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Anyone know the lastest on the Russian-US standoff? Links?

Like Spain?

Bush Jr laid out the most impressive space program plan for our country since Kennedy while staying fiscally responcible enough to get it through Congress except, perhaps, in times of record government overspending. And there's the catch.

The plan is pretty good. Or at least it is something if you know what I mean. However, the timing was about 2 years late.

My statements about Iraq may be rather black and white, but some things aren't gray. This war is the main reason for us being so overbudget. Yes there were the tax cuts and the creation of a new government organization, but we could have afforded all these things including the 'Space Vision' thingy had we not gone to war in Iraq.

And there it is.....hot and steamy on our plate. Man I don't want to eat it, do you???

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/___\ 'We have rockets now big eye!'  :rant:

While I agree that the science isn't quite there yet, it is on its way. Perhaps we are being a little too optimistic talking about it already, but that's only because a space elevator will be nothing short of a revolution in transportation. It will truly make us a space faring species.

Thanks you Austin for your comments on terrorists. We, as a people and nation, have much bigger concerns and issues than terrorism.

John-I heard that too, about it falling softly, can't remember where though. But your point about the stealth fighter kinda proves my point. They want military and finacial targets, not scientific.

Cobra-But aren't you forgetting an important point? Terrorists are poor for the most part. They don't have their own air force, they had to use our 747's to attack us. What chance do they have against a lone aircraft carrier in the region?

Now folks, I'm not saying that it is impossible to get past an aircraft carrier and tight security at a space elevator, but you have to admit that it is very very unlikely.

We can't live in fear over what a terrorist may or may not do. And we certainly can not miss a chance to build a space elevator (or two) because someone might decide to blow it up. If we change our goals and plans because of terrorists then they win.

But that's the thing. It wouldn't kill a 'buttload' of people being based in the Pacific (fish yes, but people no).

For as difficult as it would be to pull off, I just don't see poor terrorists trying to take down something that won't further their causes. There are much better targets in the US.

Good point SpaceNut. But I just read Cindy's post and Im a little curious why everyone thinks that a space elevator would be such a great terrorist target? Terrorists struck at the Twin Towers because it is a symbol of our greed and the Pentagon because it is a symbol of our over-bearing military. So why would they strike at a symbol of hope?

Wow, like a fine jar of canned fart, you just get nastier with age dontcha GCNRevenger? 

Please allow me to inform you that the scientific community has defined the edge of space as being a few miles lower than what SS1 achieved in its last test flight. If you follow the logic of an airplane being called such because it flys through the air, then SpaceShipOne is a spaceship because it flys through space. Have I lost you yet?

And about the Mig-25, I fail to see the comparison. The Mig-25 reaches an altitude of about 82,000 feet which is a far cry from the 320,000 feet altitude of SS1. And how much did it take to develop the Mig-25? 20 Million dollars? No, sir, it did not.

Also, by your own estimates it is '300 times harder!' to reach orbit than it is to reach sub-orbit. Hmmm, let me use my 'mathmatically challenged brain' to come up with a number.....ah yes, there it is, 6 Billion. So if we were to give Scaled Composites 6 billion dollars then they should be able to do what NASA has spent over 100 billion trying to do, build a totally reusable spaceship. Thanks for helping me prove my point GCN.

What's that I hear? 'It isn't NASA's job to make all its research turn magicly into a vehilcle componet or product.'? Wow, and here I thought you were supposed to get something for your money, silly me, it takes magic, what was I thinking?

You have to get past that tunnel vision of your GCN. All I see from you are posts about how this and that can't be done. You get so worked up trying to disprove people that you often miss the point entirely (for the record, my point was that NASA wastes money on those big aerospace giants you are so fond of, not that SS1 can or will reach orbit).

I really enjoy debating with you. So let's keep it nice okay? You keep posting your 'never gonna happen' comments and I will keep tearing them down.

Morning Cobra 

I really liked the other picture you had better. The image of Cobra Commander stretching his arms around the globe struck fear in my little liberal heart 

WhiteKnight and SPaceShip 1 a toy? Wow, don't let Mr Allen hear you say that, rumor has it he has a control room in his office and can launch the deadliest of virus into your computer with a touch of the button!!

My point was, hate it or love it, that Nasa gets useless R&D for go nowhere projects while the private industry gets results. I mean come on! Two vehicles, both experimental, designed and built for 20-25 million!! Just imagine what Rutan could do with a cool Billion!

I think the Air Force is thinking of using something like the WhiteKnight to launch their 'space fighters' they want so bad by 2025. It makes sense really, when you think about it. Instead of keeping a staff and squadron of fighters in LEO and subjected to all the dangers inherent in being there, (not to mention expenses) you instead build a fleet of WhiteKnights capable of launching several sub-orbital fighters which can then defend satellites with long range missles.

I think the x-37 is just a cover to study the WhiteKnight and copy that technology.

It is truely amazing what the Russians can do with little or no money. These people work for food and pride while their american couterparts are making a fortune selling 50 year old rocket technology. Honestly, how can one look at both programs and their respective funding levels and not see how NASA is choking on overpriced contracts from entrenched aerospace giants.

Pass laws that require NASA to use anyone else besides Boeing and LockMartin and watch our dollars stretch.

Yes, yes, I know, safty yada yada limited market yada yada. Swallow these excuses if you want, but anyone with half a brain can see our space program is being milked by corporate greed.

Take this scenario:
Two twenty million dollar contracts are awarded, one by Nasa, the other by Paul Allen. While Paul Allen gets a working spaceship for him money, NASA only gets some research from Boeing.

Anyone know if it'd be possible to launch a single human being from SpaceShipOne via missle into ISS orbit?