Rocket racers take it slower

steve smyth — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:41:53 GMT

The Rocket Racing league places a distant second to SpacePortAmerica in the Las Cruces area...and SPA is getting anywhere because the red tape is insurmountable...
the caution of the citizenry is not necessarily a bad thing...I just hope developers don't get the infrastructure halfway there and abandon the project...lotsa roads to nowhere...with plastic Virgin Galactic signs featuring Barbie Bubblehead planted along the way...

Rocket racers take it slower

James Bowery — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:02:07 GMT

I had a totally different idea:

http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=84679&cid=7391494

But, hey, the rocket planes are a GREAT appetizer for a 10 second vertical mile at the Daytona International Spaceway!

Rocket racers take it slower

Joe Strout, Fort Collins, CO — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:17:08 GMT

Thanks for the update, Alan. It's good to hear that progress is ongoing despite the inevitable problems.

It's also quite fun to watch XCOR slowly but steadily plugging away. They've been the tortoise to quite a handful of hares by this point, and I can't shake the feeling that their slow but steady progress will eventually get them to the finish line (commercial space participant service) before all the flashier, better-known competitors.

Rocket racers take it slower

Mike in Eastern NC — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:03:17 GMT

So, why is this concept "NASCAR-like"? The vehicles sport wings front & rear, the powerplant is behind the pilot, and the idea is to go really fast. That sure sounds "IndyCar-like" to me. And hey, we have our sponsorship problems, too.

NCIRLFAN
Native of NASCAR country, but an IRL fan by the Grace O'God.

Rocket racers take it slower

George D — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:46:56 GMT

The road for Rocket Racing looks like it has been a long one. Between falling far behind schedule, their debut at Oshkosh 08 was boring at best. Watching these planes turning their engines off and on in a race that will last 5 minutes sounds like a lot of fun, if you like watching grass grow.