Posted on 04/29/2013 11:47:54 AM PDT by BenLurkin
British billionaire Richard Bransons commercial space venture Virgin Galactic got one step closer to carrying tourists into space when a test pilot cracked the sound barrier over the Mojave desert.
For the first time, the company's SpaceShipTwo, engaged its rocket motor and sped to Mach 1.2 and reached 56,000 feet in altitude.
The flight is the latest -- and largest -- milestone in Virgin Galactic's testing of technology it hopes to use to carry scores of paying customers into space multiple times a day.
The first powered flight of Virgin Spaceship Enterprise was without any doubt our single most important flight test to date, said Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, in a statement. Todays supersonic success opens the way for a rapid expansion of the spaceships powered flight envelope, with a very realistic goal of full space flight by the years end
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Just wow. One of the few bright spots in life.
Cool.. There are 536 people I will gladly contribute money to so they can go into space.........and stay there.
Here’s hoping they offer one-way tickets...
Things we need desperately to preserve freedom...
1. Cheap Access to Earth Orbit
2. Ability to identify life bearing planets
3. Warp Drive
Because if we stay on Earth too long the collectivists will ruin everyone’s lives...
Allow me to add one: a technology which will provide 100% self-sustained living in space. A closed system with air food and water, all cycled within the habitat. The technology could be used for permanent settlements or for long distance long term travel.
Allow me to add one: a technology which will provide 100% self-sustained living in space. A closed system with air food and water, all cycled within the habitat. The technology could be used for permanent settlements or for long distance long term travel.
Yes indeed, I would love to live on the moon and lob rocks at progressives at 17,500 MPH
New Mexico ping
Then perhaps a one way trip to Mars for them?
Just imagine in short order this outfit may advance to FTL speeds, and then we get a friendly visit by aliens.
Unlike a world dominated by Islam wasting its time on its knees all day long and going backwards in technology.
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