[HamiltonJay]

Look guys I'm glad that this has happened, however 1) its NOT the first time it has been done as someone else has pointed out, and 2) starting out with the problem already solved by government research before you ever get started definately makes your task of replicating it simpler!

This is hardly an example of private industry "CREATING" new technology.... who do you think had a harder time, the Write Brothers or the guys who built aircraft 10 years later? You cannot dismiss that technology largely advances on top of previous discoveries and advances. I am not trying to deminish this accomplishment, but if there weren't already many supersonic aircraft flying these guys would still be working out the kinks... they can like all developments piggyback on those that came before... you can't claim this thing happened in a Vaccuum... it didn't.

[RightWhale]

its NOT the first time it has been done

That's also not the point. This is merely a test-flight on the way to achieving the goal, and the goal has never been achieved, not even by the mighty government.

[Frank_Discussion]

What part of "That's right, no gov't funds. No gov't interference aside from the usual permits." do you not understand?

Yes, they stand on the shoulders of giants. Nobody is saying they don't.

But they are the first to get off the dime.

NACA, the USAF, and NASA may have done this before, but not this quickly and certainly not as cheaply. The accomplishment is great, and currently, singular.

[ThinkDifferent]

starting out with the problem already solved by government research

The problem of inexpensive access to space has most definitely not been solved; that's the whole point of the X-Prize.

you can't claim this thing happened in a Vaccuum... it didn't.

Of course not; nothing has since the wheel. But this is a major step forward and a demonstration that private enterprise is capable of things that many believe are only possible with huge government programs.

[GeronL]

This is hardly an example of private industry "CREATING" new technology

when did government build a spacecraft (suborbital) that is designed to be reusable every 2 weeks? (that IS the plan)