On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 15:55:15 -0500 Rob Cherney wrote:

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 12:22:57 -0500, Rob Cherney
wrote:

I have heard that Scaled Composites will be attempting a powered
flight of their Space Ship One craft on Wednesday or Thrusday.

A powered flight of SpaceShip One occurred today. Damn, my sources
are good!

See:

http://www.scaled.com/news/news.htm


That's progress and innovatin for ya!
And fun! Look at the smiles on those faces!


This is powerful stuff:

"...
I strongly feel that, if we are successful, our program will mark the beginning
of a renaissance for manned space flight. This might even be similar to that
wonderful time period between 1908 and 1912 when the world went from a total of
ten airplane pilots to hundreds of airplane types and thousands of pilots in 39
countries. We need affordable space travel to inspire our youth, to let them
know that they can experience their dreams, can set significant goals and be in
a position to lead all of us to future progress in exploration, discovery and
fun."

Burt Rutan



Nice shot of SpaceshipOne after separation from WK:

http://www.scaled.com/projects/tiero...0/moon_800.jpg


R. Hubbell


Rob-

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Robert Cherney e-mail: cherney(at)comcast(dot)net