Re: Spaceship One in perspective

From: Bob Kaplow (kaplow_r_at_encompasserve.org.TRABoD)
Date: 06/24/04 

Date: 24 Jun 2004 13:17:45 -0600

In article <MP5Cc.6675$Il1.3270@fe1.columbus.rr.com>, "Mike Dennis" <mapson@woh.rr.com> writes:
> I too greatly respect Rutan's achievements, but this guy really has a big
> mouth to go along with his unusually large brain. After the flight he was
> bragging about how his design proved one could reenter at low speed, without
> all the dangerous heat. Of course, Mr. Rutan is no fan of NASA, but he
> needs to respect what they've achieved as well. If the X-Prize requirements
> had been for "orbital" flight, he wouldn't be spouting off about how much
> different his ideas are. I wonder what SpaceShipOne would look like after a
> 17,600mph reentry from 160 miles up? How about after doing it 25-30 times?
>
> Let's not lose sight of the fact that these ballistic missions are of little
> long-term value. Orbital missions (or beyond) are where the real money is.

It is clear that Rutans goals go beyond the X prize.

It occurs to me that he's positioning himself to be the prime contractor or
at lease the designer of the Next Generation Space Shuttle.

        Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
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