America is Back in Space
Ok, as any of my friends could tell you, I am a space nut. I love Astronomy, the Space Program and heck, even Scifi B movies that feature space in some way shape or form (and usually get the science really wrong). I was devestated when first the Challenger and then the Columbia space shuttles were destroyed. If I had been alive at the time I probably would have been devestated by the Apollo I fire.
Well today my friends, I am happy to say that Americans are back in space flying their own spacecraft. No, NASA did not have an unscheduled launch of the shuttle or haul the Saturn V out of retirement. This trip to space was conducted by a small odd looking craft that was built with funds from MicroSoft founder Paul G Allen (I hate it when MicroSoft gives me a reason no to hate them :)), designed by Burt Rutan (who also designed the Voyager plane that was the first air plane to fly around the world without topping up at the local fuel station (flying or otherwise)) and flown by Michael W. Melvill, a well regarded commercial test pilot.
This story may not have quite the same romance as two bicycle shop owners building an airplane or of a nation pulling resources together to reach the moon, but it is remarkable none the less and may have a bigger impact on the future of transportation than any event since two bicycle owners figured out how to make a plane fly. This little craft dubbed SpaceShipOne is designed to be able to carry three men into space, return to a safe landing and then be ready to fly again inside two weeks. If they do accomplish two flights within 2 weeks carrying 3 people, they will win the 10 million dollar X Prize, of course SpaceShipOne is estimated to have cost more than 20 million dollars, so no one is going to get rich from the prize alone. Still while this may seem like alot of money, its a pittance compared to what a Shuttle costs just to launch once, let alone what it costs to build one.
In any case, this is proof that when given the right motivation, the right inspiration Americans can still reach for the stars and indeed may one day actually touch them. Perhaps each one of us will have the opportunity, should we choose, to fly in space within our lives.
Well today my friends, I am happy to say that Americans are back in space flying their own spacecraft. No, NASA did not have an unscheduled launch of the shuttle or haul the Saturn V out of retirement. This trip to space was conducted by a small odd looking craft that was built with funds from MicroSoft founder Paul G Allen (I hate it when MicroSoft gives me a reason no to hate them :)), designed by Burt Rutan (who also designed the Voyager plane that was the first air plane to fly around the world without topping up at the local fuel station (flying or otherwise)) and flown by Michael W. Melvill, a well regarded commercial test pilot.
This story may not have quite the same romance as two bicycle shop owners building an airplane or of a nation pulling resources together to reach the moon, but it is remarkable none the less and may have a bigger impact on the future of transportation than any event since two bicycle owners figured out how to make a plane fly. This little craft dubbed SpaceShipOne is designed to be able to carry three men into space, return to a safe landing and then be ready to fly again inside two weeks. If they do accomplish two flights within 2 weeks carrying 3 people, they will win the 10 million dollar X Prize, of course SpaceShipOne is estimated to have cost more than 20 million dollars, so no one is going to get rich from the prize alone. Still while this may seem like alot of money, its a pittance compared to what a Shuttle costs just to launch once, let alone what it costs to build one.
In any case, this is proof that when given the right motivation, the right inspiration Americans can still reach for the stars and indeed may one day actually touch them. Perhaps each one of us will have the opportunity, should we choose, to fly in space within our lives.
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