I think the bottom line here is that this represents yet another remarkable achievement by Rutan in a long line of achievements that is nothing short of genius.
It's been many years, and I'm still in awe of his ability to triple the performance of a 172 with the same engine, by designing a new aircraft...what he could wring out of common materials, and the vision he sees that no one else sees until he shows it to them, leave me in awe.
To me, meeting the man is akin to meeting Charles Lindgergh or Glen Curtiss...a cornerstone of aviation history en existant.
The economic benifits of this event are not hard to fathom. At the press conference surrounding the event itself, Rutan spoke quite clearly about the profit potential and the requirements on the program to meet the needs of a tourist environment. He has always considered the economic ramifications, and a way to make the project and the development of future projects self-sustaining.
More importantly...we fly around the world all the time, but not nonstop, like the Voyager. We practice going faster, but not on less, like the Long EZ. Creation, expression, and expansion of the mind are not wasted, even when conducted for their own sake. In my opinion, if nothing else is gained by this endevor, it's greatnes comes in enlarging the limits of the human spirit, and reminding us all that what one can achieve, we can all achieve; it's a reflection of our own potential and opportunity.
After all, how many of us dreamed as kids of rocketing to space or to the moon, building estes rockets and watching flash gorden or other such programs? How many here dreamed of being an astronaut, or watched star trek and long ago decided to put childish things away and assume that truly reaching for the stars is a kids dream? I bet most of us. Rutan and the team here have reminded us that such dreams are possible, if only we combine faith with action to see them realized...just like all dreams.
As for NASA; obviously problems exist. While there is no direct correlation between a low speed suborbital re-entry proceedure in a one man pod like this, and the space shuttle system, the spaceship one event heralds new technology that will very likely serve to enhance future space shots in ways we can't yet envision. We have a glimpse of the future.
NASA has many problems, many of which have been made clearer in the public eye in recent times. Certainly new and innovative methods of launch and recovery are yet to be discovered. At the present time, re-entry vehicles returning from orbit are exposed to dangerous environmental conditions; we don't have a better way. However, I submit that we have a hint of the future yet to come, in spaceship one...we have proof that a better way can still be found, one step at the time. Redd is correct to question the present and the past; it's the only way to a better future. After all, that's exactly what Rutan and his team(s) have done.
A brilliant group of people, who have my deepest admiration.
It's been many years, and I'm still in awe of his ability to triple the performance of a 172 with the same engine, by designing a new aircraft...what he could wring out of common materials, and the vision he sees that no one else sees until he shows it to them, leave me in awe.
To me, meeting the man is akin to meeting Charles Lindgergh or Glen Curtiss...a cornerstone of aviation history en existant.
The economic benifits of this event are not hard to fathom. At the press conference surrounding the event itself, Rutan spoke quite clearly about the profit potential and the requirements on the program to meet the needs of a tourist environment. He has always considered the economic ramifications, and a way to make the project and the development of future projects self-sustaining.
More importantly...we fly around the world all the time, but not nonstop, like the Voyager. We practice going faster, but not on less, like the Long EZ. Creation, expression, and expansion of the mind are not wasted, even when conducted for their own sake. In my opinion, if nothing else is gained by this endevor, it's greatnes comes in enlarging the limits of the human spirit, and reminding us all that what one can achieve, we can all achieve; it's a reflection of our own potential and opportunity.
After all, how many of us dreamed as kids of rocketing to space or to the moon, building estes rockets and watching flash gorden or other such programs? How many here dreamed of being an astronaut, or watched star trek and long ago decided to put childish things away and assume that truly reaching for the stars is a kids dream? I bet most of us. Rutan and the team here have reminded us that such dreams are possible, if only we combine faith with action to see them realized...just like all dreams.
As for NASA; obviously problems exist. While there is no direct correlation between a low speed suborbital re-entry proceedure in a one man pod like this, and the space shuttle system, the spaceship one event heralds new technology that will very likely serve to enhance future space shots in ways we can't yet envision. We have a glimpse of the future.
NASA has many problems, many of which have been made clearer in the public eye in recent times. Certainly new and innovative methods of launch and recovery are yet to be discovered. At the present time, re-entry vehicles returning from orbit are exposed to dangerous environmental conditions; we don't have a better way. However, I submit that we have a hint of the future yet to come, in spaceship one...we have proof that a better way can still be found, one step at the time. Redd is correct to question the present and the past; it's the only way to a better future. After all, that's exactly what Rutan and his team(s) have done.
A brilliant group of people, who have my deepest admiration.
