[Uncle Peter]

FACT:

• SOV is a concept. Not one has flown. Not one has been built. They have been designed but never left the drawing board. An airplane is not an SOV because it relies on oxygen for combustion whereas SOV's carry their own and are technically rockets and are therefore capable of attaining a much higher ceiling.

• In order for something to be "Scientifically Proven", it must suffer the scrutiny of the Scientific Method, wherein a postulate acquires theoretical validity, then proceeds to be indepentently confirmed. It is at that point that it ascends to Fact.

[NonZeroSum]

SOV is a concept. Not one has flown. Not one has been built. They have been designed but never left the drawing board. An airplane is not an SOV because it relies on oxygen for combustion whereas SOV's carry their own and are technically rockets and are therefore capable of attaining a much higher ceiling.

What in the world is an "SOV"?

I told you. Burt Rutan flew a rocketplane into space (to a hundred kilometers) two years ago, twice within two weeks. All it required was refueling. It was called SpaceShipOne. It was in the news. He is building a larger version of it now. It could do the mission described. What part of this do you not understand?

[antisocial]

Do you get the feeling Al Gore is lurking here?