Posted on 04/10/2006 5:09:31 PM PDT by KevinDavis
The announcement by the US Air Force that it was radically overhauling the approach being used for procurement of Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) missions (Aviation Week, March 13, 2006) represents not merely a change in a single program’s procurement strategy but the death of an entire philosophy, that of “commercial launch.”
Following the loss of the Challenger, the US had to quickly reinvigorate its entire expendable space launch industry. Of necessity, this primarily consisted of resuming production of the same boosters that had been in production for over 25 years. However, within a couple of years of the revival of the expendable industry, there arose advocates for a new approach, one that proved to be nearly as significant as the decision to focus exclusively on the shuttle had been.
(Excerpt) Read more at thespacereview.com ...
Whoa, is that related to logical positivism?
Wonder what them Rutan boys are cooking up in Mojave.
They're cooking up thrill rides disguised as a space program.
Hopefully something that will embarrass the hell out of NASA.
They're cooking up thrill rides disguised as a space program.
Yep, about like those barnstormers in the 20's were cooking up thrill rides disguised as an aviation program. However, they did generate public interest in aviation and were the precursor to commercial aviation.
Yes, I'll buy your analogy. Rutan's (and Branson's) SpaceShipOne has about as much in common with a genuine spacecraft as a JN-4 Jenny has with a modern jet fighter.
The name notwithstanding, SpaceShipOne is a rocket powered aircraft, not all that different from the WW-II Me 163 Komet. SpaceShipOne can't even duplicate the flight regime of the 1960's era X-15.
Spaceship one is just the beginning. I'm betting entrepreneurs like Rutan will eclipse NASA.
PS Spaceship one broke the altitude record set by the X-15.
I wonder if this Lt. Col. is trying to use sleight of hand, or doesn't really understand the fallacious comparisons and claims he makes. E.g., the appropriate comparison for post-Challenger costs would be to what post-Challenger "full oversight" costs would be....not to pre-Challenger costs. Methinks the good colonel has a dog in this...
I hope you don't mind my asking, and this is a genuine question (not rhetoric), what are the financial motivations for private enterprise that are worth the investment of time and resources in any space related program involving person to orbit, and beyond, transport?
PPS, it didn't break the speed, endurance, or range records of the X-15.
Nor did it break the budget records set by NASA with multiple failed programs. It hit it's design goals precisely and on budget.
Thrill ride? Maybe. But space travel = space travel, and they did it with one building, a few guys, and private money. When the mighty U.S. Wind Force can duplicate Rutan's accomplishments for the same amount of dollars (and paperwork), please let me know.
B-Chan
Former MM3, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)
Precisely the same as any company. Profit.
SS2 for the rollercoaster, but I think their planning some future magic.
I'm not taking anything away from Rutan and what he accomplished and how much he spent accomplishing it. What he did was to build the minimum craft that could go straight up, stall at 70.1 miles, and fall back down.
That, in my book at least, is no flying into space, that is an X-Prize winning aircraft that is now being turned into a thrill ride.
When Rutan can go into earth orbit, stay there for at least 3 revolutions, then more importantly de-orbit successfully, I will agree that Rutan achieved space flight. I won't hold my breath.
5 hangers, 135 people. I'd sweep the flight line with a foxtail to work there.
Making "space available" is at the heart of the global travel, tourist and lodging industry. That business axiom is no stranger to Robert Bigelow, owner of the Budget Suites of America Hotel Chain.
But now the North Las Vegas, Nevada-based Bigelow is putting his money down on inflatable Earth orbiting modules. Hes intent on attracting not only high-flying sightseers, but those hungering to crank out made-in-space products and evaluate microgravity processes.
Bigelows plan is to establish a habitable commercial space station for research, manufacturing, entertainment and other uses.
First Genesis, then Nautilus
Bigelow Aerospace is developing the Genesis Pathfinder -- one-third scale hardware meant to shakeout the bugs in a much larger space habitat tagged the Nautilus.
http://www.space.com/news/businessmonday_040524.html
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