Ansari X Prize Won

BobTheJanitorBobTheJanitor Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24228Members, NS1 Playtester
<div class="IPBDescription">Hooray!</div> If you don't know what the Ansari X Prize is, you're not a proper geek. But I'll recap for the less informed. It's basically a 10 million dollar prize offered to the first team that can build a ship to take a pilot and two passengers (or equivalent weight) into space, and then repeat the feat again within a short amount of time. And now, today, the prize has finally been won by the SpaceShipOne team. Some of you may recall the news of the test flight a little while ago.

Many news links from google news <a href='http://news.google.com/?hl=en&ncl=http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20041004_733.html' target='_blank'>here</a>.

We can only hope this will usher in a new era of private space flight when we can stop waiting on slow bloated government bureacracy to push us into the future and instead let the efforts be driven by private companies who will keep moving forwards as long as there is profit to be made. Maybe it's not the most altruistic way of doing it, but by God it gets us there a whole lot faster.

Comments

  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    My inner geek donces. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    Awsome. I'll have to read up on that when I have more time.
  • SaltzBadSaltzBad Join Date: 2004-02-23 Member: 26833Members
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->We can only hope this will usher in a new era of private space flight when we can stop waiting on slow bloated government bureacracy to push us into the future and instead let the efforts be driven by private companies who will keep moving forwards as long as there is profit to be made. Maybe it's not the most altruistic way of doing it, but by God it gets us there a whole lot faster. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yes, because over-regulation of techrelated private sectors has never happened *koff koff*
  • Bo_SelectaBo_Selecta Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9374Members, Constellation
    Hurray! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    Next step, commercial crafts in orbit!
    Seeing the earth from up there would be awesome, I hope that whole 'Virgin Galactic' thing is more than a marketing ploy.
  • BobTheJanitorBobTheJanitor Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24228Members, NS1 Playtester
    <!--QuoteBegin-SaltzBad+Oct 4 2004, 11:28 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SaltzBad @ Oct 4 2004, 11:28 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Yes, because over-regulation of techrelated private sectors has never happened *koff koff* <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Eh, that happens. But a company that's worried about putting big numbers on their bottom line is going to put a whole lot more effort into this than a government agency ever will. Novelty space tourism will start them off (people are already lining up for it... wouldn't you if you had the cash?) and that will give space corps the go ahead to start pushing further and further. While I'd rather not the future be full of space hotels and luna-disney worlds, if that's what it will take to get humanity off its collective butt and into the great beyond, I'm all for it.
  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    What does a space ship one incursion cost per flight? Certianly less then the few million it takes to put every shuttle in orbit.
  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    Oh boy! Now the rich won't even have to live on the same planet as us!
  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-AllUrHiveRBelong2Us+Oct 4 2004, 01:25 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (AllUrHiveRBelong2Us @ Oct 4 2004, 01:25 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Oh boy! Now the rich won't even have to live on the same planet as us! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    OMG, THIER GONNA ABANDON US AND ALL MOVE TO THE MOON!!!11!1one
  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    The Moon AKA The Space Hamptons
  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    Bastards <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    After all, what better way to gate a community than with the vast nothingness of space? No black people gonna be gettin past that, I'll tell you right now.
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    I'll pay for a tour in space if the price didn't exceed say a trip to somewhere like NY, or some cool tropical island. (That's not saying I'm paying now, but at best when/if it would drop prices in 20 or so years)
  • BurrBurr Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9358Members
    Im still waiting for my flying car.... <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • Bo_SelectaBo_Selecta Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9374Members, Constellation
    Looking at the average driver, I praise [deity of choice] that people aren't flying around in the air.
    And crashing into each other, the ground, buildings and small children =D
  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    <img src='http://www.google.com/logos/xprize.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

    I saw that so I figured it had been won, and I found this thread and confirmed it <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    That's flippin cool. I wanna go t space.....
  • BobTheJanitorBobTheJanitor Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24228Members, NS1 Playtester
    <!--QuoteBegin-Caboose+Oct 4 2004, 02:54 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Caboose @ Oct 4 2004, 02:54 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> That's flippin cool. I wanna go t space..... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I think this is the dream of just about every proper geek who still has a sense of wonder that hasn't been ground down to dust by day-to-day life.
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    now build us a space ship from heavy materials primarily mined in space, smelted in space, and assembled in space and I'll be happy...

    meh, *donces anyway*
  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    <!--QuoteBegin-Bo Selecta+Oct 4 2004, 02:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Bo Selecta @ Oct 4 2004, 02:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Looking at the average driver, I praise [deity of choice] that people aren't flying around in the air.
    And crashing into each other, the ground, buildings and small children =D <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The only way it would work is if the system was computer controlled, and then it would be very, very safe, at least in comparrison w/ the risks you take just to go to the supermarket.

    The prototype air cars they have now are all computer controlled like this.
  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-DOOManiac+Oct 4 2004, 08:47 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DOOManiac @ Oct 4 2004, 08:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Bo Selecta+Oct 4 2004, 02:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Bo Selecta @ Oct 4 2004, 02:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Looking at the average driver, I praise [deity of choice] that people aren't flying around in the air.
    And crashing into each other,  the ground, buildings and small children =D <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The only way it would work is if the system was computer controlled, and then it would be very, very safe, at least in comparrison w/ the risks you take just to go to the supermarket.

    The prototype air cars they have now are all computer controlled like this. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    They built a prototype air car in my town
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    Are flying cars fuel efficient? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    I don't even know what flying cars look like <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->


    (ps: air cars refer to cars working on compressed air as energy source I believe)
  • Vahn_PaktuVahn_Paktu Join Date: 2002-10-28 Member: 1666Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-That Annoying Kid+Oct 4 2004, 02:49 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (That Annoying Kid @ Oct 4 2004, 02:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I saw that so I figured it had been won, and I found this thread and confirmed it <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    woops. I glanced at it on google and thought it was a fish leaping for a lure.
  • CartiCarti Join Date: 2003-07-12 Member: 18099Members, Constellation
    Congrats.

    The Americans have done it again :o
  • eedioteediot Join Date: 2003-02-24 Member: 13903Members
    Interesting.. but I don't think it should be entirely controlled by the economy and business. Government [American government, mind you.. seeing as they own space, according to them] should control/manage it to some extent i imagine.. If space is just exploited for purely financial purposes [tourism, colonial, mining, etc], then 1) we're going to screw up so much stuff because most companies don't care about the environment if they don't have to, and 2) we're not going to find out much more about space.
  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    well since space based smelting and other technologies would require atmospheric recycling... I should think it would create technologies that would help the earth environment.
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