X-Prize flight made...SpaceShipOne flies 62 miles above the earth!

[Gothic Walrus]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/29/spaceshipone.attempt.cnn/index.html

This is the first successful X-Prize flight, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm in awe right now. I'm planning on majoring in aerospace engineering in college, and this was enough to get me to stare at the monitor for ten minutes with a huge, dopey smile on my face. This is unbelievably inspiring for me...I was having doubts about aerospace as a major, but seeing the video and pictures from the site have influenced me. In the most gigantic way possible.

I want to experience this. I want to help others experience it.

There are pictures and videos here (http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/), on the ship's official site.

Anyone else have thoughts on this? I know that I haven't articulated mine very well, so other opinions could be much more interesting...

[dafoomie]

Its not over yet, they have to do it again within 2 weeks to win.

It seems a little shady that they got around the 2 passenger requirement by having "equivalent weight", but if the Ansari X-Prize people allow it, then fine.

It is amazing and I wish more people would take an interest in this. People don't realize how monumental this is.

[Ledhed]

I thought you articulated your thoughts perfectly. That is amazing. I'm so glad to be alive as we make these steps toward space travel.

[AdamInPlaidum]

I hope so much we get space travel to be a commercial thing before I die. That is something I would love to do.

[hiccupleftovers]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/29/spaceshipone.attempt.cnn/index.html

This is the first successful X-Prize flight, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm in awe right now. I'm planning on majoring in aerospace engineering in college, and this was enough to get me to stare at the monitor for ten minutes with a huge, dopey smile on my face. This is unbelievably inspiring for me...I was having doubts about aerospace as a major, but seeing the video and pictures from the site have influenced me. In the most gigantic way possible.

I want to experience this. I want to help others experience it.

There are pictures and videos here (http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/), on the ship's official site.

Anyone else have thoughts on this? I know that I haven't articulated mine very well, so other opinions could be much more interesting...
wasn't there a succesful try earlier this year if I recall correctly.

[hiccupleftovers]

This was truly monumental. We are witnessing the dawn of a new age. These are the first baby steps to expanding our knowledge of the universe in was that weren't dreamt earlier. I'm so happy that there are people like Sir Richard Branson who are willing to start a commercial space line. Too bad it had to be done by a private company and not by our own NASA which seems to be in a choke hold that it can't get out of.

[Captain Inertia]

I saw at the end of the article that someone was investing $25 million to begin a commercial sub-orbital flight company. Other than that, does anybody know how much it costs for these companies to build these things? I figured space, or sub-orbital, flight would be too expensive to make a $10 million prize worthwhile. Do they save a lot of money in fuel by having the craft launch from a significant altitude already?

[Gothic Walrus]

I saw at the end of the article that someone was investing $25 million to begin a commercial sub-orbital flight company. Other than that, does anybody know how much it costs for these companies to build these things? I figured space, or sub-orbital, flight would be too expensive to make a $10 million prize worthwhile. Do they save a lot of money in fuel by having the craft launch from a significant altitude already?

That "someone" is Richard Branson, the man that owns Virgin. He's actually licensing the SpaceShipOne technology.

As far as the cost goes...the $10 million wouldn't even begin to cover the research, materials, fuel, and the overall cost of the ship building. The winner will recieve a ton of publicity, which isn't at all bad. More importantly...think about how much money will come rolling in as soon as they make space tourism available to the public. The ship is reward enough, because it's a winged goldmine. :D

I'm so excited about this. My connection isn't working well right now, but I'll post or link images when I get a chance...

[hiccupleftovers]

I saw at the end of the article that someone was investing $25 million to begin a commercial sub-orbital flight company. Other than that, does anybody know how much it costs for these companies to build these things? I figured space, or sub-orbital, flight would be too expensive to make a $10 million prize worthwhile. Do they save a lot of money in fuel by having the craft launch from a significant altitude already?

That "someone" is Richard Branson, the man that owns Virgin. He's actually licensing the SpaceShipOne technology.

As far as the cost goes...the $10 million wouldn't even begin to cover the research, materials, fuel, and the overall cost of the ship building. The winner will recieve a ton of publicity, which isn't at all bad. More importantly...think about how much money will come rolling in as soon as they make space tourism available to the public. The ship is reward enough, because it's a winged goldmine. :D

I'm so excited about this. My connection isn't working well right now, but I'll post or link images when I get a chance...

You sir are mistaken, his name is Sir Richard Branson.

[Gothic Walrus]

I saw at the end of the article that someone was investing $25 million to begin a commercial sub-orbital flight company. Other than that, does anybody know how much it costs for these companies to build these things? I figured space, or sub-orbital, flight would be too expensive to make a $10 million prize worthwhile. Do they save a lot of money in fuel by having the craft launch from a significant altitude already?

That "someone" is Richard Branson, the man that owns Virgin. He's actually licensing the SpaceShipOne technology.

As far as the cost goes...the $10 million wouldn't even begin to cover the research, materials, fuel, and the overall cost of the ship building. The winner will recieve a ton of publicity, which isn't at all bad. More importantly...think about how much money will come rolling in as soon as they make space tourism available to the public. The ship is reward enough, because it's a winged goldmine. :D

I'm so excited about this. My connection isn't working well right now, but I'll post or link images when I get a chance...

You sir are mistaken, his name is Sir Richard Branson.

Touché. :D

I've just noticed that I've already posted the image and video link. I want to post my favorite picture here. SpaceShipOne, miles above the Earth...

http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/gallery/albums/june21/15P_P_Sun_rays.jpg

This is definitely monumental. No other word fits...

[hiccupleftovers]

I saw at the end of the article that someone was investing $25 million to begin a commercial sub-orbital flight company. Other than that, does anybody know how much it costs for these companies to build these things? I figured space, or sub-orbital, flight would be too expensive to make a $10 million prize worthwhile. Do they save a lot of money in fuel by having the craft launch from a significant altitude already?

That "someone" is Richard Branson, the man that owns Virgin. He's actually licensing the SpaceShipOne technology.

As far as the cost goes...the $10 million wouldn't even begin to cover the research, materials, fuel, and the overall cost of the ship building. The winner will recieve a ton of publicity, which isn't at all bad. More importantly...think about how much money will come rolling in as soon as they make space tourism available to the public. The ship is reward enough, because it's a winged goldmine. :D

I'm so excited about this. My connection isn't working well right now, but I'll post or link images when I get a chance...

You sir are mistaken, his name is Sir Richard Branson.

Touché. :D

I've just noticed that I've already posted the image and video link. I want to post my favorite picture here. SpaceShipOne, miles above the Earth...

http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/gallery/albums/june21/15P_P_Sun_rays.jpg

This is definitely monumental. No other word fits...

I can think of two words that fit...either Wow or Amazing.

[fireball343]

i don't know if it has been said, but to clear this up, the last flight made for this program had one passanger, he barley made it far enough.

[Captain Inertia]

Yeah, that photo is amazing.

I guess it makes sense that the real "reward" is private, manned space flight, and the potential that brings. I saw the press conference live this afternoon on CNN, and was thinking that these groups were competing specifically for the $10 mill prize. I guess the X-Prize is just icing on the cake for these folks.