Ansari X-Prize Launch Live Thread (Update: LANDING SUCCESSFUL!)

09/29/04

[KevinDavis]

This is going to be a live thread for tomorrows launch of Spaceship one...

[Ashamed Canadian]

What, no entry from the middle east? Haven't those geniuses figured out how to propel a rocket with camel dung yet? Hell, even we have one that runs on maple syrup.

[Reaganesque]

Apparently, Bigelow Aerospace has announced a $50 million prize for the first private orbital flight. I've also heard that there may be annual X-Prize races to encourage development.

[Frank_Discussion]

Perhaps so. I get a leeetle touchy about the "it's not an orbit" thing, because it usually preceeds a criticism. Kind of like the "yeah, it's a chem weapons shell but not WMD since it's only one" nonsense.

[Odyssey-x]

Mike standing on top of spaceship one while being towed, waving arms in the air at crowd...

[Mike Fieschko]

$50 million prize for the first private orbital flight

New $50 Million Prize for Private Orbiting Spacecraft at space.com

[B4Ranch]

Question. The craft has a N number. The test flight is done. Why X-2? Why not just make it a scheduled flight like AA does. No passengers?

[Frank_Discussion]

:)

[Odyssey-x]

Major Announcement: For 10 days every year in New Mexico they are going to have an X-Prize Cup, they are going to try and have 10 flights a day, invite all the teams. Make it a regular event. Even have programmed reality TV!

[Robert A Cook PE]

That X-15 landing (cracked in the middle) was the crash at Edwards AFB that they used in the 6 million dollar man TV show intro.

[Reaganesque]

Annual space races. Cool. A Space Grand Prix to encourage development.

[Thrusher]

This is America at its best. This is humankind at its best. We were made to explore, discover, and reach farther, and we are at our best when we are striving for the next foothold, the next horizon. Stagnation exhausts us, and if left too long, it can boil us down to our poorest qualities. Kennedy's race to the moon was a sounding horn for a new Manifest Destiny, and the Gemini and Apollo programs were the first bold steps in that initiative. Bush has called to reinvigorate that vision with his (underfunded) NASA initiatives to the moon and to Mars. But it is the private citizens, the individuals who grew up dreaming of the stars, who will actually make it happen.

[gopwinsin04]

Announcement of the 'X-Prize Cup' from New Mexico..

[lainie]

I don't know. I guess because they're still test flights?

[Reaganesque]

Live telecast of X-2 on the Science Channel.

[gopwinsin04]

Im guessing whoever gets to orbit first will get the cup presented to Paul Allen, kind of like a scientific 'Super Bowl' prize..

[Mike Fieschko]

No, not the X-15, it was a lifting body, IIRC. M2-F2

[Jonah Hex]

Actually, roll rate in a micro-gravity environment can be just as hazardous as in atmospheric flight. As somebody else mentioned, Armstrong and Scott had a close call with Gemini 8 when the spacecraft RCS started uncommanded firings. Another few seconds and they would've been at risk of blood pooling in the extremities and subsequent "red-out". As it was, they were dealing with blurry vision prior to RCS cut-out due to the roll.

These guys, both military and civilian, have big brass ones to push the design edge like today's efforts and deserve a lot of respect.

[alnitak]

Perfect! Man this rocks....can't wait to get home and see the video.

[B4Ranch]

I don't know but I would imagine they use multiple ground radars and then compute the angles which would give you the exact height.

[B4Ranch]

ROTFLMAO Spilled my coffee all over the desk and still laughing! I can't quit. You are so good!