SpaceshipOne is aloft in attempt to claim the X-Prize!

[Rel]

Just saw the takeoff on television. In about an hour, the rocket portion will separate from the plane and send the pilots into the edge of space (about 100km) and then glide back to earth. If they can repeat it within 14 days, we'll have an X-Prize winner!

And the rocket is powered by tire rubber and laughing gas! Awesome!

 

[Mark]

They are rubber,
The Earth, home base,
They laugh as they bounce off of it,
And go up to space...


Go, go, gadget rocketship!

 

[Rel]

Well, it looks like they did it! The ship is gliding back to earth now and should land in about 15 minutes.

Also, according to what I saw on CNN, this is the 2nd of three planned flights within the 14 day period. So, if I'm not mistaken, they will have won the X-Prize upon a safe landing and confirmation of their altitude.

It was rather scary however as the ship began to roll during its ascent. And of course as it got out of the atmosphere there was no way to use the control surfaces to correct that. But they used onboard attitude jets to slow the spin and then the fall began. The hinged wing, "shuttlecock" design of the ship is ingenious!

So who here at ENWorld is going to pony up the $200,000 for a ride?...

Nah, I guess that would buy a lot of gaming material huh?

 

[Imperialus]

Yeah, the rolls were rather nerve wracking. I missed the first minute or so of the flight and turned on the news just as it was starting to roll.

 

[Umbran]

Mmm. Spaceshippy goodness.

In case anyone missed it, at least one company plans to try to make a commercial go of space tourism. Richard Branson intends to license the technology of SpaceShip One, and sell flights for about $200,000.

CNN.com: Virgin offers trip to space

Oh, and for those interested, Virgin Galactic has a website.

 

[Rel]

CNN.com: Virgin offers trip to space

Great headline, huh?

BTW, I was mistaken earlier. This was the first flight and the next is scheduled for Monday. That's when they'll claim the X-Prize upon successful completion.

There was also mention that a new prize, 50 million bucks this time, will be awarded for the first private flight that completes a full orbit of the Earth.