Passenger-Carrying Spaceship Makes Desert Debut

Space.com ^ | 04/18/03 | http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/photos/images/WK%20and%20SS1%20mated%20front%20left.jpg

[been_lurking]

Rutan has a proven track record for pulling innovative designs that work better and cost less than conventional ones.

Have any of Rutin's designs been translated to a successful commercial product?

[discostu]

First time I read the headline I completely misparsed it, thought it was about a person in the desert carrying a spaceship. I need some rest.

[Dark Wing]

Check out the full picture here.

[RightWhale]

Have any of Rutin's designs been translated to a successful commercial product?

Like the E-Z and Stretch E-Z kit planes?

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks for the ping. :-) Looks a wee bit different than the rockets/shuttles I have worked with!

[boris]

Might work. Note it is "sub" orbital. The engine is a dog, performance wise. Very low specific impulse, which will limit the delta-V and hence prevent reaching orbit.

I knew a guy who made a hybrid from roofing tarpaper and liquid oxygen. Worked great--until (yup) it blew up.

--Boris

[TheBattman]

He'll have this 10 million in his account before the other guys even get off the drawing board !

But I wonder what this project, when completed, will have cost.....that stuff ain't cheap!

[Brett66]

I wonder when Rutan will build one of these?

This is the picture I made with Lightwave and posted at desktop starships.

Desktop Starships

[snopercod]

With all due respect to Burt Rutan, he has inhaled too much epoxy hardener over the years.

I have his original Long-EZ videos, and have built a fiberglass airplane myself. I used his techniques every step of the way. (I went to the same College he did, too.)

I flew to Mohave Hangar 77 to see the Voyager before it flew. I held up the movers - wouldn't let them pack the TV set - so I could watch the voyager land on Christmas Eve 1986. I have some Voyager world flight engine oil in a little vial on my desk here.

But...how should I put this... I am skeptical of this project. The Long EZ was the last commercial success that Burt had.

[B-Chan]

Aw, hell yeah. That's what I'm talking about.

[Brett66]

Found another article on MSNBC's website that gives more information on it. That carrier plane will carry Space Ship One to 50,000 ft. before releasing it.

Private manned space plane unveiled

[Phsstpok]

Wonder if Niven knows about this, it's right up his alley.

in "Fallen Angels" (discussed on another thread) Niven and Pournelle end the chase of the heros with a Rutan built space ship held in a museum being used to escape the eco-nazi's and get back to orbit. If I need to put my money on anyone getting to space without government backing it's Burt Rutan.

Niven knows about this. Bet on it.

[Sam Cree]

Phoenix. That's cool.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Hoping here that it works as well! Even if this one isn't everything, the next one will be even better and do even more, I'm sure.

[Brett66]

Looks like quite a few well known people were there:

Burt Rutan talks with former astronaut
Buzz Aldrin, right, as Max Faget,
who designed most of NASA's early
rockets, looks on at the Mojave Airport on Friday.

[Phsstpok]

I met Buzz Aldrin at a book signing, part of the 20th anniversary celebration of Apollo 11 at Huntsville. I got a chance to spend some time talking to Gene Cernan as part of the 30th anniversary at KSC. I am impressed by Buzz Aldrin. I am in awe of Gene Cernan.

[Sam Cree]

It's suddenly dawning on me that your dream of going to space isn't so farfetched after all.

[Sam Cree]

Some impressive guys are interested, looks like.

[Jhoffa_]

Ohhhh, I like..

Now watch FEDGOV shut him down over an endangered sandworm or something.

[JenB]

Wow.... ditto those hopes and prayers... I read this and was looking for the "got ya, only kidding!" It sounds like SF - the good kind!