Rutan designs vehicles for a specific purpose. SpaceShipOne wasn't designed for high speed flight like the X-15. It was designed to fly high and it did, exceeding the X-15's maximum altitude by some 13,000 feet. He's already working on both a 7 seat version of SpaceShipOne for Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and I've seen some preliminary images of his orbiter. Something tells me he's going after Bigelow's $50 million prize. Something tells me he'll succeed, too.
On a nearer timeline, don't forget the good people at SpaceX. Their Falcon I booster is nearing its first flight attempt, perhaps as soon as next month. If successful, the much more powerful Falcon V won't be too far behind. Those boosters feature some reusability and the potential to greatly undercut the market for small and medium boosters. There are others, such as Armadillo Aerospace (sp) who are working on their own launch capabilities.
Paul Allen is the 2nd richest man on Earth and has already shown the vision to sponsor Burt's X Prize work. If Burt can work out the details, it wouldn't surprise me if Allen sponsors the orbital plane, too. Watching Burt on the Discovery Channel the other night, he made it clear that he's interested in trips to LEO and beyond. He gives it a 10-15 year timeframe for some exciting things to happen. Let's hope he's right.
Space/Science » in reply to I'll be over joyed WHEN there is a nongovernment space program
It may be sooner than you think
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- Once again Mars exobiology rears its ugly head
- Could you expand...
- Then start colonization with the very first manned mission
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ;-) (n/t)
- Does the world appear more beautiful when you're on Thorazine? :-) (n/t)
- To me a solar system teeming with life on every planet would be a beautiful idea not an ugly one.
- Does the world appear more beautiful when you're on Thorazine? :-) (n/t)