Space Age Wright Brothers

Bighoss · 2004-06-19, 08:52 AM

Folks this may very well be the wright brothers of our time. This craft has gone up near space several times. Its cheap to launch and reusable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3811881.stm

Triggar · 2004-06-19, 09:54 AM

Burt Rutan is amazing. I've been following the progress of Space Ship One since I had to do a report on it last semester. I wonder how the other competitors in the X-Prize competition feel about being so close to losing the $10 million prize.

Kaltagesta · 2004-06-19, 09:57 AM

Thats so awesome.

Rbstr · 2004-06-19, 11:32 AM

you know its probably costing a bunch more than 10 mill to make the thing, isn't it?

You know what i know one thing i may do when i grow up, Aerospace Engineering.

Triggar · 2004-06-19, 11:36 AM

Then come to Embry Riddle.

Yeah, the point isn't that they'd win a huge financial prize, the point is that they'd open the door to commercial space travel.

ZionsFire · 2004-06-19, 12:06 PM

I am going to live on the moon...

AztecWarrior · 2004-06-19, 12:07 PM

Burt Rutan pwns our bones. He designed the aircraft that flew around the world WITHOUT refueling.

Triggar · 2004-06-19, 12:27 PM

The flying fuel tank? That was sweet.

Fragmatic · 2004-06-19, 01:49 PM

Did you know Gabe Newell (From Valve) is also taking part in that competition?

Dharkbayne · 2004-06-19, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Fragmatic

Did you know Gabe Newell (From Valve) is also taking part in that competition?

Haha, I see it now, the day before the competition "We were stolen from, we'll have to start all over, ETA April 26th, 2006"

Fragmatic · 2004-06-19, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by hDrakbynea

Haha, I see it now, the day before the competition "We were stolen from, we'll have to start all over, ETA April 26th, 2006"

EarlyDawn · 2004-06-19, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Fragmatic

Did you know Gabe Newell (From Valve) is also taking part in that competition?

You sure you're not talking about the lead designer of Doom? I think it's John Carmack.

Hamma · 2004-06-19, 06:14 PM

This is pretty cool, heard about it the other day

Sputty · 2004-06-19, 03:03 PM

BTW, expect it to be more than 20 years before space trips are common. there's no reason to go into space. There's nothing there except perhaps a good view and weightlessness. Until the atmosphere bouncing aircraft(they go at like 5000 kph by bouncing off the atmosphere) are used there's no real reason to go into space.

Triggar · 2004-06-19, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by Sputty

BTW, expect it to be more than 20 years before space trips are common. there's no reason to go into space. There's nothing there except perhaps a good view and weightlessness.

The point of the X-Prize isn't so that people can launch to the moon easily. It's to reduce the time it takes to fly places - by flying a high arc rather than going straight across the globe, you significantly reduce time and fuel.