Bob Clarebrough says that space settlers should take some lessons from the Polynesians, and Jeff Foust writes about the continuing debate over the term “space tourist.”

That’s what Keith Cowing says that Anousheh Ansari’s flight is being.

I agree. It’s great that she’s flying, and I hope that it provides useful inspiration, but Space Adventures has gone overboard. I’ll be much more interested in what she does with her money and time when she gets back, in terms of helping private enterprise.

Anousheh Ansari and Peter Diamandis continue to post over at the new X-Prize blog.

[Update at 4:30 PM EDT]

Here’s another interview with her. Note (to those who continue to talk about the “first Muslim woman in space”) that she never mentions her religion, or the word religion.

[Saturday morning update]

Alan Boyle has more on the nationality/religion angle.

As to the Iranian flag issue, just out of curiousity, did the flag change when the mullahs took over, or is it currently what it was during the time of the Shah? If not, it would be an interesting statement for her to have a pre-mullah flag. But in general, she seems to be avoiding the politics as much as possible.

Leonard David has a story on progress in the X-Prize Cup and Rocket Racing League.

Here’s an interview with Danny Davis, manager of the ARES I upper stage at Marshall. I wish that Ross had asked about roll control, though.

I find this fascinating, albeit confusing:

NASA selected a Shuttle-derived launch architecture after a thorough apples-to-apples study last Summer – the Exploration Systems Architecture Study. NASA carefully weighed a wide variety of launch options for both crew and cargo – a Shuttle derived architecture was the clear winner when considering total cost, schedule and safety/reliability to achieve an exploration-capable system. NASA did not do this in a vacuum – in fact, we received inputs from industry, including studies funded by the agency, in the year prior to ESAS. The ESAS results were independently reviewed and concurred-in by experts outside the agency.

Last Winter and Spring, after a series of trade studies, NASA elected to alter the launch architecture to a 5 segment RSRM-derived 1st stage and a J-2X upperstage for Ares I and an Ares V core stage powered by an RS-68 (still boosted with a 5 segment RSRM and a J-2X earth departure stage).

So, are they saying that they originally were Shuttle derived, but have backed off from that ( with the abandonment of the SSME, there’s nothing left of the Shuttle derivation other than RSRMs), or that they recognize that the initial choice was mistaken? Are they still claiming that it’s significantly Shuttle derived?

Clark Lindsey is building a new section at Hobby Space devoted to NewSpace.

Alan Boyle has done what I couldn’t–scored an interview with her. Of course, that’s why he’s a pro.

And, of course, I might have had a better chance if my URL said “MSNBC” instead of “Transterrestrial.” But he done good nonetheless.

She does seem to be in this for the long haul, as I’d hoped.

The X-Prize blog, from Peter Diamandis and Anousheh Ansari. Go wish her a happy birthday in quarantine.

Burt Rutan said in Mojave Desrt News (via Leonard David)

One small step for a small man. Behold, the Mercury Joe story.