space is the place
by John at 6/17/2004 11:14:00 AM
Of course you already know about this, but SpaceShipOne is getting ready for its first space flight on June 21, ushering in an exciting new era of much-less-insanely-expensive private space travel. I have two questions for potential space travel agents: What destinations are available? How much is a one-way economy class ticket?
Some important links:
SpaceShipOne at Scaled Composites
Boing Boing live bloggage (part one, part two)
The X Prize
Some important links:
SpaceShipOne at Scaled Composites
Boing Boing live bloggage (part one, part two)
The X Prize
The most important accomplishment of the x-prize and the potential winner SpaceShipOne is bringing style to space. Though it is extremely unlikely, our first encounter with an alien lifeform might take place in one of these puppies and SpaceShipOne, with the cool and functional little round window, bug-eyed look represents much better than the rather staid shuttle (70s written all over it) or the tin canesque capsules of yore. Scaled Composites has "pimped the ride" of the human race.
SpaceShipOne is a cool design. That NASA stuff was typical government utilitarian, while Rutan's ship reminds me a bit of the highly cool Von Braun rocket designs of the 50s.
But, there is a problem. SpaceShipOne is a dumb name. Last night Wendy and I were trying to think of better ones: "Goostar" came to mind.
Anyway, part three and four of the launch blog are up at BoingBoing. (The permalink for part three is broken. Sorry)
» Post a Comment