[johnstylet]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/v...ght-with-crew/

It still has a few more key hurdles to cross, but it looks like Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo (a.k.a. the VSS Enterprise) is remaining on track for its first commercial flight sometime next year. The latest milestone is the spacecraft's first flight with a crew on board, which occurred on July 15th at Virgin Galactic's usual base of operations, the Mojave Air and Space Port. As with previous flights, however, SpaceShipTwo remained attached to the VMS Eve "mothership" for the duration of the flight, but it did stay aloft for more than six hours as the crew (including test pilots Peter Siebold, Michael Alsbury) went through a range of tests. Still no word on exactly when SpaceShipTwo will see its first solo flight but, barring any change in plans, that should be the next flight that takes place. Anyone else getting excited over the fact that space travel is getting closer and closer

[Xavier_Spinner_Wheels]

It's a good thing on a number of levels - it may to an increase in interest in space exploration - well, in the solar system, at least [thumbup]

[Espacamlisa]

It's a good thing on a number of levels - it may to an increase in interest in space exploration - well, in the solar system, at least [thumbup]

I'm super enthusiastic about space travel. But comparing the exploration of the solar system to the sub-orbital flights of Virgin Galactic, is akin to saying that renting catamarans at the pier increases interest in trans-Atlantic sailing.

[Xavier_Spinner_Wheels]

I'm super enthusiastic about space travel. But comparing the exploration of the solar system to the sub-orbital flights of Virgin Galactic, is akin to saying that renting catamarans at the pier increases interest in trans-Atlantic sailing.

Family rent a cat' for the afternoon, kids love it. Kids keep up their sailing interest as they grow up. Kids become successful business people with disposable funds. Kids, now grown up, purchase a yacht and go sailing the Oceans. Could as easily sponsor trans Atlantic sailing series or entrant.

Thing is, IMO, to get the kids and parents interested again in space research and exploration and if they have a chance of getting up there, it will help!. Sure, Virgin is just offering a near space experience, but it's a start - as are the other private companies that are working out how to get people, goods and materials into space - and to and from other solar bodies.
There are also the other spin-offs, such as cryogenics, propunsion systems, etc, that are being worked on to allow longer voyages.

If the religious zealots or natural disasters (man made or not) don't bring us back to the stone age, the next few decades may be very interesting.

[Espacamlisa]

Family rent a cat' for the afternoon, kids love it. Kids keep up their sailing interest as they grow up. Kids become successful business people with disposable funds. Kids, now grown up, purchase a yacht and go sailing the Oceans. Could as easily sponsor trans Atlantic sailing series or entrant.

Thing is, IMO, to get the kids and parents interested again in space research and exploration and if they have a chance of getting up there, it will help!. Sure, Virgin is just offering a near space experience, but it's a start - as are the other private companies that are working out how to get people, goods and materials into space - and to and from other solar bodies.
There are also the other spin-offs, such as cryogenics, propunsion systems, etc, that are being worked on to allow longer voyages.

If the religious zealots or natural disasters (man made or not) don't bring us back to the stone age, the next few decades may be very interesting.

I know what you're saying. Unfortunately, this is all still pretty masturbatory, because we haven't gone past the type of rocketry that was done in ancient China.

The payload to propellant ratios are so poor given the maximum thrust velocity and impulse in conventional rocket motors, that I find it unlikely that we can graduate to comprehensive use of space using this level of technology. Unfortunately, at the moment, these are ironically the engines with the highest level of impulse we have available, and the only ones that can provide the necessary thrust for lifting payload from the Earth to orbit.

At least LOX/LH2 rockets are ecologically-clean. The N2O/HTPB engines of the Virgin Galactic spaceplanes are pretty dirty-burning, and in addition to lacking the capability to orbit, they will just create more pollution.

Of course, if offered I would take that flight... but I think this project may just be something to remind people that space is above us and we should want to go there.