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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

First Civilian Spacecraft to Launch June 21st

The first privately built manned spacecraft will rocket into space on June 21 according to a recent announcement from Scaled Composites. The company's SpaceShipOne will fly to an altitude of 100 km (62 miles), and whoever pilots it will be the first private citizen to receive astronaut wings for heading into space.

Although SpaceShipOne is aiming for the Ansari X-Prize, it won't be on this attempt, since the spacecraft will only be carrying the pilot. To win the prize, SpaceShipOne will need to carry the equivalent weight for two more passengers and complete the journey to space twice within two weeks.

I think it's about damned time that the private sector has stepped up to the plate and moved mankind off this planet, without the bureaucracy and secrecy of the U.S. Government. Much like the philanthropist from the movie "Contact", (one of my favorite movies of all time). "Wanna take a ride?"

Buzz Aldren was working on such an aircraft. His spaceship is different, in that it takes off from the ground, unlike spaceshipone, which will be dropped from a plane...almost like the X-17 of the '50's.

Hooray for private enterprise, I wish the brave souls a safe test flight.

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[NatureDevil]

I have read about this, and I think it deserves a lot more attention and respect because of what it represents. Private citizens doing what they want, whenever they want to because of freedom (within limits of course).

I type this 2 days after a DuPage county "Safety Inspection" where I was pulled over with a dozen other cars to make sure I was "safe". They wouldn't let me or my friends go until they could give me a ticket for something, so I claimed I had no insurance. They give me a $500 ticket, I go to the courts with my proof and it goes away. But it is scary that it just happens liek that.

Random safety inspection my @$$.

NatureDevil

[astroviewerNGC2207]

Although the X-Prize is an intresting venture I amstill skeptical of the complete outcome.
I dont think that any Person or company that has enough $ can throw something together and aim for space.
There are lives on the ground that are at stake let alone the TRILLIONS of $$ of equipment that are running around up there.
At this moment in time Government only should go to space and do specific tests and research.
There will be a time for private sector to jump in as we continue our efforts in space.
Personally what I would like to see is the world as a whole working more together than apart in the exploration of space.
It's about time to put politics aside and do what is right for the world as a whole and not the pride of any one country.
We will all get further faster and better.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I can agree with you, Astro, to a point. It's similar to the first automobiles or airplanes. Only the greatly skilled and trained people took over the controls, but now...any moron with a license can affect the lives of others by sheer stupidity.

But, the governemnt cannot retain the monopoly on space travel for much longer. I think that the U.S. govenment should "police" the heavens, as it now becomes an easy weapon platform for any war monger with a credit card.

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[NatureDevil]

I have two problems with the government having total control over space flight.

The first is that it limits freedoms of the individual to explore....not just space, but explore everything. Like different types of fuel, or new ways to construct a space shuttle. I remember a line from Star Trek: First Contact (here we go again with my loser instincts kicking in) but it had a point. A character had developed for the first time the warp drive, the first way to travel fast and safe over large distances in space. Another character said something along the lines of "can you believe that man used to fly these things with several thousand tons of hydrogen burning below them?" I understand the idea of money and safety, but rights shoudl be protected for science and freedom sake.

My second reason becomes more world related. Which government polices the skies? The same one that is policing the planet right now? One government may find it perfectly reasonable to set up a weapons station in space targeted at an enemy. I don't trust our government that much, and I trust other governments even less. Everyone should police the skies, but everyone shoudl also have the freedoms to enjoy it.

Very sticky business, I hate/love politics sometimes.

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I agree with you, but monitoring of what goes up needs to be established, by a world organization of some sort. Think about the "dirty" rocketry that will be flying over our heads that any one may launch just because they can.

I remember when Skylab was scheduled to re-enter the atmosphere. People went nuts thinking that radioactivity and parts would rain down on them. Luckily, minor debris landed around sparsely populated Australia. But if a craft is launched unmonitored, who knows what evils are carried aboard.

I also recall a Trek-dom factoid. In a Voyager episode, the crew comes across dirty crafts, spewing radioactive waste into space...contaminating the living space of other lifeforms. Voyager took on the role of "Space Cop" and ceased the activity, but the point is it just isn't smart to allow anyone to be a rocket man.

Space is for ever one, but not everyone belongs in space.

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[NatureDevil]

We'll have to wait and see the outcome on this venture in a few weeks. See if anyone important has a comment and if it even gets any covereage in the mainstream press. May be forshadowing for what my future kids will have to deal with when they all graduate from space camp and play the first drumset in zero gravity (just wait).

NatureDevil