"Corky Scott" wrote in message


Spaceship One is doing something that has been done before by the the
Soviet and US space programs, albeit more efficiently.

....and without taxpayer funding.

The technology
Rutan is using is not useful for actual space exploration because the
vehical cannot go into orbit or venture into space because it cannot
re-enter our atmosphere without burning to a crisp.

Baby steps. NASA didn't start with orbital flights, either.

You can't go from
point A to point B without sending the bizarre looking but functional
lift vehical after it, with a ground crew, so it's not useful for
traveling.

Yet. Right now, if Virgin Galactic actually comes to market as planned, it
will be a very expensive joyride. Again, if they're not spending my money
to do it, more power to them. If I had that kind of money to throw away,
I'd be in line for the ride, myself.

When we first began to orbit the earth, then went to the moon, that
was different, we were going places we had never gone before and
actually exploring space.

So, you'd rather abandon space research? Or leave it up to government
agencies? Or what? I'm not following your argument. You don't appear to
be arguing *for* anything, only *against* the idea of SpaceShipOne.

The technology developed for those flights
lead to further development of space travel and ventures to the far
planets using unmanned vehicals. It's revealed fascinating
information about space and our distant beginnings.

Quite correct. Now think of commercial ventures doing the exploration.
They'll have an interest in finding less expensive/more efficient materials
and technologies - and they're doing it half a century later than NASA.
Those technologies/materials will find their way to market.

Rutan's near space lob technology is aimed at none of these things.
It cannot explore space, cannot add to current knowledge other than
being a different method of reaching near space.

....and serves as a harbinger of things to come. This isn't the end of the
story by any means.

I'm interested in knowing what the point is, other than claiming the X
prize. Or is that all it is?

The point is to spur commercial interest in space. That has happened and
will continue - at least I hope it does.

Can you, or anyone suggest any plausible future benefit other than
being a cheaper alternative to buying a ride on the Russian shuttle?

hehehe

This has been said about almost every new invention. The first cars. The
first airplanes. Hell, almost every consumer electronics device is purely
an attempt to add more inches to the waistlines of users, but how many of
said users would give them up?

Right now, it's a very expensive toy - much like most of our airplanes. But
this is the first step to commercial exploitation of space and that's where
I think the *real* advances in technology/knowledge will come from.

I also don't expect to live to see much of it.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
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