Been in Space Lately?
This is the question people will one day ask of you, or you of them, if Burt Rutan’s projects fly (pun intended!). Burt’s rocket spaceliner will carry 6 paying passengers and two astronaut pilots. The ship will be lifted by a carrier plane and the rocket will separate and fly off into space. The carrier plane construction will be completed later this year while the rocket is more than halfway finished. Commercial space flight really is around the corner!
Pilots are currently being trained in a simulator. Your ride will be about two to two and a half hours long. Imagine the view! Your seat will cost $200,000 but surly this price will drop. And even at this price there are plenty of takers. There have been 200 bookings and 85,000 have registered so far. Would you give it a try if it was more affordable?
February 1st, 2008 at 1:23 am
I saw the photo’s in the newspaper but it wasn’t clear how it worked. Now from your great photo’s I understand how it all works. This is something to make the heart of an old Science Fiction reader beat with joy.
Nick
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February 3rd, 2008 at 3:36 am
The big question is, can it be used for transport?
Apart from the tourism application, it could easily become a smaller, faster, more expensive Concord. All you need to do is land somewhere different from your point of takeoff.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I would be happy to go up in space, see the earth from orbit. $2000 is about my dollar limit though, ha. I would consider that a luxury vacation experience.
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February 12th, 2008 at 4:42 am
Yeah, I would like to ride in that ship.
But, with the $200,000 payment for two to two and a half hour of flying out the earths orbit. It’s way to expensive. Can’t they cut it at least half?