok, first of all, I'm excited as all heck about this. I've been constantly checking www.scaled.com/tierone for weeks now in anticipation.

Adrian, the coverage hasn't been nearly as good in the US, CNN was the only network to cover the launch itself. We're too busy being war hawks (grumble grumble)

Govt - I think there's quite a bit regulations already. I know the Mojove airport had to jump through all kinds of hoops to be certified as the first spaceport. I'm sure there will be more to follow, but there are some rules on the books already - as strange as that may seem.

People interested should really browse the X Prize website where you can read the rules, see the various teams, their progress and a whole load of other interesting stuff.

Scaled Composites are not the only private space project based at Mojave. Rotary Rocket went bust a while back but their Roton prototype was one of the first to fly, very odd machine indeed. X is also out at Mojave, but they are not an official competitor, just a well funded concern who will likely suceed as well at some point.

Originally Posted by FillYourBrain

cheez, he's right. This made history but it wasn't for the first stage of the X-prize. they have to go up two more times with three crewmen. I think its safe to say that barring any horrible accidents, they'll win it.

Somehow, I'm not that upset when adrian shows me up

Still awesome

The flight of the first private astronaut was not as perfect as it first appeared – a number of glitches occurred during the flight, some potentially catastrophic.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Within hours of the first private flight to outer space on Monday, a NASA (news - web sites) official said the agency might offer millions of dollars in prizes to encourage commercial missions to orbit the Earth or land on the moon.

>> they have to go up two more times with three crewmen. <<

Actually, only the pilot plus the ballast equivalent of two passengers.