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Biting Commentary about Infinity, and Beyond!

« Misleading Economic Indicators | Main | Surreal »

Progress Toward The Prize

Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne had a successful drop test yesterday. This demonstrated the ability to take off with the vehicles mated (which had already been demonstrated in previous captive-carry flights), to smoothly separate the mated vehicles, and for both vehicles to fly safely back to Mojave. A couple more tests, and they'll be ready to integrate propulsion into the vehicle, and go for altitude.

It's quite conceivable to me that, due to Burt's regulatory shenanigans, getting a launch license may end up being the pacing item on his schedule, since it requires at least six months notice, and he only recently decided to apply for one.

Some pictures can be found here.

Posted by Rand Simberg at August 08, 2003 04:35 PM
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Tantalyzingly Closer
Excerpt: This is what I get for not reading Rand Simberg every single day. SpaceShip One and had a successful drop test on Thursday. That means...
Weblog: Dean's World
Tracked: August 10, 2003 05:49 AM
Tantalyzingly Closer
Excerpt: This is what I get for not reading Rand Simberg every single day. SpaceShip One and had a successful drop test on Thursday. That means...
Weblog: Dean's World
Tracked: August 10, 2003 08:38 AM
White Knight and Space Ship One
Excerpt: Via Dean's World, here is an update on Burt Rutan's work in aerodynamics. The story is at www.interglobal.com and there are images here. I really like stuff like this. I used to read Popular Science...
Weblog: random ruminations
Tracked: August 10, 2003 08:49 AM
Comments

I like "pacing item" much better than "long pole in the tent," which always sounds vaguely alarming. I'm going to start using it and see if it catches on. ;)

Seriously, thanks for the updates. You're the go-to guy on the space commercialization regulatory scene.

Posted by Jay Manifold at August 9, 2003 08:35 AM

...and saying "pacing item" instead of "on the critical path" shows how much you've recovered from aerospace engineerism, too! ;)

Posted by Troy at August 10, 2003 12:00 AM

I think that one of the coolest things about SpaceShipOne is that it LOOKS like a spaceship.

No it won't achieve orbit, but damn it evokes some BuckRogers-esque cultural programming!!

And that I think is what has gotten so many people excited about the X Prize now (after Columbia blowing up focused everyone's attention in that direction).

Posted by David Mercer at August 10, 2003 01:25 PM


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