[extropy-chat] SPACE: Private spacecraft blast offs June 21

[Mike Lorrey]

--- Damien Broderick <thespike at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> At 08:24 AM 6/21/2004 -0700, Robert wrote:
> 
> >Bottom line: *it worked*  Private funding for space exploration
> >is feasible.
> 
> < cough >
> 
> Not to be a spoilsport or anything (this is a very delightful and
> exciting 
> event!), but I'm not sure how much can be explored at 62 miles above
> the Earth's surface. This trip covered, let's see, 1/3850th of the
> distance 
> traveled 35 years ago by the govt guys who did at least manage to
> bring back some rocks.

Ah, Damien the Curmudgeon... It's a similar trip as Alan Shepherd did
40  years ago or so, but at a tiny fraction of the cost, manpower, and
within a much better risk envelope. Its a similar flight to that
performed by the X-15 as well over a number of flights, also at much
lower cost, less manpower, and with a much smaller mothership than a
B-52.

A proper challenge would be to say that we've got ten years to put
private citizens on the moon, now.

=====
Mike Lorrey
Chairman, Free Town Land Development
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                         -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sadomikeyism


		
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