Private space exploration.

by **2dimes** on Fri May 17, 2013 9:11 am

Well it's almost ready to go sub orbital. Get out your wallets.
http://www.eaa.org/news/2013/2013-04-29 ... rsonic.asp

by **Funkyterrance** on Fri May 17, 2013 2:40 pm

Screw that unless you've got a death wish or something. The calculated risk just doesn't add up imho.

by **2dimes** on Fri May 17, 2013 4:53 pm

Seriously? I'd fly that thing myself if they let me. Scaled composites makes great stuff there's a reason ss1 won the X prize.

by **TA1LGUNN3R** on Fri May 17, 2013 9:05 pm

Funkyterrance wrote:Screw that unless you've got a death wish or something. The calculated risk just doesn't add up imho.

I'm sure walking on the sidewalk is statistically more dangerous.

-TG

by **Funkyterrance** on Fri May 17, 2013 9:26 pm

2dimes wrote:Seriously? I'd fly that thing myself if they let me. Scaled composites makes great stuff there's a reason ss1 won the X prize.

If you want to put your life in the hands of Chinese instruments while outside of the Earth's atmosphere, be my guest but I'm leaving the space exploration to the truly insane AKA astronauts.

TA1LGUNN3R wrote:I'm sure walking on the sidewalk is statistically more dangerous.
-TG

That's very rational and probably true but I can think of few more terrifying ways to die than permanently leaving the Earth's orbit.

by **nietzsche** on Fri May 17, 2013 10:03 pm

DId you have a proctologist appointment 2dimes?

by **Woodruff** on Sat May 18, 2013 12:19 am

Funkyterrance wrote:That's very rational and probably true but I can think of few more terrifying ways to die than permanently leaving the Earth's orbit.

I can think of few more AWESOME ways to die. You know...if I get to pick.

by **Funkyterrance** on Sat May 18, 2013 12:24 am

Woodruff wrote:I can think of few more AWESOME ways to die. You know...if I get to pick.

Yeah man, totally cool!

by **2dimes** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:08 pm

nietzsche wrote:DId you have a proctologist appointment 2dimes?

No.

by **patches70** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:15 pm

Haha, space ships with 10 million different parts all built by the lowest bidder. What could go wrong?

by **Woodruff** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:26 pm

patches70 wrote:Haha, space ships with 10 million different parts all built by the lowest bidder. What could go wrong?

What NASA accomplished with essentially "lowest bidder" technology was quite frankly awe-striking.

For instance, did you know that Voyager 1, launched in the 1970s, is currently running on less than 300 watts of power and less computing power than a modern calculator? It's still running, by the way, outside of our Solar System and traveling approximately a million miles each day. It is expected to maintain that until around 2025. That's "lowest bidder" technology when it's done by people with passion.

NASA currently has the technology to get us to Mars and back. But they don't have the funding to move forward with the safety protocols and precautions necessary to ensure the safety of those travelers, which would be necessary before embarking on such a mission.

by **Funkyterrance** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:27 pm

patches70 wrote:Haha, space ships with 10 million different parts all built by the lowest bidder. What could go wrong?

Only this, but it's all just part of Woody's dream getaway:

by **Woodruff** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:27 pm

Funkyterrance wrote:
patches70 wrote:Haha, space ships with 10 million different parts all built by the lowest bidder. What could go wrong?

Only this, but it's all just part of Woody's dream getaway:

It really is too bad that so many Americans have forgotten how to dream big.

by **Funkyterrance** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:29 pm

Woodruff wrote:
Funkyterrance wrote:
patches70 wrote:Haha, space ships with 10 million different parts all built by the lowest bidder. What could go wrong?

Only this, but it's all just part of Woody's dream getaway:

It really is too bad that so many Americans have forgotten how to dream big.

You know what woody, why don't you explore my private space?

by **Crazyirishman** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:44 pm

Space is probably the best thing to invest in for the future. Eventually we will run out of resources and exceed our carrying capacity here on earth, so those who invest money in space early on will get the biggest return in the long run.

also dying in space wouldn't be so bad, your remains will stay intact longer until you get blasted by gamma rays soon after death.

by **Woodruff** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:53 pm

Crazyirishman wrote:Space is probably the best thing to invest in for the future. Eventually we will run out of resources and exceed our carrying capacity here on earth, so those who invest money in space early on will get the biggest return in the long run.

Space exploration is like war in that it’s an incredible driver of technology and innovation. But unlike war, its end goal is improvement, not destruction. Go, Science!

by **2dimes** on Wed May 22, 2013 9:55 pm

Some people in this thread don't seem familiar with Burt. Though he retired he has set up JPL to provide NASA for years with parts they were not be able to get from " the lowest bidder."

I doubt much if anything on board that ship is from China. If it is I'd trust it. I'm as anti China as anyone. I never go inside of Walmart never mind buying things there. I did buy a Chinese Fender Strat. I know what I'm looking for though, so does anyone working there.

by **Funkyterrance** on Wed May 22, 2013 10:51 pm

2dimes wrote:Some people in this thread don't seem familiar with Burt. Though he retired he has set up JPL to provide NASA for years with parts they were not be able to get from " the lowest bidder."

BS, I've known him since I was 5 years old!

by **2dimes** on Wed May 22, 2013 10:56 pm

If his brother trusted him to build airplanes to fly around the world with his girlfriend on a single tank of gas. You should have not problem with his spacecraft.

by **Woodruff** on Wed May 22, 2013 11:06 pm

2dimes wrote:If his brother trusted him to build airplanes to fly around the world with his girlfriend on a single tank of gas. You should have not problem with his spacecraft.

Ernie did no such thing.