SpaceShipOne - X Prize

[HeatherJay]

So, SpaceShipOne captured the X Prize.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/10/04/spaceshipone.attempt.cnn/index.html

What do you guys think? Is this the beginning of space tourism...or are we still a ways away from commercial space flights? Any thoughts about the fact that the financial backing for SpaceShipOne came from Paul Allen (one of the co-founders of Microsoft)? Would YOU take a civilian flight to the edge of space?

I find the whole thing exciting and fascinating. But, I'd never, never, never take the flight. LOL, I hate airplanes flying at 30,000 feet...can you imagine cruising at 377,591 feet (almost 72 miles)??? Nope, it's not for me...but it's extremely interesting and exciting.

 

[Deamiter]

I'd love to be in space, but I'm afraid it's not in the budget at the moment... I imagine I'll make it before I die though. If I can consider $500 for a hot air balloon ride (when the budget DOES allow) I imagine a few thousand dollars should be do-able when I'm rich and famous...

 

[Key Peninsula Redneck]

If it was free, I'd do it.

 

[freak_of_today]

$300,000 for a flight... pretty expensive (that's what Richard Branson is asking for).

Could be interesting to feel what real weighlessness is light. Oher than that it offers no real attraction (for me).

 

[horuhe00]

Well, this is a looong step forward for space travel. Since the Shuttle came out, everything got stuck because there wasn't extra money for anything else.

But man... going to space, a 5 day turnover, and then back into space... That's fast What's the Shuttle's best turnover? One year and 10,000% more expensive?

 

[Stellar Vision]

Start saving up now!

It's just terrific to see real progress toward space once again. This demonstration well most assuredly create new drive for people to explore space. I remember hearing about the X-Prize several times before, but I didn't realize they were already poised to win it. From what I understand however, the prize was only being supported until the end of this year, so it looks like they were on a deadline. It was a real surprise to see them accomplish it so soon though. I'm definitely excited!

 

[Suffolk Sean]

I heard the X-Prize commity is now establishing a yearly X-Cup for civilian spaceflight competitions in a variety of areas.

Way to Go!!!

 

[HeatherJay]

I heard the X-Prize commity is now establishing a yearly X-Cup for civilian spaceflight competitions in a variety of areas.

Way to Go!!!

Now that someone's actually done it, I'm sure that finding the funding for X-Prize won't be a problem.

 

[Elrond52]

I'd love to go to space
it would be cool
besides the fact it costs so much
but after a while it will get cheaper
hopefully

 

[mindlight]

I take my hat to Richard Branson on this Virgin Galactica venture of his. He is a hard headed business man but i think he is still capable of dreaming also. Space Ship One is a first step towards mass commercial space flight - and towards faster trans - global flights also. If I was a millionaire I'd be seriously tempted by this. All the better that paying the price would be making a direct contribution to the development of space flight technologies and services.

It makes me think that all those tens of billions spent on the space shuttle might have been better employed on offering prizes to the private sector to provide space services such as:

1) getting into space
2) Getting into geostationary orbit e.g. 22,000 miles
3) Delivering a working 1 tonne satellite for under a million pounds into space
4) First tourist space craft to circle moon and return safely
5) First space hotel
6) First commercial cargo service over 10 tonnes
7) First commercial satellite cleanup and fixup service
8) First private individual to go to moon and return safely
9) First private Lunar base
10) " Hotel
11) " Commercial Mine
12) First profitable asteroid mining operation
..............etc

 

[theotherguy]

I think they should build the international space station into a ship yard, build other shipyards off that and build a load of big ships. Make space flight cheaper in the long run, and will make colonisation and other activivties faster and easier. Plus it'll make space travel affordable once you develop a shuttle just for going to an obiting station, where you can take a trip to the moon or mars or whatever someones offering.
Sorry if this sounds geeky but once you get a spaceship construction station, space travel will take off, should only take about 100 years to colonise pluto.