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Not exactly Nasa! Ugandan space chief builds test craft in his mother's muddy back yard
Daily Mail (UK) ^ | December 2nd, 2011 | Lee Moran

Posted on 12/02/2011 2:52:59 PM PST by AnAmericanAbroad

This is the Ugandan aircraft that Africa hopes will thrust it right into the space race.

Constructed amidst the rubble of his mother's backyard, ambitious Chris NSamba believes the African Skyhawk will lead to his continent launching its first astronaut into orbit.

The African Space Research Programme founder has been helped by 600 volunteers in partially achieving the first stage of his dream - the creation of the plane that will penetrate the edge of space by flying at 80,000ft.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: aeronautics; homemade; space; uganda
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An interesting story from Uganda, of all places.

In the article, the young would-be astronaut says that, "'one time or another every succesful scientists has been called a madman.'"

And he's quite right. A lot of folks thought Robert Goddard was some kind of mad scientist. But without Goddard's early research into rocketry, where would we be?

I wish the young man luck (and hopefully, a long life!) and I hope that he makes his dream come true, and I salute him for his adventurous spirit.

1 posted on 12/02/2011 2:53:10 PM PST by AnAmericanAbroad
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To: AnAmericanAbroad
I salute him for his adventurous spirit.

Agreed.
2 posted on 12/02/2011 2:56:58 PM PST by cripplecreek (Stand with courage or shut up and do as you're told.)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

Good for him!


3 posted on 12/02/2011 3:01:59 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

Amazing. Uganda has a manned space prgram and the United States doesn’t. Thank you, Mr. Obama.


4 posted on 12/02/2011 3:04:37 PM PST by MeganC (No way in Hell am I voting for Mitt Romney. Not now, not ever. Deal with it.)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

If I were in Uganda I would definitely volunteer some time despite the slim chances of real success. Sometimes the reward is in trying.


5 posted on 12/02/2011 3:09:00 PM PST by cripplecreek (Stand with courage or shut up and do as you're told.)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

Nice body work and paint job. It will be interesting to see how it flies.

This made me think of the USA’s Old Negro Space Program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipGLGUgEhBA


6 posted on 12/02/2011 3:15:04 PM PST by Right Wing Assault (Dick Obama is more inexperienced now than he was before he was elected.)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad
I was all set to make fun, but after reading it and looking at his work, I applaud his industry.

So many of his neighbors are just sitting around crapping in their drinking water, while he's striving for so much more.

And when asked how he plans to simulate zero gravity for training, he said it would be 'easy'. He added: 'I've got a jet engine on order so I'm planning to build a tunnel, put the engine at one end and when I throw a guy in he'll float in a similar way to how he would in space.'

I hope somebody talks him out of this part of the plan.

7 posted on 12/02/2011 3:15:18 PM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad
I could see this dropping out of the sky in the neighbours backyard - David, St Helier Jersey, 02/12/2011 17:17

LOL! The guy beat me to it........

8 posted on 12/02/2011 3:17:29 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Be good, Santa is coming)
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To: MeganC

Did you look at the “spacecraft”? They will all die.


9 posted on 12/02/2011 3:18:44 PM PST by EEGator
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To: Right Wing Assault

One of my favorites.


10 posted on 12/02/2011 3:19:36 PM PST by EEGator
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To: AnAmericanAbroad
the young would-be astronaut says that, "'one time or another every succesful scientists has been called a madman.'"

And every unsuccessful one, when it comes to flight, has the initials "R.I.P".......and that don't mean "Residing In Philadelphia".....

11 posted on 12/02/2011 3:20:27 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Be good, Santa is coming)
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To: dead

“And when asked how he plans to simulate zero gravity for training, he said it would be ‘easy’. He added: ‘I’ve got a jet engine on order so I’m planning to build a tunnel, put the engine at one end and when I throw a guy in he’ll float in a similar way to how he would in space.’

I hope somebody talks him out of this part of the plan.”

Turboprop engine sitting in the bottom of a cylinder with a mesh floor like the “Fly-Away” amusement rides?

It was fun!


12 posted on 12/02/2011 3:21:27 PM PST by Clay Moore (The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

One step toward Ugandan Exceptionalism. Obama would do well to read Free Republic on a regular basis, and heed it’s examples of Amercanism, instead of apologizing for us.


13 posted on 12/02/2011 3:23:38 PM PST by righttackle44 (I may not be much, but I raised a United States Marine)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

14 posted on 12/02/2011 3:23:47 PM PST by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
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To: P.O.E.

“It was a different time, you understand.”

LOL, love that piece.


15 posted on 12/02/2011 3:24:55 PM PST by dfwgator (I stand with Herman Cain.)
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To: cripplecreek

“My name is Jose Jimenez.”

“To me the most important thing in the rocket travel is the blast-off.”
Ed Sullivan: “The blast-off.”
Jose Jimenez: “I always take a blast before I take off. Otherwise I wouldn’t go near that thing.”


16 posted on 12/02/2011 3:26:03 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT (The best is the enemy of the good!)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

Looks more like a nice high performance glider. Put a tow hook on it. I hope those coconuts or whatever they are don’t fall on it.


17 posted on 12/02/2011 3:26:24 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture (Could be worst in 40 years))
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

I wish we had a space program. Ah well...


18 posted on 12/02/2011 3:28:06 PM PST by bigheadfred
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To: P.O.E.

Secret black NASA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XPCzckUcYY


19 posted on 12/02/2011 3:30:36 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT (The best is the enemy of the good!)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad
will lead to his continent launching its first astronaut into orbit.

It doesn't take that much money or technology to launch someone into space. Any of us could do it with a few million dollars.

Getting the launchee back alive - now that's what takes money and skill.

20 posted on 12/02/2011 3:36:37 PM PST by PAR35
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