Yahoo! News - SpaceShipOne Data Shows Vessel Took a 'Trajectory Excursion'

Yahoo! News - SpaceShipOne Data Shows Vessel Took a 'Trajectory Excursion':

Article points out that there were some relatively serious problems, most importantly, a flight-critical system, with Monday's historic space flight. The primary pitch trim control was lost, forcing a redunancy system to be activated, alleviating the problem.

We'll wait to hear whether the X-Prize is next, but it seems like another test will probably come first. A 60 Day notice is required before attempting the first lef of the X-Prize.

Quotable

"Our success proves without question that manned space flight does not require mammoth government expenditures, it can be done by a small company operating with limited resources and a few dozen dedicated employees."

Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites


"Burt Rutan and his team at Scaled Composites are part of a new generation of explorers who are sparking the imagination of a huge number of people worldwide and ushering in the birth of a new industry of privately funded manned space flight."

Paul Allen, Microsoft, Sole Sponser SpaceShipOne

NASA Plans Cash Prizes in Wake of SpaceShipOne Success

NASA Plans Cash Prizes in Wake of SpaceShipOne Success

Because of the success of SpaceShipOne's historic launch, coupled with the excitement created by the mission, NASA has announced plans to offer Cash-Prize Contests for othter privately-based space projects.

With the X-Prize yet unclaimed, the buzz at Monday's flight is certain to increase as the X-Prize requirements are challenged. Hopefully, this will continue to inspire new entrepreneurs and refocus America's mission into space. While NASA has accomplished a considerable amount, their assistance to the private space community is definitely an excellent next step for both NASA and the sprouting private space industry.

While private space companies might not "challenge" NASA, many niches are available that are not of interest to NASA, but have economic impact. NASA's assistance in achieving such missions can inspire the Nation, revolutionize the American and World economies, ultimately, making NASA even more relevant, efficient, and successful.

SpaceShipOne Pictures from the Mojave Desert Spaceflight

Here is a picture of SpaceShipOne after becoming the first privately built aircraft to reach into space. For more pictures of this historical flight, please click the link below.

Click here for more pictures.

Hybrids: This is not about saving money on gas

Recently, I read an article in the Wall Street Journal entitled, "Hybrids Gear Up", by Jonathon Welsh. While it was nice to see Hybrids featured in the Wall Street Journal, the tone of the article was annoying. Over and over, Welsh focuses on the fuel-efficiency of the car, saying, "If you have this much money, you can afford the gas".

While fuel efficiency is one great advantage of hybrids, saving money on gas isn't the reason for hybrid technology, and Welsh seems to completely miss this point. Global warming, smog, traffic accidents, terrorism and war, these issues are intricately linked to the automobile industry, an industry in America which has consistently picked profit over innovation and safety.

Buying a hybrid is a political statement. It's about saying I'll do my part to clean the environment, I'll do my part to reduce consumption of a resource whose life is almost over. It's about taking responsibility for actions. There is a local, national, and world wide reaction to every SUV purchase - more pollution, more road deaths, more terrorism.

New technology can make the world a better place. Purchasing a hybrid is a vote against corporate ineptitude at the expense of workers and civilians. Rich, powerful corporations, such as the auto industry, must be held accountable for providing products which make the world a better place, not a more dangerous one.

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.

Trouble Locating a Hybrid?

Trying to find a Prius, or other hybrid? Good luck. Unfortunately, rising gas prices and certain cool factor, have created high demand for hybrids. The Prius, for example, already is backlogged with more than 22,000 orders that it cannot fill at the moment.

Originally, Toyota only intended to build 36,000 cars and already increased this number to 47,000. For the next model year a 100,000+ should be available.

Join this list if you would like to be contacted when hybrids become available in your area. Additonally, we will try to negotiate a coupon.

>> Click here to join Soultek's Hybrid Buyer's Club.

Hybrid Cars

While hybrids are not yet fuel celled cars, they represent an ideal transition point, a cataclysm of positive force empowered by individuals and corporations to spend money on technologies that advance the quality of life for everyone, rather than just shareholders.

SUV's on the other hand have been a farce on the American consumer by Detroit, because SUV's represented Detroits only weapon against Japan. Unfortunately, the SUV had nothing to do with innovation, only profiteering. And if I see another SUV driver with a "No blood for oil" sticker....

We the people are consuming 50%percent of the oil with our cars. Can't we make responsible decisions? Even the Chief of Oil Giant shell has acknowledged the dangers of oil. Ron Oxburgh, chairman of Shell, went so far to say that if the problem wasn't immediately remedied, that he would "see very little hope for the world".

Companies like the Toyota Corporation have proven that hybrids are profitable. These companies should be rewarded. Buy a hybrid.

Privatized Space and the X-Prize

The incorporation of the private sector into the race for space tourism and commercialism is one of the most exciting ventures in corporate America.

Currently, the X-Prize is hosting a number of innovators. On June 21, one of the entrants, Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites will be making a historical test flight at the Mojave Airport.

This type of innovation not only embodies the kind of exuberance required to propel the U.S. into the future as a major innovator, but it provides the kind of inspiration required to give the youth a vision, a goal to strive for in their complex lives.

Let me know if you'll be there. I will.

More Articles

Not only is Burt Rutan's Scaled Composite's X-Prize entry revolutionary in funding and cost, it's fuel causes significant less pollution than most rocket fuels. This truly demonstrates that private competition will drive innovation. Read More.

The White House received it's Space Vision Report and found that "commercialization of space should become 'the primary focus' of the country's new space exploration vision. Given the proper encouragement, 'an entirely new set of businesses can emerge that will seek profit in space,'". Read More

Is the Mojave Desert the next Kitty Hawk, or Cape Canaveral? While there is some debate as to how revolutionary the X-Prize flight will be, there is no doubt Scaled Composites Flight on June 21st will be a significant historical event. Read More

Humanistic Exuberance

In his new book, Rational Exuberance, Michael Mandel of the Economist states “our economic future is inextricably linked to our ability to come up with more technological breakthroughs that equal the Internet in magnitude. Such large-scale innovations drive growth, create new jobs and industries, push up living standards for both rich and poor, and open up whole new vistas of possibilities. This is what I call exuberant growth.”

Later, however, he points out that the people, essentially, must buy into this philosophy, but that they will only do so if it provides security. Therefore, I use the term "humansitic exuberance" to apply a humanistic approach to exuberance. Essentially, consumers have choices and we ultimately hold corporations accountable by the purchases we make. Innovative technology, such as hybrid cars, embody this idea.

The Power of Choice

The future of the United States is completely dependant upon technology. That technology; however, must be used to help and empower people. Otherwise, the unfair distribution of wealth will destroy everyone, if a natural catastrophe doesn't do the job first.

Simple purchases, such as a hybrid car, can empower corporations by rewarding those corporations that innovate not just for shareholders, but for consumers, for society, and for environment. Those who innovate only to increase shareholder profit, at the expense of consumers, society, and the environment must be punished by not purchasing their products.

As far as technology, few industries have spawned such innovation as space and the U.S. must lead the way into this frontier. Only private space travel and commercialization provide the kind of innovation and inspiration this Nation and, particularly, our students need.