Free Republic

IT USED to be the stuff of science fiction, but now tourist trips to space are to be launched from Scotland, under new plans being considered by Sir Richard Branson’s company Virgin Galatic. Last month the company directors announced that they would launch their first commercial flight into space in 2008 from New Mexico and have already attracted 167 bookings at a cost of £115,000 per person. A number of celebrities including Sigourney Weaver, star of the Alien films, Paris Hilton, the socialite, and Victoria Principal, the former star of Dallas, the TV soap opera, have bought tickets for the...

Countdown underway for first SpaceX rocket launch The inaugural launch of the privately-made Falcon 1 rocket is targeted for 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT) today from a seven-acre isle in the Central Pacific Ocean. SpaceX delayed the launch from 4:05 p.m. so that the first stage recovery ship could be moved out of the restricted impact zone.

The McLaughlin Group is a political debate show that's nationally syndicated and will air a show this weekend on "Shelving the Shuttle FOR GOOD". Presumably it's showing on NBC in your area, although one can check at: http://www.mclaughlin.com .

Now that the Space Shuttle Discovery is back safely, we can breathe a sigh of relief, hail the pluck and bravery of its crew, and ask: How did our space program become so invested in such a clunker?