SpaceShipOne booms Mojave

I just returned from the only SpacePort in the United States where, today, SpaceshipOne became the first privately funded rocket plane to reach space. Everything appeared to go extremely smooth. Afterwards, the Team did a victory lap in front of a very enthusiastic crowd. However, as the team passed in front of the crowd, Burt Rutan, the designer and visionary behind SpaceShipOne, jumped into the crowd taking a sign from an onlooker. It said, SpaceShipOne = 1; Government = 0. The crowd roared.

While many might argue the "significance" of the flight, one thing is clear, privately-funded space is reality. Over the loud speaker at Mojave, while waiting for SpaceShipOne to ascend 62 miles overhead going three times the speed of light, Paul Allen, gave a great speech challenging those with expendable income to invest in space, rather than Yachts, racing cars, etc.

The SpaceShipOne rocket was designed and built for less than $25 million, less than a decent contract in the NBA. It can only be hoped that this flight, combined with the upcoming X-prize tests will inspire a new generation of space entrepreneurs.

More later.