The unsung rocketeers

steve smyth — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:28:05 GMT

Re Virgin Galactic's $30mil in deposits...in 1984/5, Society Expeditons Project Space Voyage offered future rides for $52,000...with a $5000 deposit...they collected $25mil...that's 5000 deposits...from word of mouth, a small pic in Esquire, and one of those ads that looks like a news story in the NYC rags.
The $25mil evaporated, along with Project Space Voyage...except for Colette Bevis, Project Director...she's one of original X-Prize guy, Peter Diamanides' gals Friday...ironic, eh?
But, the point is...where's today's interest?
Never fear...Galactic Girl ( Barbie Bubblehead )and Paris Hilton will save the day...
What a sorry situation...can you say backpedalling?
Two years away...two years away...etc...etc...ad infinitum, it seems...

The unsung rocketeers

Chuck, Valley Stream, NY — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:25:31 GMT

When there's a reason to be shot into the cold void of space ...there will be money to be made. Or if terraforming and ultra speed travel to the moon or mars can be accomplished then maybe. BUt lets put the cart BEHIND the horse. But just in case i'm wrong, i own 2000 shares of Spacecraft Development (SPDV)

The unsung rocketeers

mark caserta — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:44:00 GMT

Steve , you have to be kidding. After 3 successful flights of Spaceship one you are calling Spaceship 2 a pipedream... please. Testing will begin this summer of the vehicle with passenger service to start in 2009 or 2010. That's it no more no less. Branson does not put his money on losers and scaled composites who designs Spaceship 2 is no loser.

The unsung rocketeers

Becky and Phil Petersen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:21:44 GMT

I admire Burt Rhutan immensely. My husband was one of the first of his "builders" to buy plans and build his early design of a "Long EZ" pusher prop aircraft. We went to many seminars in Moajave' at his workshop. My husband won a ride with Burt in his plane through a raffle. The crew was always eager to help when you called with a question. Mike Melville is a one a million guy. He test flew our Long EZ when it was ready and we're proud to say that we've been associated with them. KUDOS to ANY endeavor that they put together.
Best wishes on your recovery, Burt.

We are in the business we are in today because of that little Long EZ.

The unsung rocketeers

Robert, Jupiter, FL — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:45:45 GMT

re backpedaling?
Today Bigelow, Xcor, Armadillo, Blue Origin all have flying test hardware. Spacex and Virgin should both fly this year. We may still be two years away from paying passengers on suborbital flights but there is no comparison between the dreams of the 80s and 90s and the actual engineering and business progress that these real companies have made. Steve, you are welcome to your cynicism. I am optimistic that these companies are leading us into a new era of human access to space.

The unsung rocketeers

mthomas — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:12:26 GMT

A Plan to save the Space Shuttle and thousands of NASA Jobs using near light speed propulion of 67,000,000 miles an hour is unveiled.

http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/29008/

The unsung rocketeers

Todd, Billerica, MA — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:14:26 GMT

Looks like there are some serious players, but the public yearns to see more than computer graphics. I still have faith that some of these companies will come through. My bets are on Scaled Composites and SPaceX and their projects.

The unsung rocketeers

Bloggerrich, Fort Lauderdale, FL — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:45:06 GMT

Hey Steve...Can you fill in the blanks of your jargon so we can understand what your point is?

Anyway, in a recent article about SpaceShipTwo, we had to read about people being upset about us going into space while people are starving, getting sick, fighting, etc. There is 0 (ZERO) correlation between the two.

We must continue to improve and invent these technologies and that is the way it is and should be. We've had people working to help others for centuries and here we are with the same problems...especially in Africa. You can pour billions of dollars into these countries to try to help the sick or the victims of war, but it will not stop. Now, I'm not saying give up on them, but if I had a choice where to spend my money, it would be on technology and creating jobs and industry for Americans.

The cry babies that come on here and shoot down these technologies and ideas would serve a better purpose by signing up with the Peace Corps than to try to get us to second guess our morality because we are supportive of space travel and research. I guarantee that most if not all of us would love to see world peace with no illness or famine, but unfortunately many countries don't agree and we can't control them.

Eventually, everyone can benefit from the research and technolgy and this may help millions of people avoid those atrocities. SpaceShipTwo it breaking a barrier and sending us into a whole new era of space technology...what can't be good about that. New jobs, new markets, new technology and new industry...it's all good!

Oh...and just for the record. Commercial fishing and truck driving are more dangerous than space flight and the support work that gets us there. So maybe the cry babies would like the fisherman to stop fishing and truck drivers to stop driving because the technologies that are used are a big waste of money...while people are still starving dying.

There really is no correlation between space flight and problem with humanity and therefore, no reason to make a point for argument. So let's stick to the wonders of private enterprize going where only government supported space technologies have gone. Hey, it might even free up some government money which may find it's way into the hands or stomachs of the war criminals in the countries we are attempting to help.

Also, if someone wants to pay $200,000 to go on the first trip, go for it! It is the same way with a new model of car or buying new computer technology. You always pay a premium and the prices come down over time.

The unsung rocketeers

Scott Doe Northeast Ne — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:16:27 GMT

I believe the early airplane creators sold rides on their second or third generation vehicles. After WWI the barn stormers sold rides at county and state fairs. Does anyone know if the Wright brothers did and what was the price of a ride for any of them?
Scott

The unsung rocketeers

steve smyth — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:27:02 GMT

pipedream? don't get it...
backpedalling...
the...is for you to fill in...you've missed a lot.
maybe backpedalling is wrong...how about incessant BS?
RE exciting new era in manned space...as soon as The New Space Race develops a newer, less expensive telecomsat lifter, Paris Hilton won't be able to buy a ticket...pay attention to who's who in this game...all telecom guys...in one way or other...who will benefit greatly by developing cheap lifting capacity...in the meantime...
that particular ... means 'fill in the blanks'...

The unsung rocketeers

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:00:31 GMT

"A Plan to save the Space Shuttle and thousands of NASA Jobs using near light speed propulion of 67,000,000 miles an hour is unveiled.

http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/29008/ "

First, it requires a very respectable nuclear power source, which is all right with ME, but I know that too many people respond to 'nuclear' like that other n-word: Once it's uttered, all rational thinking stops.

But I think the part that amazes me most...is that this proposal for spacecraft propulsion with outstanding performance is billed *first* as a plan to: "...Save the Space Shuttle and Thousands of NASA Jobs"

Instead of the applications it could have to space projects that would be otherwise impractical (or impossible). Isn't expanding our space capabilites part of what NASA's for? Or is it a jobs program for engineers, with results taking second place...?

And now you know why I cheer the private guys.

The unsung rocketeers

Todd, Billerica, MA — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:19:40 GMT

Steve likes to be cryptic. He likes to stir the pot. If he were to compose an actual sentence he might end up fainting. Don't even ask what would happen if he strung a few sentences together into a paragraph. I kid. :)

In any event, there is some truth to what Steve writes. We do need cheaper access to space. I differ from Steve though in this respect, I believe this commercial space race can do nothing but help lower the cost, even if it starts out a little pricey.

The unsung rocketeers

Glockenspiel, Earth — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:30:51 GMT

Privatized spaceflight might be a good thing, if only they weren't in this race only in order to hook up with moon cheese babies!

The unsung rocketeers

Lee Valentine — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:25:47 GMT

I think we will see the first rocket powered test flights in about two years. The critical long lead time system is the engine. XCOR already has excellent ones. Armadillo's busy developing their own as are Scaled,TGV and Blue Origin. Rocketplane has contracted their engine work out.