Congrats, SpaceShipOne!!

[xfkirsten]

Mad props are in order for SpaceShipOne, who won the X Prize this morning! $10 million... after spending several times that amount in development. They'll recoup that cost quickly, though, as soon as the commercial flights start. Now, if only I had the $200,000 it costs for a flight. $200,000, for a 15 min flight, 62.5 mi up.

I think this whole idea is a wonderful testament to what technological advances in spaceflight can be made in the private sector.

http://www.xprize.com/

 

[garyhoov]

:sohappy: That was great!! I've been following this from the beginning, and I was a little surprised someone got it so fast.

Now, if only I had the $200,000 it costs for a flight. $200,000, for a 15 min flight, 62.5 mi up.
http://

You're young, give it a while. If they can pull that off within a few years, just think where they'll be 10 - 15 years from now.

By then, you'll hopefully be able to actually orbit for $10,000 or less.

Does anyone remember when Disney actually had plans for a space hotel built into their long term planning? It wasn't too long ago.

 

[xfkirsten]

I think competition will drive prices down pretty rapidly in the near future. As I understand it, some of the other teams that were competing have decided to finish out all their trials, even though the prize has been won. I can certainly see more airlines than just Virgin Galactic offering flights, and as soon as that happens, prices will really start dropping.

 

[barnum42]

I may just get into orbit yet

 

[SirNim]

New Horizons For You... And For Me.... *sheds a tear for Horizons*


If we can dream it...