Great Day in American History

[Czilla9000]

The first privately funded manned space flight occurred today (June 21, 2004). The space craft and mother ship were designed by Burt Rutan (of Voyager fame), while funding was provided by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The cost of the program was about $20 million dollars, compared to around $0.5 billion per space shuttle launch.

http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/062104-2.htm

I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Rutan speak last year at the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) 2003 AirVenture airshow. Mr. Rutan gave his speech in an ailing aircraft hanger during a thunderstorm. Needless to say, the room was packed with people eager to hear about his plan for space exploration. Rutan talked about the need for private enterprise in space travel, and he made it clear to the audience that the government's monopoly on space travel must end if they ever wish to visit space in their lifetimes. Rutan blamed the government's bureaucracy in space travel for the slow pace of private development. He stated that the profit motive was needed in order to make space travel for the masses a reality. Rutan believes we should visit space for fun and think of practical applications and safety later, as the great aviators did with aviation during the early 20th Century. Rutan worries that young people today no longer have heroes to look up to.

(I will be gone till Saturday, so I won't really have a chance to respond to your responces)

EDIT: The space craft in the photo is called "Space Ship One" and the mother ship which it was dropped from is called "White Knight". Though the people at Scaled Composite used modern day design tech, the controls of the craft are primative. Space Ship One, which goes Mach 3, uses a pushrod and cable control system similar to that of the Spirit of St. Louis. It is the first supersonic craft to use such a primitive control scheme since Chuck Yeagers flight.

What is even more interesting is SS-One's rocket. The rocket uses tire rubber and laughing gas for cheap, effective propulsion.

 

[Czilla9000]

This is a big deal, why no replies?

 

[lini]

Because that's so cool that we're all still in awe...

I hope Paul Allen will continue funding that project. These guys show that there's a lot of optimization potential in space exploration and travel...

And I'd hope that one day there'll be a safe and priceworthy opportunity for everyone to see our planet from the outside for oneself. Because I trust that this view will provide the insight for a lot of people that conflicts between countries on Earth are kind of superfluous and really should be avoided. I don't think there's a better way to realize that all humans are brothers and sisters and that life on Earth generally has to be protected by all means, than seeing that tiny colourful marble in space surrounded by its fragile aura.

Greetings from Hannover!

Manfred / lini

 

[chadbang]

Quote:

Space Ship One, which goes Mach 3, uses a pushrod and cable control system similar to that of the Spirit of St. Louis. It is the first supersonic craft to use such a primitive control scheme since Chuck Yeagers flight.

Quote:

What is even more interesting is SS-One's rocket. The rocket uses tire rubber and laughing gas for cheap, effective propulsion.

Why such a primative control system? Purely a cost factor or is there another reason? And how does it run on tire rubber and laughing gas! Very interesting. I guess it's mainly the design of the craft that allows it performing this feat?

Damn, this makes me want to go read some Ray Bradbury. R is for ROCKET!

 

[3lusiv3]

Great story. It has made it on the news in Australia.

 

[Audio Redneck]

I love this country!

I would have replied sooner, but work has been brutal the past few days.

I hope this project continues. What's a shame is that we are only now back to where we were with the X-15 in the '60s. But the race to the moon pushed the space program toward disposable rockets instead of reusable craft. It would be nice if in, say 10 years, one of these could fly to the space station, drop off some new crew, then head back.

What I like most is that this is private interprise with governments role limited to traffic control. I'm all for NASA, mind you, but I'm all for seeing private companies involved in space, too. Since PanAm is no longer, perhaps it will be Delta docking at that big wheel in space some day!

Doesn't this thing look just like something from a 30's-50's space movie?

 

[bangraman]

As a long-time admirer of Rutan, I've been following this closely. I didn't realise that the SS1 had a mechanical linkage... And it even looks a bit like Glamorous Glennis!


The rocket engine is not only cheaper, but what the compounds break down into after ignition is less toxic to the surrounding environment.

 

[mbriant]

Here's a shot of the cockpit. Seems rather stark for a spaceship. Notice the Garmin SPIII gps box sitting on top of the main screen. It appears to be the same unit you can buy for your car or boat....and not even the most current model. I guess that's how they keep the budget low. Yikes!