SpaceShipOne reaches 350,000+ feet ! (1 Viewer)

[Kirk Gunn]

First part of the X-Prize qualification has been met !

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches..._coverage.html

 

[Julian Reville]

So, how much longer before the Vulcans land?

 

[Kenneth]

Don't we have a nuclear war before that happens? Hopefully it will be awhile yet

Kenneth

 

[Brian Harnish]

Actually, we have to discover how to build a hyperdrive first. Then the Vulcans will land.

 

[Peter McM]

I was flipping between today's Deep Space Nine repeat on Spike, and Fox News coverage of this event. It's amazing how close science fiction is to becoming science fact.



April 4, 2063. And yes, this event will come on the heels of WW III.

 

[Jonathan White]

Richard Branson has ordered five of these space ships and for £100,000 you can go into space. He is hoping to offer this in about 3 years.

Virgin boss in space tourism bid

"If it is a success, we want to move into orbital flights and then, possibly, even get a hotel up there"
Sir Richard Branson

 

[Kirk Gunn]

Looks like they won it ! Just waiting on final verification...


http://www.space.com/missionlaunches..._coverage.html

 

[Francois Caron]

We should be hearing the soundtrack from "The Right Stuff" just about now!

Way to go!

 

[Kenneth]

"They said there was a demon that lived in the air. They said any man who went against him would DIE."

Da Dum Dum Da Da Da Da Dum Dum Da Da Da Da Dum Dum ...

That is as close as I can get to "The Right Stuff" soundtrack

Kenneth

 

[Todd Hochard]

Probably so they could both get their astronaut wings. Seriously.

 

[BrianW]

From an article I read, I gather that rotation was the original plan, but illness forced some (one in particular) to fly more than the others.

Sorry I don't have a link.

 

[Chris Derby]

Good place for info: http://scaled.com/projects/tierone/info.htm

The four pilot bios are on the site.

Melvill wasn't supposed to fly X1 (the 1st X-prize flight). The original pilot slated for X1 (not sure if it was Shane or Siebold, but I'd guess Shane) got sick and his wife gave birth. So Melvill got to ride again.

If any of you missed the Discovery Channel documentary last night, watch it on Thursday. For that matter, even if you caught it, watch it again. I'm sure they're going to update it w/ a victory segment.

 

[Philip_G]

melvill has flown some amazing aircraft, quite a resume.

 

[Henry Gale]

Brian Binnie is scheduled for both Leno & Letterman this evening.
Was there a test flight between Los Angeles and New York today?

 

[Robert_Gaither]

There was supposedly another group that was trying this as well, any news from them since competition is a good thing?